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Cowboy baked beans with ground meat and bacon in a slow cooker, stirred with a wooden spoon.
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Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

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!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time4 hours 10 minutes
Total Time4 hours 25 minutes
Course: Side Dishes, Sides
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 311kcal
Author: Debi Morgan | Quiche My Grits

Equipment

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.
    Step-by-step images: cooked bacon, raw beef with vegetables, ingredients in a pot, and finished baked beans.

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

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 524mg | Potassium: 288mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg