Cowboy Beans: A Hearty One-Pot Classic (with a Kick!)

This cowboy beans recipe is a family favourite! Hearty & flavourful, featuring ground beef & bacon. Perfect for a crowd. Get the easy recipe now!

May 22, 2025
By Olivia.
Updated May 26, 2025

Jump to Recipe print

0 Out of 5 Based on: 0 Ratings.

Recipe Introduction

Quick Hook

Ever crave a meal that tastes like home and adventure at the same time? this cowboy beans recipe does just that! it's smoky, savory, and a little bit sweet.

Honestly, it's comfort food at its finest.

Brief Overview

Cowboy beans , or sometimes called southern living baked beans , have roots in chucagon cooking. it's a hearty, one-pot meal, perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.

This easy cowboy beans recipe takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to make and serves 8.

Main Benefits

This cowboy beans recipe is packed with protein and fiber. plus, the beans with bacon and ground beef (or plant based alternative) make it incredibly satisfying.

It's the ultimate dish for a casual get-together. it's a real crowd pleaser for july 4th or any outdoor event.

What makes this cowboy beans recipe special? it's adaptable! i'm gonna show you how!

Let's talk about these ingredients. You know, like in a chili with pork and beans , there are so many variations. Well, the same is for cowboy baked beans !

First, you'll need olive oil. Then, one pound of ground beef, or your favorite plant-based alternative. Brown that sucker up and drain the grease. Seriously, don’t skip that step!

Next comes the flavor bomb! One chopped yellow onion, 2 cloves of minced garlic, and one chopped green bell pepper. Sauté that until it gets soft. About five minutes. Trust me.

Now, the good stuff! four slices of bacon! cook it up. then, crumble it over everything. mmmm! let's add 1 (15 ounce) can each of kidney, pinto, and great northern beans.

Make sure to rinse and drain them first. it's a must, okay? now dump in 1 (15 ounce) can of tomato sauce, 1 (10 ounce) can of diced tomatoes and green chilies (rotel).

Also add ½ cup of ketchup, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce, and the spices! you need 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.

Salt and pepper to taste. you know, measure with your heart.

Oh my gosh, I almost forgot, did you know that the average american eats 2 pounds of beans a year?

Bring it all to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. cover and cook for at least an hour.

Even an hour and a half, if you can wait. the longer it simmers, the richer it gets. serve with some chopped cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream!

This best baked beans recipe is super versatile. you can even adapt it to a slow cooker baked beans version.

Just brown the beef, sauté the veggies, and throw it all in the crockpot. cook on low for 6- 8 hours or high for 3- 4 hours.

Voila!

Okay, let's dive into the heart of a good cowboy beans recipe : the ingredients and what you'll need to wrangle 'em! honestly, this part is pretty straightforward.

It's all about building layers of flavor.

Cowboy Beans: A Hearty One-Pot Classic (with a Kick!) Recipe Card

0.0 / 5 (0 Review)

Preparation time:20 Mins

Cooking time:01 Hrs 30 Mins

Servings:8 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
• 1 pound ground beef (450g), or plant based alternative
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (approx. 1 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped (approx. 1 cup)
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (425g)
• 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained (425g)
• 1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans, rinsed and drained (425g)
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce (425g)
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained (Rotel) (283g)
• ½ cup ketchup (120ml)
• ¼ cup brown sugar, packed (50g)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (30ml)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
• Add chopped onion and garlic to the pot with the browned beef. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add green pepper and cook for 3 minutes more.
• Stir in the cooked and crumbled bacon, kidney beans, pinto beans, great northern beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and green chilies, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and garlic powder.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 hour and 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream, if desired. Serve hot.

Ingredients & Equipment

Main Ingredients: The Bean Bonanza

Okay, listen up. To make some righteous Cowboy Beans Recipe , you will need:

• 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil.
• 1 pound (450g) ground beef . Or use your favorite plant-based ground!
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped. About 1 cup, give or take.
• 2 cloves garlic, minced.
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped. Again, around 1 cup.
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled. Don't skimp here! This is for Baked Beans With Bacon .
• 1 (15 ounce) can (425g) kidney beans, rinsed and drained.
• 1 (15 ounce) can (425g) pinto beans, rinsed and drained. This is a chili pinto beans recipe foundation.
• 1 (15 ounce) can (425g) great northern beans, rinsed and drained.
• 1 (15 ounce) can (425g) tomato sauce.
• 1 (10 ounce) can (283g) diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained. I prefer Rotel.
• ½ cup (120ml) ketchup.
• ¼ cup (50g) packed brown sugar.
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) Worcestershire sauce.
• 1 tablespoon chili powder.
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika. Oh my gosh, this stuff is amazing!
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin.
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

For the beef, look for 80/20 ground beef for flavor. Quality bacon makes a world of difference! Thick-cut is the way to go. Remember this for your Southern Living Baked Beans experience.

Seasoning Notes: Spice It Up!

This is where the magic happens. Chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika are your base. Worcestershire adds a deep, savory note. Brown sugar balances it all.

