Description
Hearty Cowboy Beans deliver rustic western charm straight from chuck wagon kitchens to dinner tables. Rich slow-cooked beans mingled with smoky bacon and bold spices promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave after a long day’s ride.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- ½ pound bacon, chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef
Beans:
- 2 (15 ounces) cans pork and beans, undrained
- 1 (15 ounces) can cannellini beans, drained
- 1 (15 ounces) can kidney beans, drained
- 1 (15 ounces) can pinto beans, drained
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Render bacon in a spacious Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy and golden. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel, reserving the rendered fat in the cooking vessel.
- Sauté diced onions in the bacon drippings until translucent and soft, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Introduce minced garlic and ground beef to the pot, systematically crumbling the meat while cooking until it achieves a rich, even brown coloration.
- Drain any accumulated excess fat from the meat to maintain a clean, concentrated flavor profile.
- Reintroduce the previously crisped bacon pieces back into the pot, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Incorporate chili powder, assorted beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Thoroughly blend all components to ensure comprehensive distribution.
- Season the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Transfer the robust bean preparation to a preheated 350°F oven, allowing it to bake uncovered for approximately 45 minutes.
- Monitor the dish as it transforms, watching the sauce caramelize and thicken into a rich, deeply flavored composition.
- Remove from the oven when the beans have reached a thick, glossy consistency with deeply developed flavors.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut bacon for extra crunch and robust flavor that adds depth to the beans.
- Drain most bacon grease if watching fat intake, leaving just enough for sautéing onions for a lighter version.
- Use low-sodium barbecue sauce and ketchup to control salt levels, especially for health-conscious diners.
- Consider swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner, vegetarian-
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg