Cowboy Beans

A hearty recipe made with pork n' beans, ground beef, sausage, brown sugar and a simple sauce that's perfect for cookouts, barbeques and covered-dish affairs (finish in crock pot or on the stove).

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This is my go-to recipe for cookouts – whether we’re hosting or going to someone else’s house – you can guarantee I’ll be making Cowboy Beans.

I cook everything on the stove then transfer it into a crock pot to keep warm. Sometimes I brown the meat the night before then just stir it all together in the crock pot the next day.

I also like to make these when we’re having burgers, hotdogs, or barbeque chicken. My family can’t eat a whole batch of this at one sitting so I freeze the leftovers to bring out the next time (it freezes beautifully!).

My youngest daughter starting cooking this herself at the ripe ol’ age of eight. So, if she could make this when she was that young, anyone can make this recipe!

The secret is starting with what I call Plain Jane beans. Look for Van Camp’s, Showboat or Libby’s “pork & beans,” not “baked beans” or anything with a special sauce (mesquite, maple, honey barbeque, etc.). 

We’re going to jazz them up with our own simple sauce that works perfectly with the simple tomato sauce they’re canned in. 

The beans are savory and a little sweet. You can hit them with some heat if you like by adding cayenne pepper or a chopped jalapeño pepper with the onion. 

I like to use half ground beef and half bulk sausage (usually Jimmy Dean or Swaggerty's) but you can use all hamburger (or sausage) if you’d like. I’ve sauteed kielbasa and added to these as well (one pound instead of the bulk sausage).

We eat this as a side dish but plenty folks have told me they eat it like chili and love it. It’s a little too sweet for me to eat by the bowl but you do you, boo!

I think the sweetness is what makes it such a great accompaniment to rich, juicy burgers and salty hotdogs and brats. 

A FEW NOTES ABOUT COOKING COWBOY BEANS

• Look for plain “pork & beans”, (Van Camp’s, Showboat, Libby’s, etc.) not the fancier varieties of baked beans that are already sauced/flavored. 
• I use Jimmy Dean or Swaggerty's sausage (regular or hot). 
• For a kick, seed and dice a fresh jalepeno pepper then add with the onions. 
• Use any traditional tomato-based barbeque sauce. Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ or Aldi’s Kansas City are my favorites. 

Recipe for Cowboy Beans

cowboy beans, pork and beans, pork n beans, hamburger, ground beef, sausage, jimmy dean, brown sugar, barbeque sauce, bbq, side dish, crock pot, slow cooker, cookout, covered dish, best, how to, easy, original

Side Dishes

American

Yield: 16 Servings

Author: Mandy Rivers | South Your Mouth

Cowboy Beans

A hearty recipe made with pork n' beans, ground beef, sausage, brown sugar and a simple sauce that's perfect for cookouts (finish in crock pot or on stovetop).

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb bulk sausage
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 28-oz. cans plain pork n’ beans
• 3/4 cup barbeque sauce
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. Season ground beef with salt and pepper to taste then cook/crumble over high heat in a large skillet with sausage and onions. Drain fat.
2. Combine barbeque sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and remaining spices then mix well. Pour sauce over meat then stir well. Reduce heat to low.
3. Open cans of beans then pour off any liquid that’s settled at the top (there’s typically quite a bit). Add beans to meat mixture then gently stir to incorporate.
4. For Stovetop: Cook, uncovered, over low heat for 20 minutes or until simmering.
5. For Crock Pot: Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours (or until simmering) then switch to “keep warm” setting.

Notes

• Look for plain “pork & beans” (Van Camp’s, Showboat, Libby’s, etc.), not the fancier varieties of baked beans that are already sauced/flavored. 
• I use Jimmy Dean or Swaggerty's sausage (regular or hot). 
• For a kick, seed and dice a fresh jalepeno pepper then add with the onions. 

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