0 from 42 votes
Cowboy Beans
This cowboy beans recipe is made with ground beef and bacon, all baked together in a sweet and savory sauce. A hearty side dish that pairs perfectly with grilled meats and seafood.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
2 hrs 10 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 365 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 8 slices Bacon cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 3 15 ounce cans pork and beans partially drained
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves chopped
- cooking spray
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until partially done. Remove the bacon from the pan.
- Pour some of the bacon fat out of the pan, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan. Add the ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking up the meat into fine crumbles with a spoon.
- Add the onion to the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes or until translucent. Season the onions with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the beans, mustard, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup and apple cider vinegar to the pan. Stir until well combined.
- Pour the bean mixture into the prepared dish. Layer the pieces of bacon all over the top.
- Bake for 60-90 minutes or until bean mixture has thickened and bacon is browned and cooked through. Stir to combine.
- Sprinkle with parsley, then serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- I recommend using kitchen shears to cut the bacon into squares, it makes quick work of this task.
- I typically use 90% lean ground beef, it has plenty of flavor without a lot of excess grease. If you use 80% lean beef you should drain the grease after cooking the meat.
- I like to finely crumble the ground beef so that it mixes in nicely with the beans. If you prefer larger sized pieces of meat, that's totally fine too!
Nutrition Information
Calories
365kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
18g
(6%)
Protein
24g
(48%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
15mg
(5%)
Sodium
485mg
(20%)
Potassium
253mg
(7%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
17g
(34%)
Vitamin A
45IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
1.1mg
(1%)
Calcium
33mg
(3%)
Iron
0.8mg
(4%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 365
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 365kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 485mg | 20% |
| Potassium | 253mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 17g | 34% |
| Vitamin A | 45IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 1.1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 33mg | 3% |
| Iron | 0.8mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.