Cowboy beans with hamburger and bacon are a hearty and flavorful dish made with onion, peppers, brown sugar, beans, and barbecue sauce. Seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices, this dish delivers a delicious explosion of flavors in every bite.
Looking to whip up a hearty recipe that will become a family favorite for those summer backyard barbecues or festive holiday gatherings?
Cowboy beans, a popular dish in the southwestern United States, offer a comforting and hearty experience. Made with different types of beans, this recipe is ideal for barbecues, cookouts, or potluck gatherings.
Cowboy beans complement a mouthwatering main dish of brisket, creamy potato salad, and a delectable assortment of your favorite summertime desserts.
Whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or a summer cookout that calls for classic backyard barbecue fare, adding cowboy beans to your meal will bring an extra burst of flavor.
While they are undeniably fantastic for summer cookouts, their appeal extends well beyond the warm weather months. Cowboy beans become the ideal comfort food for cool winter nights when served with freshly baked cornbread.
Whether gathered around a blazing summer barbecue or seeking solace from the winter chill, cowboy beans offer a delicious and wholesome option to enjoy year-round.
What are Cowboy Beans Made of?
Cowboy beans are a delicious, hearty side dish packed with bacon, peppers, onion, lean ground beef, beans, and brown sugar. They are cooked in a flavorful mixture of tangy barbecue sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar.
What Does Cowboy Beans Mean?
Cowboy beans, also called chuckwagon beans, are a cowboy comfort food that harks back to the days of the Wild West. Beans have long been a staple in cowboy campfire cookouts and trailside feasts.
The base of a cowboy bean recipe consists of a medley of black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Simmered to perfection, these legumes create a protein-packed foundation for the dish.
The beans are often cooked slowly with bacon, lean ground beef, or ham hock, infusing the pot with smoky and savory notes.
Cowboy Beans Ingredients
Cowboy beans offer the flexibility to choose ingredients that match your family’s preferences, making it a versatile and customizable dish.
Here’s our family’s favorite way to enjoy this meal as a perfect side dish. Please refer to the bottom of this post for the full recipe card.
Lean Ground Beef – While lean ground beef is my preferred choice for this recipe, feel free to experiment with ground turkey or chicken as a substitute.
Bacon – any brand of bacon will work for this recipe. I prefer using Applegate Natural Hickory Smoked. Consider adding a dash of liquid smoke for an even bolder smoky flavor.
Onion – No cowboy beans recipe is complete without the addition of onions. Whether you prefer yellow, white, or red onions, their flavor and aroma add depth and richness to the popular dish.
Bell Peppers – You can use a combination of different colored bell peppers to add visual appeal and a variety of flavors to your cowboy beans.
Beans – The classic beans used in this recipe are pinto beans, but you can also use a variety of beans. I used canned beans (pinto, kidney, black) instead of dry ones to save time, as soaking beans can take a while. You will need four different kinds of beans.
- Butter Beans
- White Beans
- Calico Beans
- Lima Beans
- Cannellini Beans
Sauce – to create the best tangy sauce for this easy cowboy beans recipe, use a combination of bbq sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. If you prefer, you can use ketchup instead of barbecue sauce.
Beef Broth – Add beef broth to achieve the desired sauce consistency and stir it into the mixture.
Spices – Chili powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic bring depth, smokiness, and a hint of tang to your cowboy beans.
How to Make Dutch Oven Cowboy Beans With Hamburger
Prepare Dutch Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Meanwhile, place a dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat on your stove top.
Cook Bacon and Ground Beef
Add the chopped bacon to the dutch oven or a large skillet and cook it over medium heat until it turns crispy. Once the bacon is crispy, remove it from the pot and set it aside. Leave the bacon fat in the pot.
Next, add the ground beef to the pot, cooking it until it turns brown and crumbly while breaking it into small pieces. Once the beef is fully cooked, you can remove most of the fat (grease) from the pot. Leave a small amount to saute the vegetables.
Sauté Onion, Pepper, and Garlic
Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the pot. Sauté until the vegetables are tender and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes. Add in minced garlic and sauté another 2 minutes.
Combine Ingredients
Return the cooked bacon to the pot. Add the drained and rinsed beans. Stir in the ketchup or barbecue sauce, brown sugar (if desired), apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
Pour in the beef broth to ensure the beans have enough moisture. Sprinkle in the chili powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until well combined.
Bake the Beans
Cover the Dutch oven with a lid and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 1 hour until the beans are heated, and the flavors melded together.
Serve and Enjoy
Remove the dutch oven from the oven, and gently stir the beans before serving. Serve the cowboy beans hot as a main course or side dish.
Treat yourself to a bowl of steaming hot cowboy beans on those chilly evenings, providing a heartwarming and comforting main dish. To complement this delicious meal, grab a slice of freshly baked cornbread.
Cowboy beans are the ideal side dish for those scorching hot summer days to complement your grilled or smoked meats. They create a perfect meal when paired with barbecued ribs, juicy steak, and grilled corn on the cob.
