Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
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Looking for the best Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans you can find? This easy crockpot recipe combines crispy bacon, ground beef, baked beans, barbecue sauce and brown sugar for a smoky side dish that's perfect for cookouts and potlucks!
Recipe at a Glance
- Easy slow cooker recipe with minimal hands-on time.
- Loaded with sweet and smoky barbecue flavor.
- Great for parties, holidays, and family dinners!
Y'all, this is the best recipe out there if you like baked beans with ground beef and bacon! 🤠 It's packed with bbq flavor and extra hearty, so you could serve it as both a side dish or an entree. Making cowboy beans in a slow cooker means clean-up is a breeze, plus you don't have to keep your eye on the oven or stovetop!
If you're looking for more bean dishes, try my Calico Beans Recipe that are baked in the oven, or these Smoked Baked Beans made on a pellet grill. You can also make a big 'ol pot of Pinto Beans and Ham with a cake of cornbread if you're craving a good, old-fashioned southern dinner.
And, if hearty cowboy food is your thing, you'll love these recipes for Cowboy Cornbread Casserole, warm and filling Cowboy Soup, and this meaty Cowboy Queso that tastes amazing on just about everything.
What's the Secret to Making Cowboy Beans?
The secret to making this cowboy beans recipe is building layers of flavor before everything goes into the crockpot. Cooking the bacon until crispy and browning the ground beef with onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño creates rich, savory flavor and gives the beans a solid base.
For an even deeper smoky taste, add a small amount of liquid smoke and let the mixture cook low and slow for several hours so all the flavors have time to blend together.
Ingredient Notes
While this ingredient list may seem lengthy, most of the items are probably already hanging out in your pantry or refrigerator. 😊 Plus, the entire recipe comes together in 4 easy steps! View quantities and notes in the printable recipe card below.
- Applewood Smoked Bacon - Adds rich smoky flavor and crispy texture throughout the beans.
- Ground Beef - Makes the dish hearty enough to serve as a meal or substantial side dish.
- Onion - Provides savory flavor as it cooks with the beef.
- Green Bell Pepper - Adds color, texture and flavor.
- Jalapeño - Brings a kick of heat that balances everything else.
- Canned Baked Beans - you can use any type of beans you like including navy, pinto, lima, black bean and kidney beans, or a combo of these.
- Ketchup - Adds tangy tomato flavor and helps create the sauce.
- Barbecue Sauce - Provides smoky sweetness and classic barbecue flavor.
- Brown Sugar - Balances the savory ingredients with a touch of sweetness.
- Yellow Mustard - Adds a slight tang that enhances the dish.
- Worcestershire Sauce - Brings rich umami flavor.
- Barbecue Rub Seasoning - Boosts the smoky, savory barbecue taste.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
1 - Add the diced bacon to a large skillet over medium heat and cook until crispy. Drain the grease. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
2 - In the same skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, and jalapeño. Break the beef into bite-sized pieces as it cooks. Continue cooking until the beef is browned and the vegetables have softened. Drain any excess grease.
3 - Add the cooked bacon, beef mixture, baked beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and barbecue rub seasoning to the slow cooker.
4 - Stir everything together until well combined. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Stir before serving and enjoy.
Variations
- Use maple bacon or candied bacon instead of applewood smoked bacon.
- Swap ground beef for leftover smoked brisket or pulled pork.
- Use a variety of canned beans if you want to add more texture and color.
- For spicier beans, add cayenne pepper, chili powder, hot sauce, or crushed red pepper flakes.
Serving Ideas
- Serve cowboy baked beans alongside smoked chuck roast, pulled pork, grilled chicken, baby back ribs, my popular hot dog chili recipe, or these juicy bourbon burgers on the grill.
- Enjoy as a hearty main dish with southern cornbread or cathead biscuits.
- Top with shredded cheese, sliced green onions, or million dollar bacon for extra flavor.
- Serve with coleslaw and red skin potato salad for a southern barbecue spread.
Helpful Tips
- Cook the bacon until fully crispy so it maintains texture during slow cooking.
- Drain excess grease from the beef mixture to prevent the beans from becoming overly oily.
- For extra smoky flavor, add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the mix, or use smoked meat such as brisket instead of ground beef.
- Allow the beans to cook low and slow to develop the best flavor.
- Taste before serving and adjust sweetness, heat, or smokiness as desired.
Recipe FAQ
Place a paper towel or tea towel beneath the lid. Make sure it is secured tightly so it doesn't sag into the food. The towel will absorb excess moisture and help maintain the desired consistency.
The heat level depends largely on the jalapeño you use. For extra heat, add cayenne pepper, chili powder, hot sauce, or crushed red pepper flakes.
Add additional brown sugar, honey, or molasses in small amounts until the desired sweetness is reached.
Storage Guide
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
- To reheat cowboy baked beans, place in a saucepan over medium heat and stir frequently until heated through.
- For freezing, transfer cooled beans to a freezer-safe container, leaving a little room for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
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Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Ingredients
- 1 pound applewood smoked bacon (diced)
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 jalapeño (deseeded and diced)
- 2 (28 oz cans) baked beans, do not drain (I use Bush's baked beans)
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup barbecue sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon barbecue rub seasoning (found on the spice aisle)
Instructions
- Add the diced bacon to a large skillet over medium heat and cook until crispy. Drain the grease. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- In the same skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, and jalapeño. Break the beef into bite-sized pieces as it cooks. Continue cooking until the beef is browned and the vegetables have softened. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the cooked bacon, beef mixture, baked beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and barbecue rub seasoning to the slow cooker.
- Stir everything together until well combined. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Stir before serving and enjoy.
Notes
- Cook the bacon until fully crispy so it maintains texture during slow cooking.
- Drain excess grease from the beef mixture to prevent the beans from becoming overly oily.
- For extra smoky flavor, add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the mix, or use smoked meat such as brisket instead of ground beef.
- Allow the beans to cook low and slow to develop the best flavor.
- Taste before serving and adjust sweetness, heat, or smokiness as desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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