Cowboy Beans

Last Updated May 24th, 2023 at 12:52 pm by Lisa

Cowboy Baked Beans are loaded with browned hamburger meat and crispy applewood smoked bacon. The addition of ground beef makes these absolutely amazing and almost a meal itself.

One of the most delicious side dishes ever. A family favorite for dinner, holidays like Christmas and Easter, or for summer cookouts and picnics. People also call these calico beans or hamburger baked beans.

These crock pot baked beans can also be baked in the oven. Enjoy this hearty recipe that feeds a large hungry crowd. They will rave, get seconds, and want this great recipe...

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Traditional baked beans are really good, but this is one of the best baked beans with ground beef recipes ever.

The first time I tried these I couldn't stop eating them at a friend's birthday party.

This cowboy bean recipe is my own version and is one of my personal favorite new recipes and is quick, easy, and inexpensive to put together.

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How To Make Cowboy Beans

• 1 lb bacon applewood smoked
• 1 large yellow onion chopped
• 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 48 ounces baked beans (don't drain)
• 32 ounces kidney beans (drain)
• 16 ounces cannellini beans (drain)
• 32 ounces black beans (drain)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard

Ground beef 85/15 works well in this recipe. You can also swap in lean ground beef if you prefer.

Bacon any brand works fine, but applewood smoked bacon is so extra special and adds a bit of smoky flavor. Feel free to add even more bacon than I used! And if you really like a smoky flavor, you could add some liquid smoke.

Apple cider vinegar is in the recipe to help balance the sweetness of the brown sugar, ketchup, and sugar in the canned baked beans. If you want to dial back the sweetness, you can use less sugar by reducing the brown sugar.

Beans usually called for in this recipe are limas, and those work really well. I have listed additional types of beans that will work just fine. I used canned instead of dry beans. Soaked beans take time, plus they don't always get to the right soft texture.

• butter (mature lima beans)
• pork and beans
• navy
• kidney
• black
• pinto
• cannellini white

Let's Make Them!

1. Decide if you are going to make them in a slow cooker or bake in the oven. You can use a deep casserole dish or large pot like a dutch oven. I like a large heavy cast iron pot so I can cook in it and finish baking all in one. Slow cookers are great for parties to keep them warm for several hours.
2. Chop the sliced uncooked bacon into small pieces, over medium heat, brown the bacon in a heavy cast-iron skillet or a large cast iron dutch oven on the stove top using a wooden spoon. Tip, you can cut the bacon into small pieces with clean kitchen scissors right into the pot-I find this faster!
3. Remove the crispy cooked bacon to a small bowl with a slotted spoon. Don't remove the bacon drippings from the pan. Next add the chopped onion and brown for 5-6 minutes until translucent, add the minced garlic, stir for one minute.
4. Next, brown the ground beef, cook for 6-8 minutes. Next, add the bacon, back in with the cooked ground beef, onion, and garlic.
5. Next, add 3 cans of baked beans (don't drain), 2 cans of kidney beans (drain), 1 can of cannellini beans (drain), and 2 cans of black beans (drain).
6. Add the remaining ingredients; brown sugar, cider vinegar, ketchup, and yellow mustard. Stir all the ingredients well to combine.
7. Place into the slow cooker or large dutch oven or large deep casserole dish. The baked beans usually doesn't all fit in one standard 9 x 13, you need a deeper dish.
8. Cook in slow cooker crockpot on low for 2 hours OR bake 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours in a large covered dish. Serve hot.

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Reader Comments

"Very good! I made this today for the slow cooker to take to a family reunion." Christy

"I lost my old recipe for Cowboy Beans and found this duplicate. hooray! It is a perfect match and love, love, love them." Durreta

"Wow I made these last week and my family went crazy for these cowboy baked beans. Will be doing this again over memorial day weekend." William

"These “Cowboy Baked Beans” are fabulous. All you need is cornbread and sweet tea to make a great meal." Betty

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Serving Idea

You can serve individual hot portions in small paper bowls or cups with spoons to make them easier to eat at picnics and cookouts.

Leftovers

Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. When ready to reheat, place them in a casserole dish covered with aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes.

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Cookout Food Safety

• If serving outside, plan to keep food protected from flying insects with food tents, and try different ways to chill salads. You can use ice packs or buy special bowls that chill before parties.
• Keep dishes out of the direct sun if possible. When they sit out for a long time, they can spoil and not be food-safe. 
• For outdoor parties, make sure to get food back in the fridge after about an hour to keep it safe during the hottest time of day.
• It's a good idea to reheat leftover dishes later in the day when people get hungry.
• The best way to be on the safe side, is to choose dishes that won't spoil in the heat. Avoid mayonnaise-based recipes.
• Pack up leftovers for guests to take with them, and keep chilled until people head home.

What To Serve With Baked Beans

For your next holiday or cookout party Crockpot baked beans go well with the best side dishes like coleslaw, grilled corn, macaroni salad, or potato salad. A Seven Layer fresh salad is perfect with perhaps fresh fruit at family gatherings and picnics. You can serve a creamy dressing like Ranch Dressing. Serve a hot side dish of mashed potato on the buffet table. For a healthier option, serve a platter of fresh veggies with a light dip. And toss a colorful bowl of fresh fruit together for your party.

Try this easy recipe for smoky baked beans with main dish ideas like Cheeseburgers, Hot Dogs, or Cheeseburger Sliders. BBQ sandwiches like Pulled Pork Sandwiches can be topped with BBQ sauce. More delicious ways to enjoy perfect baked beans are to serve them with a grilled chicken breast or pork chops.