Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans Recipe
Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans is a hearty and flavorful bean dish featuring lean ground beef, crispy bacon, and a blend of kidney, white, and pork and beans, all simmered together in a rich sauce made with ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and a hint of liquid smoke. This comforting slow-cooked recipe is perfect as a filling side or a stand-alone meal for gatherings or weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 12 ounces bacon, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
Beans
- 1 can kidney beans (15 ounces), drained and rinsed
- 1 can white beans (15 ounces), drained and rinsed
- 1 can pork and beans (28 ounces), not drained
Sauces and Seasonings
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- Brown beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, remove the beef from the skillet and set it aside.
- Fry bacon and sauté onion: In the same skillet, add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy, about 5-9 minutes. Then add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté until soft and translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Combine ingredients in slow cooker: Transfer the cooked ground beef and the bacon-onion mixture into a slow cooker. Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans, white beans, the can of pork and beans (with liquid), ketchup, barbecue sauce, light brown sugar, and liquid smoke. Stir all ingredients together to combine well.
- Slow cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for about 2 hours. Stir the mixture once during cooking to ensure even flavor distribution. Serve warm.
Notes
- Make sure to drain and rinse the kidney and white beans to reduce excess sodium and improve texture.
- You can adjust the barbecue sauce and brown sugar amounts to make the beans sweeter or tangier according to your taste.
- For a spicier version, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder before slow cooking.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat well.
- This recipe pairs well with cornbread or over rice for a complete meal.
Keywords: cowboy beans, slow cooker beans, bean casserole, ground beef beans, bacon beans, easy slow cooker recipe
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/slow-cooker-cowboy-beans-recipe/
