Cowboy Beans
User Reviews
5
Cowboy Beans
Description
This recipe starts by cooking half the bacon until crisp and setting it aside, then browning ground beef and onion in the bacon fat before draining. A mix of canned beans—red kidney, pork and beans, pinto, and great northern—are combined with the cooked meat and a sauce made from tomato sauce, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
The mixture is transferred to a baking dish topped with the reserved raw bacon strips brushed with barbecue sauce, then baked uncovered at 350°F until the bacon crisps and the flavors meld. The result is a robust dish with tender beans soaked in a tangy, sweet, and smoky sauce complemented by hearty meat and crispy bacon toppings.
Cowboy Beans are versatile for potlucks, BBQ sides, or a comforting family meal. They can also be made in a slow cooker with adjusted timing, maintaining the same layered flavors.
For a saucier texture, the sauce amounts can be doubled.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Bacon divided
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 1 large onion diced
- 30 ounces red kidney beans 2 x 16 ounces cans, drained and rinsed, canned
- 30 ounces pork and beans 2 x 16 ounces cans
- 15 ounces pinto beans 1 can, drained and rinsed, canned
- 15 ounces great northern beans 1 can, drained and rinsed, canned
Sauce
- 1 ⅓ cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup barbecue sauce plus 2 tablespoons for topping
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Set half of the uncooked bacon aside for topping. Cook the remaining half of the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain all fat except 1 tablespoon. Crumble bacon.
- Add ground beef and onion to the same pan and cook over medium heat until no pink remains, drain any fat.
- Combine all ingredients in a 9x13 pan and mix well. Top with remaining uncooked bacon and brush bacon with remaining bbq sauce.
- Bake uncovered 45-50 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Prepare recipe as above except cook all bacon until crisp. Set half of the crisp bacon aside for topping.
- Combine all remaining ingredients and place in a 6qt slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours or on low 4-5 hours.
- Top with reserved bacon before serving.
Notes
- Doubling the sauce ingredients results in a moister, saucier bean dish.
- The dish can be prepared in a slow cooker by cooking all bacon first and then combining ingredients to cook several hours on low or high.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 556 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 556 | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 64g | 21% |
| Protein | 29g | 58% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 81mg | 27% |
| Sodium | 1900mg | 79% |
| Potassium | 1071mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 9g | 36% |
| Sugar | 32g | 64% |
| Vitamin A | 708IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 122mg | 12% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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