Description
This hearty Cowboy Beans recipe combines ground beef, savory vegetables, smoky bacon, and sweet baked beans, all baked together to create a rich, comforting dish perfect for family dinners or potlucks. The slow baking allows flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a thick, flavorful bean casserole with a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy notes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (approximately 1 cup)
- 1 green bell pepper, diced (approximately 1 cup)
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ¼ cup brown sugar (optional)
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) baked beans (such as Bush’s Original Baked Beans)
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Brown Meat: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a 4-quart, oven-safe pot such as a Dutch oven, heat over medium heat. Add the ground beef along with the diced onion and green bell pepper. Season with garlic salt and onion powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and the vegetables are softened. Drain any excess grease from the pot.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the cooked and crumbled bacon, brown sugar if using, baked beans, barbecue sauce, and Dijon mustard. Mix everything thoroughly until the ingredients are well combined.
- Bake: Cover the pot with a lid and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour, allowing the beans to heat through, become bubbly, and thicken into a hearty stew-like consistency.
- Serve: Once baked, remove the pot from the oven and serve the Cowboy Beans warm as a comforting main dish or a side at your next gathering.
Notes
- Brown sugar is optional but adds a nice subtle sweetness to balance the savory and smoky flavors.
- Using a Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot is essential for baking the beans evenly and safely in the oven.
- Bacon can be cooked in the same pot before browning the beef to add extra smoky flavor.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger groups and baked in a casserole dish if preferred.
- For a spicier version, consider adding a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper.
