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Cowboy baked beans are packed with bacon, ground beef and a mix of beans in a thick, sweet and smoky sauce. Chunks of browned beef and bacon run through the whole dish to make every serving satisfying. Brown sugar, mustard and barbecue sauce come through clearly in the flavor, giving it that sweet, tangy kind of profile with a slightly smoky hint in there too. If you have a big cowboy-sized appetite, you’re looking for canned baked beans only better, or you want a brand new side dish, I heartily recommend you try this rich and tasty recipe for yourself.
Why You’ll Love It
Cowboy baked beans are a thick, savory bean dish with bacon, ground beef and a sweet smoky sauce.
Filling dish: This has enough meat and beans to feel like more than a light side. It can be a side dish or even a main course with salad or bread.
Wonderful flavors: Sweet, smoky and slightly tangy all come through clearly.
Varied texture: You get a mix of softer beans, firmer beans and bits of beef in every mouthful.
Also try my cowboy soup, spicy cowboy candy, cowboy stew, this robust meatloaf and potato casserole, or my bite-size but hearty cowboy sliders.
Cowboy Beans Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Bacon: Adds smoky flavor and rendered fat that carries through the dish. I prefer thick-cut bacon for a rich smoky flavor and better texture.
Ground beef: Brings weight and a savory base.
Yellow onion: Chopped onion softens into the mixture and adds depth.
Garlic: Adds a sharper savory note. I like to add extra minced garlic (or include a pinch of garlic powder) because it goes so well in this beans with ground beef dish!
Baked beans: Provide part of the base along with a built-in sweet sauce.
Kidney beans: Hold their shape and add a firmer bite.
Pinto beans: Soften more and blend into the sauce slightly.
BBQ sauce: Adds sweetness and a smoky profile.
Ketchup: Contributes tang and a bit more sweetness.
Brown sugar: Deepens the sweetness.
Yellow mustard: Adds acidity that cuts through the richness.
Worcestershire sauce: Brings a deeper savory note.
Smoked paprika: Reinforces the smoky flavor.
How to Make Cowboy Baked Beans
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook bacon: Fry until crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon, leaving some bacon drippings in the pan.
Brown beef: Cook the ground beef in the same pan, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add aromatics: Stir in diced onion until softened, then add garlic briefly.
Combine mixture: Return bacon and add beans and sauce ingredients. Stir to combine.
Transfer to dish: Spread the mixture into a baking dish.
Bake: Cook until done. I usually check at 45 minutes and when it’s bubbling round the edges, it’s ready.
Rest: I recommend you let this dish sit briefly before serving so it cools a little.
Substitutions and Variations
Ground meat swap: Use ground pork sausage in place of beef for a stronger flavor, or try ground turkey.
Extra meat addition: Add chopped smoked sausage or canned pork for more texture.
Bean variation: Swap one of the canned beans for white beans, black beans, butter beans or cannellini beans.
Gluten-free version: Use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and barbecue sauce if needed.
Heat adjustment: Add chili powder, diced jalapeños or cayenne pepper for extra heat, or leave them out.
Slow cooker option: Brown the beef, bacon, garlic and onion, then transfer everything into your Crockpot and cook for 4 to 6 hours on low.
Feed a crowd: Double up on all the ingredients and bake in a pair of 9 x 13-inch pans.
Add veggies: Include red or green bell pepper or other fresh veggies.
Serving Suggestions
With BBQ mains: Serve alongside smoked shrimp, BBQ ribs or smoked pulled chicken where the smoky, sweet flavor lines up with the beans.
With burgers or hot dogs: Spoon them onto a hot dog or serve with hot dog and potato foil packs or bacon cheeseburger sliders.
With cornbread: A slice of cornbread works well to scoop up the sauce and balance the sweetness.
As a topping for baked potatoes: Use them as a topping for a split baked potato with a bit of butter underneath.
On your breakfast plate: Add a scoop next to your steak and eggs or enjoy as a contrasting dish with something like this spirulina blue smoothie bowl.
Make loaded nachos: Spoon over tortilla chips with cheese and jalapeños or add a scoop to your seared steak nachos.
How to Store
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze cooled beans for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed.
Top Tips
Drain fat carefully: Remove excess bacon grease after cooking the meat. I leave a couple of tablespoons in the skillet, no more.
Bake uncovered: This helps the sauce reduce, concentrate and slightly caramelize on top.
Stir before serving: Mix everything once it’s out of the oven so the sauce is evenly distributed.
Cowboy Baked Beans FAQs
Yes, assemble the dish in advance, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, and then bake when you’re ready.
Yes, simmer everything together in a large skillet or Dutch oven over a medium heat until thick enough for your liking, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon for even cooking.
It likely needs more time in the oven for the sauce to reduce.
Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe
Cowboy Baked Beans
Equipment
- Skillet Large
- Baking Dish 9 x 13-Inch
Ingredients
- 1 Pound thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 Pound ground beef
- 1 Teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Can pinto beans, 15-Ounce, drained and rinsed
- 1 yellow onion, small, finely diced
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Cans baked beans, 28-Ounce cans
- 1 Can kidney beans, 15-Ounce, drained and rinsed
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ Cup BBQ sauce
- ½ Cup ketchup
- ⅓ Cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons yellow mustard
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
Cook the Bacon
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over a moderate heat until crispy.
- Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving 2 Tablespoons of the bacon grease in the skillet.
Add More Ingredients
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking apart as it cooks, until browned.
- Add the onion and cook for 3 or 4 minutes until tender.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Drain off any excess grease and put the cooked bacon back in the skillet.
- Add the baked beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, brown sugar, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper.
- Stir until fully combined.
Bake the Cowboy Baked Beans
- Transfer the mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, uncovered, or until bubbling around the edges and hot throughout.
Rest and Serve
- Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes before you serve it, so your cowboy baked beans thicken and cool slightly.
Notes
Bake uncovered: This helps the sauce reduce, concentrate and slightly caramelize on top.
Stir before serving: Mix everything once it’s out of the oven so the sauce is evenly distributed.
Nutrition
This cowboy beans recipe combines crispy bacon, cooked ground beef and beans in a tangy sauce that’s rich, slightly sweet and smoky with a bit of tang running through it. The mix of textures from the beans and meat gives each bite some variation, and the sauce ties everything together without getting lost in the dish. Cowboy baked beans is the kind of side people keep going back to because it has enough flavor to stand out. It’s always a big hit at family gatherings and cookouts!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
