Cowboy Baked Beans

Cowboy Baked Beans are a hearty cookout favorite made with ground beef, bacon, baked beans, green bell pepper, onion, and a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. They’re rich, meaty, and filling enough to stand out alongside burgers, grilled chicken, ribs, and other summer favorites.

This recipe works especially well for barbecues, potlucks, family gatherings, and grilling season, but it can just as easily become an easy dinner when you want something simple and satisfying. The beans can be baked in the oven until thick and flavorful or finished in the slow cooker when you need a more hands-off option.

What makes cowboy baked beans different from regular baked beans is the addition of ground beef and bacon, which turns a basic baked-bean side into something much heartier while still keeping that familiar sweet, smoky, and savory flavor.

What Are Cowboy Baked Beans?

Cowboy baked beans are a heartier version of traditional baked beans made with ground beef and bacon along with a sweet and smoky barbecue-style sauce.

The biggest difference between regular baked beans and cowboy baked beans is the added meat. Ground beef makes the dish more filling, while bacon adds smoky flavor and a different texture throughout the beans.

In this version, baked beans are combined with ground beef, bacon, onion, green bell pepper, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and mustard before being cooked until the sauce thickens and everything comes together.

Ingredient Tips

• Ground beef: Lean ground beef works best so the finished beans do not become overly greasy. Brown it first, then drain any excess fat before moving on to the bacon.
• Bacon: Cook the chopped bacon after the ground beef and use the rendered bacon fat to cook the onion and green bell pepper. The bacon adds both smoky flavor and a different texture to the finished beans.
• Baked beans: Use two 28-ounce cans of baked beans. Since the beans already come seasoned and sauced, the brand and flavor you choose will influence the final taste.
• Yellow onion: Dice the onion so it softens easily and blends into the beans rather than remaining in large pieces.
• Green bell pepper: The green pepper adds a slightly earthy flavor that balances the sweeter ingredients in the sauce.
• Barbecue sauce: Use a barbecue sauce you already enjoy because it contributes a large part of the sweet and smoky flavor.
• Brown sugar: This boosts the sweetness already present in the baked beans and barbecue sauce.
• Mustard: Mustard adds a little tang that helps balance the sweetness of the beans, barbecue sauce, and brown sugar.

How To Make Cowboy Baked Beans

Oven Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Add the ground beef to a large oven-safe pot and cook until browned. Remove the beef from the pot and drain any excess grease.
3. Add the chopped bacon to the same pot. Cook until done, then remove it and leave the rendered bacon fat in the pot.
4. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook until softened and fragrant.
5. Return the ground beef and bacon to the pot. Add the baked beans, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and mustard, then stir everything together.
6. Bring the beans to a simmer, cover the pot, and transfer it to the oven.
7. Bake for 1 hour, then remove from the oven and allow the beans to cool slightly before serving.

Slow Cooker Method

1. Brown the ground beef on the stovetop and drain any excess grease.
2. Cook the chopped bacon separately until crisp, then set it aside.
3. Add the browned ground beef, baked beans, onion, green bell pepper, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and mustard to the slow cooker.
4. Stir everything together and cover.
5. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
6. Stir the beans, then add the crispy bacon just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What To Serve With Cowboy Baked Beans

Cowboy baked beans are a natural fit for summer cookouts, backyard barbecues, and potlucks. Since the beans are already hearty from the ground beef and bacon, they work especially well as the substantial side next to grilled meats.

• Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast – Smoky barbecue chicken is an easy match for the sweet and savory sauce in the beans.
• Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs – Juicy grilled thighs pair well with the hearty beans for an easy cookout meal.
• Grilled Chicken Wings – A classic barbecue pairing that works especially well when feeding a crowd.
• Carne Asada – Grilled beef and cowboy baked beans make a hearty summer plate with plenty of smoky flavor.
• Oven Baked Hamburgers – Juicy homemade burgers and hearty cowboy baked beans make an easy backyard cookout meal.

For a larger barbecue spread, add a cold potato salad, coleslaw, or macaroni salad alongside the beans and grilled meat.

Storage and Reheating

Allow the cowboy baked beans to cool, then transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. Store in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

Reheating

For individual portions, reheat the beans in the microwave until hot throughout.

For larger portions, warm them in a covered pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, or reheat them covered in the oven. Leftovers should reach 165°F before serving.

If you reserved crispy bacon for serving, add fresh bacon after reheating rather than mixing it into the beans beforehand so you keep that extra crunch.

More Baked Beans and Cookout Recipes

• Baked Beans With Ground Beef – A beefy baked bean recipe without bacon that is hearty enough to serve as an easy family dinner.
• Crockpot Baked Beans – A hands-off slow cooker option that works well for cookouts, potlucks, and feeding a crowd.
• Dr Pepper Baked Beans – Sweet and savory baked beans made with Dr Pepper for a different spin on a classic barbecue side.
• Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs – Tender pork ribs that make a natural main dish alongside a pot of cowboy baked beans.
• Barbecued Rib Tips – Saucy barbecue rib tips that fit right into a summer cookout spread.
• Loaded Potato Salad – A hearty cold potato salad that rounds out a barbecue plate alongside the beans and grilled meats.