You’ll love these easy cowboy baked beans with Bush’s baked beans. Savory ground beef, bacon, molasses, onion, red pepper, brown sugar, and Sweet Baby Rays barbecue sauce.
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I love simple side dishes, and this one is a winner. Perfect for summer BBQs, fried or baked chicken, ribs, burgers, sandwiches, and Sunday dinners.
This recipe can be oven-baked, made in the smoker, slow cooker, or on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Beans - I recommend using Bush’s original baked beans, but substitute with your favorite brand.
Meat - I used 90/10 ground beef and center-cut bacon.
Vegetables- Fresh onion and red bell pepper.
Sauces- Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, and molasses.
Seasonings- Chili powder, smoked paprika, onion, and garlic powder.
Sugar, Salt, and Pepper- I like dark brown sugar.
Mix In’s Suggestions for The Best Baked Beans
Make this amazing bean side dish as meaty or beany as you would like.
Bean Options - Popular additions include pinto, cannellini, black, navy, and kidney beans.
Meat Options - Ground pork sausage, fully cooked and sliced smoked sausage, ground venison, country ham, hot dogs, cooked salt pork, or Canadian bacon.
Popular Add-Ins - Maple Syrup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and spicy brown mustard.
Cooking Options
Stovetop - These beans can be fully made in a heavy-bottom pot. Sauté the meats, vegetables, and spices. Let cook on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, adding additional liquid or water if needed.
Oven Baked - In a baking dish or foil pan - uncovered for 45 minutes or until bubbly at 350°F.
Crockpot or Slow Cooker- High for 2 ½ hours or Low for 5 hours.
Smoker - Place beans into a Foil Pan, cover with foil. Temperature 200°F, for 2 hours.
Storage and Leftovers
Leftover baked beans should be stored in an airtight container and last for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
They can be frozen in individual portions for up to 6 months.
Step-By-Step Instructions and Photos
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a pot or skillet on low-medium heat, add the bacon. Cook until crispy. Remove from the pot with slotted spoon, onto a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
- Drain the liquid pork fat. Raise the heat to medium
4. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, and crumble into small pieces.
5. Add chopped onion and red pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
6. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Mix and Bake
7. In a 9x13 baking pan (Foil Pan or Crockpot) add both cans of baked beans, undrained.
8. Top with BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and molasses. Mix well.
9. Add the ground beef mixture (optional: I like to reserve some for the topping) and ½ of the bacon. Mix until combined.
10. Top with the remaining half of the bacon and brown sugar. Top with ground beef, if you reserved it.
11. Place uncovered in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly.
12. Carefully remove from the oven. Let cool for 20 minutes, mix, and Enjoy.
Cowboy Baked Beans
Equipment
- Heavy Bottom Pot or Skillet
- 9x13 Baking Dish, Foil Pan, or Crockpot
- Rubber spatula
- Metal Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Ground Beef, 90/10
- 6 slices Bacon, sliced into strips
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- ½ Red Bell Pepper
- 2 28oz Baked Beans, Bush's Original (recommended)
- ¼ cup Dark Brown Sugar, extra for topping
- ½ cup BBQ Sauce, Sweet Baby Rays (recommended)
- ½ cup Ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Molasses, unsulfured
- 2 tablespoon Dijon or Yellow Mustard
- 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a pot or skillet on low-medium heat, add the bacon. Cook until crispy. Remove from the pot with slotted spoon, onto a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
- Drain the liquid pork fat. Raise the heat to medium. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, and crumble into small pieces.
- Add chopped onion and red pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Mix and Bake
- In a 9x13 baking pan (Foil Pan or Crockpot) add both cans of baked beans, undrained.
- Top with BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and molasses. Mix well.
- Add the ground beef mixture (optional: I like to reserve some for the topping) and ½ of the bacon. Mix until combined.
- Top with the remaining half of the bacon and brown sugar. Top with ground beef, if you reserved it.
- Place uncovered in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly.Cooking Options: Crockpot High for 2 ½ hours or Low for 5 hours. Smoker - Place beans into a Foil Pan, Cover with foil. Temperature 200°F, for 2 hours.
- Carefully remove from the oven. Let cool for 20 minutes, mix, and Enjoy.
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