Description
Cowboy Baked Beans with Ground Beef is a hearty, smoky, and slightly sweet dish perfect for cookouts, potlucks, or a comforting family dinner. Packed with protein-rich beans, seasoned ground beef, and a rich blend of spices, this easy-to-make recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can baked beans
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving some bacon grease in the pan.
- Sauté aromatics by adding chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until softened and fragrant.
- Brown the ground beef in the same skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.
- Combine ingredients by transferring the cooked beef mixture to a large mixing bowl. Stir in baked beans, kidney beans, black beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Transfer to a baking dish and spread the mixture evenly.
- Top with crumbled bacon for extra flavor and crunch.
- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the beans are bubbling and flavors are well combined.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make it Spicy – Add diced jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce.
- Vegetarian Option – Use plant-based crumbles and vegetarian baked beans.
- Different Bean Mix – Swap or add pinto beans, navy beans, or Great Northern beans.
- Extra Smokiness – Stir in a teaspoon of liquid smoke.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course, Side dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cowboy baked beans, baked beans with ground beef, smoky baked beans, hearty bean recipe, barbecue side dish