Cowboy Beans are a hearty side dish made with ground beef, bacon, onion, peppers, brown sugar, baked beans, and barbecue sauce. Try my Simple Country Baked Beans for another sweet and savory baked beans side dish.
Cowboy Beans
What are cowboy beans? The name most likely came from the days when pioneers traveled along the trails and needed quick, easy, and filling foods. Beans last for a long time, and they can be made with just some water, so they were the perfect staple for extended journeys. By adding the ground beef to this recipe, it makes the dish even more filling!
Cowboy Beans Ingredients
Ground Beef: I prefer ground beef in this recipe; but, you could definitely try ground turkey as a substitute.
Bacon: Cook and crumble the bacon before adding it to the pot. To make this easy (with little clean-up), bake the bacon ahead of time on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet for 18-20 minutes at 415°F.
Seasonings: I added a little bit of garlic salt and onion powder to the mix.
Baked Beans: Choose two 28-ounce cans of your favorite brands of baked beans. We used Bush’s Original Baked Beans.
Barbecue Sauce: As with baked beans, choose your favorite kind of barbecue sauce. Or, use this homemade BBQ sauce.
How to Store Cowboy Beans
To store cowboy beans, first, let them cool to room temperature. Then, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Can I Freeze Baked Beans?
Yes! This recipe does make quite a bit, so you can easily freeze the leftovers. Be sure to let the side dish cool completely before putting it into a freezer-safe container. Label and date the container; they will last up to 6 months.
More Side Dishes
Cowboy Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (approximately 1 cup)
- 1 green bell pepper, diced (approximately 1 cup)
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ¼ cup brown sugar (this is optional – you could omit)
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) baked beans, we used Bush's Original Baked Beans
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a 4 quart, heavy bottom, oven-safe pot (like a Dutch oven) over medium heat, add ground beef, onion, bell pepper, garlic salt, and onion powder. Cook until the hamburger is no longer pink. Drain the excess liquid.
- Add cooked bacon crumbles, brown sugar, baked beans, barbecue sauce, and dijon mustard. Stir to incorporate all ingredients.
- Cover and bake for 1 hour. (When done, the beans should be hot and bubbly and thickened.) Serve warm.
Video
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I used ground venison and venison sausage. Baked beans and Lima beans and kidney beans. Instead of the oven I put them in my crockpot on med for a few hours. I made sweet whole kernal cornbread with it. I had no leftovers
Have you ever tried these in a crock pot? Or better in the oven?
Delicious, savory, and very fun to make.
Great recipe! So delicious! I used baked beans, light red kidney beans, and black beans.
Did you drain the beans?
Thank you for the recipe.
These beans came out sooo good. I used a whole package of bacon, added worchestchier, and didn’t measure my mustard (probably used about 3/4 tablespoons). I had people who don’t normally enjoy baked beans, love them. I’ll definitely be making these again and sharing the recipe! Thank you!!
I made this with sausage instead of hamburger meat, it’s so good!!
Definitely good with sausage! A friend of mine used ground beef and hot ground sausage, the sweet of the brown sugar really cut the heat of the sausage and it was excellent.
Yummmm!!!
I just made these. for a church Fall Fellowship tonight. They look and smell amazing. I hope they are a hit.
I’m gonna make these, this weekend with some bbq chicken sliders and potato salad. Daughter’s bday dinner
I make mine similar to these I use dry pinto beans and make them into baked beans and black beans also.. use some roast as the meet from leftovers or cut up sausage can be added… with all the peppers and sweet peppers and some red pepper flakes and a jalapeño best EVER
Just made this! Absolutely amazing! Although instead of baking i transferred added it all into my crockpot for a few hours on low!! So good!
So so good !! My husband asks for them over and over. Great potluck dish – always a hit ❤️
We have made this for years but put it in a baking dish and covered it with canned biscuits. Place in the oven and bake until biscuits are just about done. Cover biscuits with cheese and return to the oven until the cheese is completely melted
EVERYONE loves these …
I use this as a main dish with biscuits. Best comfort food ever.
good stuff
Had my 1st taste of these beans at my friend’s house and was hooked immediately.
So happy to finally have the recipe !!
This was a HUGE hit with my kids…thank you for posting this!
Amanda, these are the best Cowboy beans I have ever tasted 😋!!!!!!!! My family devoured every last bite. Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe 😊😋
What degree do you bake?
#1 in the instructions says 350°F
You mean….chili beans??🤔
Nope, that is not what I mean. These are cowboy beans. Thanks for commenting today.
This is far from chili beans 🤦🏼♀️
So good! Made them for the game a couple weeks ago and they were a hit. Taking a batch on a ice fishing trip this weekend!