Description
Hearty slow cooker cowboy beans bring rustic Southwest charm straight to dinner tables with bold, smoky flavors. Each spoonful delivers rich protein-packed comfort that satisfies hungry souls and celebrates classic ranch-style cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 0.5 pound bacon, chopped
Beans:
- 3 cans (15 ounces each) pork and beans
- 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 0.5 cup barbecue sauce
- 0.25 cup ketchup
- 0.25 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Render the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until thoroughly cooked, eliminating any surplus fat. Transfer the meat to a separate plate.
- In the identical skillet, crisp the bacon until golden brown. Extract the bacon pieces and allow them to drain on absorbent paper, preserving a hint of bacon drippings.
- Incorporate chopped onions and green bell peppers into the residual bacon drippings. Sauté the vegetables until they become translucent and tender, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Transfer the prepared ground beef, crunchy bacon fragments, caramelized vegetables, pork and beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans into a spacious slow cooker.
- Introduce barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Thoroughly blend all components.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the mixture to simmer on low temperature for 6-8 hours or on high temperature for 3-4 hours. Periodically mix the contents to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Once completed, ladle the robust cowboy beans into serving dishes. Optional: Garnish with fresh chopped herbs and accompany with warm cornbread or fluffy rice for a hearty meal.
Notes
- Enhance meat flavor by using ground beef with higher fat content for more richness and depth.
- Swap bacon with turkey bacon or omit for vegetarian version, adding smoked salt for similar smoky profile.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium beans and reducing added salt, perfect for heart-conscious diners.
- Make ahead and freeze for up to 3 months, allowing flavors to develop and intensify during storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 337 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 636 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 52 mg