Cowboy Beans
Get ready to savor the bold, smoky flavors of Cowboy Beans, a hearty and satisfying dish that's perfect as a side or main course. This crowd-pleasing recipe combines crispy bacon, tender ground beef, and a medley of pinto, kidney, and black beans, all simmered in a rich, tangy sauce infused with barbecue goodness. Enhanced with notes of smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin, these beans are slow-cooked to perfection, allowing the flavors to meld into a tantalizing combination of sweet, savory, and smoky. Ready in just over an hour, Cowboy Beans are ideal for potlucks, barbecues, or family dinners, and pair wonderfully with cornbread or rice for a comforting, satisfying meal.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 0.5 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 cup water
Instructions
Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the bacon slices and cook until crispy. Remove the bacon, crumble it, and set aside. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pot.
Add the ground beef to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease if needed.
Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot with the cooked ground beef. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
Stir in the pinto beans, kidney beans, and black beans. Mix well to combine.
Add the barbecue sauce, ketchup, light brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together until fully combined.
Pour in the water and stir again. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the beans cook for 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will allow the flavors to meld and thicken the sauce.
Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. You can add more salt, pepper, or barbecue sauce for a sweeter or smokier flavor.
Serve the cowboy beans hot, garnished with crumbled bacon on top. Enjoy as a side dish or a hearty main course paired with cornbread or rice.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
554 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 19.7 g | 25% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.2 g | 36% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 59 mg | 20% | |
| Sodium | 1396 mg | 61% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 67.7 g | 25% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 13.5 g | 48% | |
| Total Sugars | 24.7 g | ||
| Protein | 29.1 g | 58% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 122 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 5.8 mg | 32% | |
| Potassium | 986 mg | 21% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
