Description
Cowboy Beans is a hearty, flavorful bean dish loaded with a mix of beans, smoky sausage, bacon, and seasoned with a tangy brown sugar and molasses sauce. This slow-cooked recipe is perfect for gatherings, barbecues, or as a comforting side dish that combines smoky and sweet flavors with a cheesy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Cheese
- 1 pound hamburger meat
- ½ pound bacon (chopped, save the grease)
- 1 pound smoked sausage links (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese
Beans
- 1 14.5 ounce can pork and beans (do not drain)
- 1 14.5 ounce can pinto beans (drained)
- 1 14.5 ounce can kidney beans (drained)
- 1 14.5 ounce can great northern beans (drained)
Vegetables & Seasonings
- ½ cup onion (diced)
- ½ cup ketchup
- â…“ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons mustard
Instructions
- Cook the Meats. In a large skillet or pan, cook the hamburger meat and bacon over medium heat until fully browned. Drain excess fat, reserving some bacon grease to enhance flavor.
- Add Sausage and Onion. Add the smoked sausage pieces and diced onions to the pan. Cook until onions are soft and sausage is slightly browned, stirring occasionally to combine flavors.
- Mix Beans and Sauce. In a large slow cooker or heavy pot, combine pork and beans (with liquid), drained pinto beans, kidney beans, and great northern beans. Add the cooked meat mixture to the beans.
- Prepare the Seasoning. In a separate bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, chili powder, salt, ground pepper, and mustard. Pour this sauce mixture over the beans and meat in the slow cooker.
- Slow Cook the Beans. Cover and cook on low heat for approximately 6 hours (360 minutes), stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and evenly distribute flavors.
- Add Cheese and Finish. About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle shredded cheese over the beans. Cover again to allow the cheese to melt thoroughly before serving.
Notes
- For best flavor, use smoked sausage with a robust smoky taste.
- If you want a spicier version, increase the chili powder or add cayenne pepper.
- You can prepare this recipe in the oven by placing all ingredients in a covered casserole dish and baking at 300°F for 4-5 hours.
- Leftovers reheat well and taste even better the next day.
- To reduce fat, use lean ground beef and turkey bacon instead of pork bacon.
