Cowboy Baked Beans are a savory, bold dish loaded with bacon and packed with flavor. Made with a 3-bean combo and smoked paprika, they're simmered in a smoky sauce before being baked in the oven for a rich, caramelized crust. It's a hearty, crowd-pleasing side that's full of depth in every bite.
Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Side dish
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 1 hour
- 🍴 Servings: 8-10 servings
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Smoky, sweet, savory, and hearty with rich barbecue flavor
- 🍚 Best Served With: Grilled meats, burgers, or cornbread
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, can be assembled ahead and refrigerated before baking
Summarize and Save This Content On
I love making these homemade cowboy beans for cookouts because they're always a hit, and the oven-baked method saves valuable stovetop space. The hands-off approach makes it easy, while the meaty, hearty texture is satisfying enough to serve as a side dish or even a main.
If you're looking for more hearty cowboy recipes, try this cowboy soup and cowboy stew next!
Why This Recipe Works
- It's made with 3 types of beans: I use baked beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans to keep this old-fashioned cowboy beans recipe extra hearty and filling.
- Consists of pantry staples: You don't need any obscure ingredients to make these cowboy beans. It consists of common ingredients, keeping it easy and affordable.
- Bacon fat adds layers of flavor: I cook some smoky bacon and then use the fat to cook other ingredients for a flavor boost.
- Smoked paprika adds depth without heat: This is a unique ingredient in cowboy beans. It adds smokiness and depth of flavor without making them spicy.
Ingredients
You'll find the most important ingredients for this ground beef cowboy beans recipe below. They are classic items you'd find in any cowboy-style dish!
- Bacon: You'll want to use any variety of thick-cut bacon. This makes the pieces noticeable in the dish. Regular bacon can render too much and get lost.
- Ground beef: I recommend 80% lean ground beef. It's not too fatty or too lean, so it won't be overly greasy but still have flavor and moisture.
- Beans: I use three kinds of beans here: baked beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Use any variety of baked beans that you like and ensure that you rinse and drain the kidney and pinto beans. Try making slow-cooked pinto beans if you like bean side dishes.
- BBQ sauce: This is another ingredient you can choose based on your preference. I like to go with a classic smoky sauce so the beans don't lean too sweet.
- Smoked paprika: I like to call this the "secret ingredient" because you don't see it often in other cowboy baked beans recipes. It adds a lovely smoky flavor and depth to the dish.
- Brown sugar: It's added to balance the tanginess from the Worcestershire and mustard. It's a better choice than white sugar because it has notes of molasses, bringing a more complex flavor.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Swap the meat: Try another protein like ground sausage or turkey. Even sliced smoked sausage would be great in these baked cowboy beans.
- Make it spicy: Bring the heat with a ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
- Add veggies: Include more diced veggies like celery and bell peppers for nutrition and texture. (About ¼ cup of each is perfect)
How to Make Cowboy Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 casserole dish before you get started on this cowboy beans recipe.
Step 1: Cook the bacon. Grab your large pot and cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Then, remove it from the pot and save 2 tablespoons of grease.
Step 2: Brown the beef and onions. Brown the ground beef with the onions and garlic in the leftover bacon grease. Once soft and fragrant, drain any excess grease.
Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients. Pour in the remaining ingredients for the cowboy beans and stir well.
Step 4: Transfer and bake. Add the baked beans mixture to the prepared casserole dish and bake it, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling. Serve the beans with sides like slow-cooked corn on the cob.
Expert Tips
- Allow it time to caramelize: Don't rush the baking process. They take almost an hour in the oven to allow the flavors to meld together and to let the top caramelize. That texture is what sets this recipe apart from other ones out there.
- Rest before serving: Allow the baked beans some time to rest before you serve them. This helps the sauce thicken perfectly.
- Freeze in individual portions: I found that reheating was much easier when I froze leftovers in small portions. Divide it between a few airtight containers and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Storage directions: Place leftover beans into an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheating the leftovers: You may reheat the beans in the microwave, covered with a paper towel, for about 2-3 minutes in a microwave-safe bowl. On the stovetop, keep it at low heat and add a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce. It should take around 10 minutes.
Another meaty baked beans recipe you should try is this baked beans with sausage.
Serving Suggestions
- Protein ideas: Enjoy these baked beans with ground beef as a filling side dish alongside BBQ meatloaf, roasted chicken, or a turkey burger.
- Corn recipes: Beans and cornbread are a classic combination, and it works well with other corn dishes too. I recommend savory corn muffins and cream cheese corn casserole.
- Tasty toppings: Top your bowl of cowboy beans with hamburger with some diced red onion, fresh parsley or cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, or shredded cheese.
- Repurposing leftovers: Reheat your leftover cowboy beans and spoon them on top of a baked potato or to replace chili on a hot dog.
Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe FAQs
Yes! Make sure that you brown the beef, bacon, and onion first. Then you can add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Of course. Follow the same directions as in this recipe up until transferring it to the baking dish. Then, add all the ingredients to a large pot and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes.
If you find that your beans are too thick, add a splash of water to thin them out. Start with just a ¼ cup and add a little more as needed.
I recommend that you cook them a little longer to cook off more moisture. To avoid this issue, ensure you thoroughly drain the cans of pinto and kidney beans so you don't add any extra water to your beans.
Sure! Use another protein, like sausage or more bacon, to replace the ground beef.
More Delicious Ground Beef Recipes
Do you like ground beef recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Cowboy Baked Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick-cut bacon chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 28-ounce cans baked beans
- 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish by lightly greasing it.
- Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Stir in the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Drain excess grease if needed, then return the cooked bacon to the skillet.
- Add the baked beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, and stir until fully combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes, or until hot and bubbling around the edges.
- Let the beans rest for 5 minutes before serving to thicken slightly.
Notes
- Don't rush these cowboy baked beans-they need close to an hour in the oven for the flavors to come together and the top to caramelize. That rich, textured finish is what makes this recipe stand out.
- Let the cowboy baked beans rest for a bit before serving so the sauce can thicken up nicely.
- Make these homemade cowboy beans in the slow cooker! Start by browning the beef, bacon, and onion. Then add everything to your slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
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