Get ready to discover your new favorite comfort food with this incredibly easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans recipe. This dish is the perfect combination of savory, sweet, and smoky, all simmered to perfection in your crock pot. It’s a true “dump-and-go” meal that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor, making it perfect for potlucks, game days, or a hearty weeknight dinner. Just one bite, and you’ll understand why this dish is a timeless classic.
These beans are packed with a rich blend of ground beef, smoky bacon, and a trio of beans, all swimming in a tangy and sweet BBQ-based sauce. The slow cooker does all the work, allowing the flavors to meld together into something truly special. Whether you’re a seasoned pro in the kitchen or just starting out, this recipe is practically foolproof.
What Are Cowboy Beans?
Cowboy Beans, sometimes called chuckwagon beans, are a hearty baked bean dish with a Southwestern flair. The exact origin is debated, but they’re rooted in the simple, flavorful, and filling meals cooked on cattle drives. Traditionally, they feature pinto beans mixed with other ingredients like ground meat, bacon, onions, and a sweet and tangy sauce. Our Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans recipe honors that tradition while making it incredibly convenient for the modern home cook.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans Recipe
This isn’t just another bean recipe; it’s a game-changer for busy families and flavor-seekers alike.
- Incredibly Easy: Simply brown the meat, then dump everything into the slow cooker. It’s the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dish!
- Packed with Flavor: The combination of smoky bacon, savory ground beef, and a sweet and tangy sauce creates a deep, rich flavor that’s impossible to resist.
- Perfect for a Crowd: This recipe easily doubles to feed a large group, making it a go-to for parties, potlucks, and family gatherings.
- Hearty and Satisfying: Loaded with protein and fiber, these beans are a meal in themselves or a substantial side dish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients to create its signature flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground Beef: We use lean ground beef for its rich flavor.
- Bacon: Adds a delicious smoky and salty element.
- Onion & Garlic: The aromatic base for any great recipe.
- Beans: A mix of pinto, kidney, and black beans provides great texture and flavor. Make sure they are rinsed and drained.
- Sauce Ingredients: A blend of BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce creates the perfect sweet and tangy sauce.
- Spices: A simple mix of chili powder, smoked paprika, and mustard powder rounds out the flavors.
For a delicious and easy side dish to serve with these beans, try our Easy Butter Swim Biscuits.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
Making these cowboy beans is a simple two-step process: browning the meat and then letting the slow cooker work its magic.
Step 1: Brown the Meats and Aromatics
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until it becomes crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet. Add the ground beef and chopped onion to the skillet. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain off any excess grease. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 2: Combine and Slow Cook
Transfer the cooked beef and onion mixture to the slow cooker. Add the cooked bacon, rinsed pinto beans, kidney beans, and black beans. In a separate bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, and mustard powder. Pour the sauce mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker and stir everything together until well combined.
Step 3: Let it Simmer
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The beans are done when the sauce has thickened and the flavors have melded together beautifully. Give it a final stir before serving.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
One of the best things about this Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans recipe is how easy it is to customize.
- Different Meats: Try using ground turkey, chicken, or even spicy Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
- Make it Spicy: Add a chopped jalapeño, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a dash of your favorite hot sauce for some extra heat.
- Vegetarian Option: Omit the ground beef and bacon. To add a smoky flavor, use a tablespoon of liquid smoke and add extra beans or some hearty vegetables like bell peppers. Our Hearty Lentil Soup (coming soon) is another great vegetarian option.
What to Serve with Cowboy Beans
These beans are incredibly versatile. Serve them as a main course with a side of cornbread or biscuits, or as a side dish for your favorite barbecue dishes. They pair perfectly with grilled chicken, pulled pork, and ribs. For a complete and satisfying meal, consider serving it alongside our Oven-Roasted Garlic Chicken (coming soon).
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Cowboy beans are fantastic for leftovers, as the flavors get even better overnight.
- Refrigeration: Store leftover beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Freezing: Allow the beans to cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave until warmed through. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or beef broth to reach your desired consistency.
Yes! To make them on the stovetop, combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven after browning the meat and simmer on low for 1-2 hours. For the oven, bake in a covered dish at 325°F (165°C) for 2-3 hours.
Certainly. While pinto and kidney beans are traditional, you can substitute with navy beans, butter beans, or cannellini beans based on your preference. Just be sure to use canned beans that have been rinsed and drained.
Absolutely. Allow the beans to cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
For a vegetarian version, simply omit the ground beef and bacon. You can add a tablespoon of liquid smoke to retain that smoky flavor and consider adding diced bell peppers or corn for extra texture.
Cowboy Beans are incredibly versatile! They are fantastic with cornbread, biscuits, grilled chicken, pulled pork, ribs, or as a hearty topping for baked potatoes. They’re a classic side dish for any barbecue or potluck.
Yes! To make them on the stovetop, combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven after browning the meat and simmer on low for 1-2 hours. For the oven, bake in a covered dish at 325°F (165°C) for 2-3 hours.
Certainly. While pinto and kidney beans are traditional, you can substitute with navy beans, butter beans, or cannellini beans based on your preference. Just be sure to use canned beans that have been rinsed and drained.
Absolutely. Allow the beans to cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
For a vegetarian version, simply omit the ground beef and bacon. You can add a tablespoon of liquid smoke to retain that smoky flavor and consider adding diced bell peppers or corn for extra texture.
Cowboy Beans are incredibly versatile! They are fantastic with cornbread, biscuits, grilled chicken, pulled pork, ribs, or as a hearty topping for baked potatoes. They’re a classic side dish for any barbecue or potluck.
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans: The Ultimate Hearty Side Dish
This Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans recipe is the ultimate comfort food! A hearty, flavorful mix of ground beef, bacon, and three types of beans simmered in a smoky, sweet, and tangy BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving the fat in the skillet.
- Add the diced onion and ground beef to the skillet. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
- Transfer the beef and onion mixture to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the cooked bacon and the rinsed and drained pinto, kidney, and black beans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, and black pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the sauce has thickened and the flavors have melded.
- Stir well before serving. Enjoy hot.
Notes
For a thicker sauce, you can uncover the slow cooker for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
This recipe is great for making ahead, as the flavors deepen overnight in the refrigerator.
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans: The Ultimate Hearty Side Dish
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving the fat in the skillet.
- Add the diced onion and ground beef to the skillet. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
- Transfer the beef and onion mixture to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the cooked bacon and the rinsed and drained pinto, kidney, and black beans.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, and black pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the sauce has thickened and the flavors have melded.
- Stir well before serving. Enjoy hot.
Notes
This recipe is great for making ahead, as the flavors deepen overnight in the refrigerator.
Share Your Creation!
We are certain you’ll adore this Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans recipe! It’s the perfect dish to bring warmth and robust flavor to your table with minimal fuss. If you make this recipe, don’t forget to leave a comment below and share your masterpiece on Pinterest!