• Essential spice combinations: chili powder + cumin + smoked paprika.
• Flavor enhancers: Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder.
• Quick subs: Skip the smoked paprika if you only have regular. Add a pinch of cayenne for a kick! Want a healthier Southern Baked Beans ? use sugar alternatives.

Equipment Needed: Keep It Simple

Honestly, you don't need a ton of fancy stuff.

• Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. You know, for those slow cooker baked beans .
• Cutting board and chef's knife.
• Can opener.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Meat thermometer (optional, for the ground beef).

Don't have a Dutch oven? A big pot will do! Use a regular pot if you're making this cowboy baked beans crockpot . It's adaptable! You know?

I've even seen folks make a hamburger pork and beans casserole in a pinch. it's all good! so, get your gear together, and let's cook.

It’s going to be a blast making this best baked beans recipe.

Alright y'all, let's dive into making some seriously good cowboy beans ! this ain't your grandma's baked beans recipe. this one's got meat, spice, and a whole lotta heart.

I promise, this cowboy beans recipe will be a crowd-pleaser.

Giddy Up: Prep Those Ingredients!

First, mise en place , which is just a fancy way of saying "get your stuff together." i swear, that one tip alone has upped my cooking game by like, a thousand percent.

For this southern living baked beans inspired dish, you'll want to chop your onion and green pepper, mince your garlic, and get all your canned beans rinsed and ready.

Seriously, don't skip the rinsing! it gets rid of some of that... you know, canned bean taste.

Time-saver tip: cook your bacon ahead of time! it's the best way to bake beans with bacon . i usually do it while the oven is preheating, but that's only if i have the oven on.

Now, onto the cooking method!

Saddle Up: Step-by-Step Cowboy Bean Cookin'

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in your big pot over medium-high heat.
2. Brown that 1 pound of ground beef . Make sure to break it up real good as it cooks. Drain off any extra grease. Nobody wants greasy baked beans with bacon !
3. Toss in your chopped 1 medium yellow onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic . Cook until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes . Then add that chopped 1 green bell pepper and cook for another 3 minutes.
4. Stir in your 4 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon , rinsed beans ( 1 15-ounce can each of kidney, pinto, and great northern ), 1 15-ounce can of tomato sauce , 1 10-ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chilies (undrained) , ½ cup of ketchup , ¼ cup of brown sugar , 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce , 1 tablespoon of chili powder , 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika , ½ teaspoon each of ground cumin and garlic powder. Whew, that's a mouthful!
5. Bring it to a simmer, then turn the heat down low, cover it, and let it cook for at least 1 hour , but up to 1 hour and 30 minutes . Stir it every now and then to make sure it's not sticking.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Done!

Pro Tips for the Best Dang Cowboy Beans

• Don't skimp on the simmer time . The longer these cowboy baked beans simmer, the more the flavors meld together. Honestly, it makes a huge difference. We're talking huge .
• Want some extra kick? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some hot sauce. These are great as part of hamburger pork and beans casserole.
• Common mistake : Forgetting to taste and adjust seasonings! Every batch is a little different, so make sure it tastes good to you .

So there you have it. a simple but delicious cowboy beans recipe that's sure to impress. this cowboy beans recipe is a unique take on the more common slow cooker baked beans.

Try this one out, you won't regret it.

Alright, let's talk about these Cowboy Beans recipe !

Recipe Notes for Cowboy Beans: Let's Talk Details!

Okay, so you’re about to whip up some seriously delicious southern living baked beans , or what i like to call amped-up southern baked beans ! i’ve made this cowboy baked beans so many times, i practically dream about it.

Here are some notes to make your life easier, and your beans even tastier.

Saddle Up and Serve: Presentation Ideas

Listen, presentation matters, even with beans with bacon ! for a rustic feel, serve these best baked beans right out of the pot.

Top with a dollop of sour cream. add some chopped cilantro and some shredded cheddar. or, if you wanna get fancy, layer them in mason jars for individual servings.

Think county fair chic! serve with some warm cornbread, too!

Lock It Up: Storage Savvy

Got leftovers? lucky you! these baked beans with bacon actually taste better the next day, you know? store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Want to freeze 'em? go for it! they'll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. just thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Just make sure they're piping hot before you eat them !

Mix It Up: Cowboy Beans Recipe Variations

Honestly, this cowboy beans recipe is pretty flexible. wanna make it veggie? ditch the ground beef and bacon and add more veggies like zucchini or carrots.

You can also easily adapt this to a slow cooker baked beans or even the cowboy baked beans crockpot .

For a healthier twist, use a sugar alternative or add some chopped fresh veggies for extra nutrients. it will also still work as a chili with pork and beans or a chili pinto beans recipe .

Nutrition Nugget: Health Benefits

Okay, i'm no nutritionist, but let's be real. these cowboy beans recipe are packed with protein and fiber. they'll keep you full and satisfied.

But remember, everything in moderation! the sugar and sodium can add up.

This is definitely a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal like the Pioneer Woman Cowboy Beans recipe.

So there you have it! my notes on the cowboy beans recipe . i really hope you enjoy making them, and don’t forget to have fun with it.

Let me know if you give this hamburger pork and beans casserole a try! i'm sure you'll make the best baked beans ever.