Spicy Cowboy Beans
If you want to spice up your cowboy beans, several options exist. Add jalapeño peppers for a mild to medium heat level. A few dashes of hot sauce will do the trick for a bolder kick.
If you prefer a touch of heat with a smoky flavor, sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes. Another option is to use cayenne pepper sauce or hot sauce for a more evenly distributed spiciness.
Add serrano peppers if you’re feeling adventurous and want a spicier experience. And for the bravest spice lovers, the fiery habanero peppers will bring intense heat.
Remember to start with small amounts and adjust according to your desired spice level.
Tips for Making Cowboy Beans
Slow Cooker – to adapt this recipe for slow cooker cowboy beans, follow the above instructions. Transfer everything to the slow cooker. Mix well, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
Experiment with Additions – Consider adding ingredients like jalapeños for heat, liquid smoke for a smoky flavor, or different types of meat like ground turkey or sausage.
Allow for Simmering Time – Cowboy beans benefit from simmering to allow the flavors to develop fully. Let them cook on low heat for an extended period to achieve optimal taste and tenderness.
Adjust Seasoning and Sweetness – Taste the beans and adjust the seasoning as necessary. You can add salt, pepper, or spices to balance the flavors. If desired, omit the sugar for those who prefer a less sweet version of cowboy beans.
Leftover Cowboy Beans
Leftover cowboy beans can be a delicious and convenient option for future meals. Whether you have leftovers from a big batch or intentionally made extra, here’s how to store your leftover cowboy beans.
Refrigerator – Transfer the cooled beans into an airtight container or sealable bag. Place them in the refrigerator, where they can stay for 3-4 days.
Freezer – Ensure the beans have completely cooled before transferring them to freezer-safe containers or plastic freezer bags. Squeeze out any excess air, label the containers with the date, and store them in the freezer. Frozen cowboy beans can maintain their quality for up to 3 months.
More Dutch Oven Recipes You May Love
Printable Recipe Card
Dutch oven cowboy beans with hamburger is a delicious and hearty meal and an incredibly easy recipe. With the combination of ground beef, bacon, and a medley of flavorful ingredients, this dish makes it a true crowd-pleaser.
So, grab your Dutch oven, follow the easy steps, and treat yourself to a hearty and delicious meal that will satisfy your hunger and taste buds.
Dutch Oven Cowboy Beans Recipe with Hamburger
Experience the ultimate flavors of Dutch Oven Cowboy Beans made with bacon and hamburger. Cooked to perfection, this hearty dish blends tender beans, crispy bacon, and hamburger for a mouthwatering medley of smoky richness. Whether gathered around a campfire or hosting a cookout, unleash the cowboy spirit and savor the irresistible aroma and comforting goodness of these crowd-pleasing cowboy beans.
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon, chopped and cooked
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 bell pepper, diced (approximately 1 cup)
- I medium onion, diced (approximately 1 cup)
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 cans (15 ounces each) variety of beans
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce (can substitute ketchup)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 5 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Meanwhile, place a dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat on your stove top.
- Add the chopped bacon to the dutch oven or a large skillet and cook it over medium heat until it turns crispy. Once the bacon is crispy, remove it from the pot and set it aside. Leave the bacon fat in the pot.
- Next, add the ground beef to the pot, cooking it until it turns brown and crumbly while breaking it into small pieces. Once the beef is fully cooked, you can remove most of the fat (grease) from the pot. Leave a small amount to saute the vegetables.
- Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the pot. Sauté until the vegetables are tender and fragrant, approximately 5 minutes. Add in minced garlic and sauté another 2 minutes.
- Return the cooked bacon to the pot. Add the drained and rinsed beans. Stir in the ketchup or barbecue sauce, brown sugar (if desired), apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Pour in the beef broth to ensure the beans have enough moisture. Sprinkle in the chili powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cover the Dutch oven with a lid and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 1 hour until the beans are heated, and the flavors melded together.
- Remove the dutch oven from the oven, and gently stir the beans before serving. Serve the cowboy beans hot as a main course or side dish.
- Serve a generous portion of hot cowboy beans in a bowl as a main dish, and accompany them with a slice of cornbread for dipping.
Notes
Slow Cooker – to adapt this recipe for slow cooker cowboy beans, follow the above instructions. Transfer everything to the slow cooker. Mix well, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
Experiment with Additions – Consider adding ingredients like jalapeños for heat, liquid smoke for a smoky flavor, or different types of meat like ground turkey or sausage.
Allow for Simmering Time – Cowboy beans benefit from simmering to allow the flavors to develop fully. Let them cook on low heat for an extended period to achieve optimal taste and tenderness.
Adjust Seasoning and Sweetness - Taste the beans and adjust the seasoning as necessary. You can add salt, pepper, or spices to balance the flavors. If desired, omit the sugar for those who prefer a less sweet version of cowboy beans.
This is delicious. It makes a large amount and is very variable. I will continue to make this.