Yee-haw 😄 here’s a classic Cowboy Beans recipe—smoky, sweet, hearty, and perfect for BBQs, potlucks, or cozy dinners.
🤠 Cowboy Beans (Old-School & Crowd-Pleasing)
🫘 Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (or 6–8 slices bacon, chopped)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) baked beans
- 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp yellow or Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
🍳 Instructions
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook beef (or bacon) with onion until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add garlic; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in all beans, sauces, sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, and spices.
- Simmer on low heat 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or spice.
🔥 Optional Cowboy Add-Ins
- Chopped jalapeños 🌶️
- A splash of apple cider vinegar
- A spoon of molasses for deep sweetness
- Smoked sausage slices
🥄 Serve With
- Cornbread
- Ribs or grilled chicken
- Hot dogs
- Potato salad
✅ Why everyone loves them: thick, smoky, sweet-savory, and even better the next day.
Want a slow-cooker, campfire, or vegetarian version next?
