Who doesn’t love the classic cowboy beans, the hearty and comforting dish that’s been an American staple since the wild west? Whether you’re preparing this rustic recipe for a summer BBQ, a holiday gathering, or just a cozy weeknight meal, cowboy beans are guaranteed to hit the spot.
Cowboy Beans are a great recipe that we always like to bring to family gatherings or neighborhood parties. They’re just so filling and satisfying, it’s almost like a whole meal itself.
One of the great things about this recipe is you can either make it in the oven or slow cook in a crockpot.
As a kitchen staple, they offer an inexpensive and accessible option for anyone looking to add some down-home flavor to their meal plans. So gather your ingredients, cook up a pot of cowboy beans, and see if they can make your mealtime a little more adventurous.
What are Cowboy Beans?
Cowboy beans, also known as chuckwagon beans, are a hearty, rich and flavorful dish traditionally associated with the American West. They typically consist of beans slow-cooked with a variety of ingredients such as beef, bacon, onions, bell peppers, and a mix of seasonings. The dish is often sweetened with brown sugar or molasses and has a smokey flavor thanks to the addition of ingredients like smoked paprika or liquid smoke. Cowboy beans are often served as a main dish but can also be a side dish at barbecues, picnics, or other casual gatherings. They represent a rustic, comfort food that reflects the spirit of outdoor cooking and camaraderie.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef
- Bacon
- Bush’s Grillin Beans
- Bush’s Maple & Cured Bacon Baked Beans
- Black Beans
- Butter Beans
- Mild Chili Beans
- Vinegar
- Mustard
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Brown Sugar
- Ketchup
How to make Cowboy Beans
Brown the ground beef and onion and drain.
Cook the bacon until crisp, cool and crumble.
Add all of the ingredients to a Dutch oven. Bake at 350 F for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Or you can use a crockpot, cooking for 4 hours on low.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- These are the tools I use when making this recipe!
- GreenPan Frying Pan–GreenPan has the best frying pans, healthy nonstick and oven safe.
- Le Creuset Cast Iron Dutch Oven –Enameled cast iron delivers superior heat distribution and retention, plus it’s easy to clean.
- Silicone Mixing Spoon–The perfect spoons to keep your nonstick pans scratch free.
More Delicious Recipes to Try
Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cowboy Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound bacon
- 1 can Bush’s Grillin Beans
- 1 can Bush’s Maple & Cured Bacon baked beans
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 can butter beans
- 1 can mild chili bean
- 4 tablespoons vinegar
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and the onion and drain.
- Cook the bacon until crisp, cool and crumble.
- Add all the ingredients to a Dutch Oven. Or you can use a crockpot, cooking for 4 hours on low.
- Bake at 350° F for 1½ to 2 hours.
- Serve hot and enjoy!