Description
Hearty cowboy beans bring rustic charm from Texas ranch kitchens, delivering smoky, savory comfort in each spoonful. Cowboy beans promise a robust meal that connects you directly to southwestern culinary traditions with bold flavors and satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1/2 pound (226 grams) bacon, chopped
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
Beans:
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can cannellini beans, drained
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can kidney beans, drained
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can pinto beans, drained
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Fire up the oven to 350°F, preparing a robust cooking environment for the hearty cowboy beans.
- Render bacon in a spacious Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp and golden, then extract and reserve the meat, leaving behind its flavorful rendered fat.
- Sauté diced onions in the bacon drippings until translucent and softened, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and ground beef to the pot, methodically breaking down the meat while cooking until it achieves a rich, even brown color.
- Drain any accumulated excess fat from the beef to maintain a clean, concentrated flavor profile.
- Reintegrate the crispy bacon into the pot, then layer in chili powder, beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Thoroughly blend all ingredients, seasoning with salt and pepper to create a harmonious taste balance.
- Transfer the pot to the preheated oven, allowing the beans to bake uncovered for 45 minutes until the sauce develops a thick, caramelized consistency.
- Remove from the oven and let the dish rest briefly, allowing flavors to meld and intensify before serving.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispiness in your cowboy beans.
- Drain excess beef grease to prevent the dish from becoming too oily and maintain a rich, clean taste.
- Consider using low-sodium barbecue sauce and ketchup to control the salt content and customize the seasoning.
- For a vegetarian version, swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles or extra beans and use vegetable bacon alternatives.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg