Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans Recipe

Slow cooker cowboy beans are a delicious and hearty dish that you’ll want to make every week once you’ve tasted how good they are. This recipe combines beef with bacon, sausage, and three different types of beans, making it perfect for feeding a hungry family, a crowd, or for meal prepping. The tangy, spicy flavor of cowboy beans is irresistible.

Why You’ll Love It

Tasty: The combination of meats and three kinds of beans creates a delicious dish that no one can resist.
Hearty: This dish makes a filling meal for any occasion and can also be served as a side dish or buffet style.
Easy: Using canned beans makes this recipe quick and simple to prepare.

Ingredients

1 lb bacon
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef
1 lb sausage
3 cans (16 oz each) baked beans, not drained
2 cans (16 oz each) kidney beans, drained
2 cans (16 oz each) black beans, drained
1 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp chili powder

Instructions

Prepare the bacon: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking dish with foil and lay the bacon in the pan. Bake for 20 minutes and then chop into 1-inch pieces.
Brown the meat: In a large pan, sauté the onion, garlic, beef, and sausage over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain the grease.
Slow cook the beans: Transfer the beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add the bacon, all the beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and chili powder. Stir to combine. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.

Tips

Cooking the bacon: You can also chop and sauté the bacon or broil it. Air frying is another option.
Keep bacon drippings: Add the bacon grease to the beans for extra flavor.
Adjust sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet dish, reduce the amount of sugar or use a BBQ sauce that’s more spicy and smoky.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Try Mexican corn and kale salad or garlic bread.
Side dishes: Tex-Mex chicken pasta salad pairs well with these beans.
Desserts: Consider Mexican rice pudding or candy shots for dessert.

Storage

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze portions for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: Warm in the microwave or on the stove.

Enjoy this hearty, flavorful slow cooker cowboy beans dish as a main course or a side. It’s perfect for meal prepping and can be customized with different meats and beans to suit your taste.

Re-reported the article originally published in Xoxo Bella.