Cowboy Beans
User Reviews
5
Cowboy Beans
Description
Cowboy Beans bring together pieces of bacon and crumbled ground beef cooked with onions and a mix of pork and beans. The addition of yellow mustard, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar provides a balanced combination of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors. The mixture is baked in the oven until thickened, allowing flavors to deepen and meld. The partially cooked bacon is layered on top to become crisp and flavorful during baking. The fresh parsley sprinkled at the end adds a hint of freshness. This dish is well-suited as a warming accompaniment to barbecues or a hearty side at any casual meal.
The texture ranges from the tender beans and savory meat to the crisp edges of bacon. Cooking the ground beef finely integrates it throughout the beans, while the layers of flavor from mustard and molasses create depth without overwhelming the palate.
To prepare, the bacon fat is used to cook the ground beef and onions for extra flavor. Removing some fat ensures the dish is not greasy. Baking at 350 degrees for up to 90 minutes thickens the bean mixture and crisps the bacon topping. Using kitchen shears simplifies cutting bacon into pieces. Choosing leaner ground beef like 90% helps keep excess grease away from the final dish.
Ingredients
- 8 lices Bacon cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 3 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 parsley chopped, fresh leaves
- cooking spray
- salt to taste
- black 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.
Notes
- Use kitchen shears to quickly cut bacon into bite-sized pieces.
- Choose 90% lean ground beef for less grease; if using 80% lean, drain excess fat after cooking.
- Finely crumble ground beef for even distribution with the beans, or keep larger pieces if preferred.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 365 kcal
% 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.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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