Get ready to discover your new favorite comfort food! These Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans are the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and smoky, all simmered to perfection in your crockpot. This recipe is incredibly easy to prepare, making it a go-to for busy weeknights, potlucks, and game day gatherings. It’s a hearty, flavorful dish loaded with ground beef, crispy bacon, and a blend of beans in a rich, tangy sauce that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
What Makes These the Best Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans?
While many recipes exist, this one stands out for its incredible depth of flavor and effortless preparation. We’ve fine-tuned the balance of ingredients to create a dish that’s truly unforgettable.
A Symphony of Flavors
We don’t just dump ingredients into a pot. We layer flavors by browning the beef and bacon first, creating a rich foundation. The sauce is a perfectly balanced blend of BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar, which creates a tangy, sweet, and smoky taste that complements the savory meats and earthy beans.
The “Set It and Forget It” Method
The magic of this recipe lies in the slow cooker. Once you’ve browned the meat, the rest is as simple as combining everything and letting the crockpot do the work. It allows the flavors to meld together over several hours, resulting in tender beans and a thick, luscious sauce without you having to watch over the stove.
Key Ingredients for Authentic Cowboy Beans
The secret to phenomenal cowboy beans lies in using quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create this mouthwatering dish:
- Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10) for a rich, meaty flavor without excess grease.
- Bacon: Thick-cut bacon adds a crispy texture and a wonderful smoky flavor that is essential to this dish.
- Beans: A mix of pinto and kidney beans provides a great texture and flavor. We’re using canned beans for convenience.
- Onion & Garlic: These aromatics form the flavor base of the recipe.
- BBQ Sauce: Choose your favorite brand; a smoky or hickory-flavored sauce works best.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a touch of molasses-sweetness that is characteristic of cowboy beans.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Cuts through the richness and balances the sweetness of the sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Provides a deep, umami flavor that elevates the dish.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps to create the most delicious crockpot cowboy beans you’ve ever tasted. The process is straightforward and yields amazing results every time.
- Cook the Meats: In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon until 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 and cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain off any excess grease.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the cooked beef and onion mixture to the basin of your slow cooker. Add the minced garlic, pinto beans, kidney beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the cooked bacon. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: 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.
- Serve and Garnish: Give the beans a good stir before serving. Garnish with the remaining crispy bacon.
Pro Tips for Recipe Success
Want to ensure your Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans are absolutely perfect? Here are a few expert tips:
- Don’t Drain The Beans: The liquid from the canned beans adds essential starch that helps thicken the sauce as it cooks.
- Choose Your Sauce Wisely: The BBQ sauce is a primary flavor driver. A good quality, thick, and smoky sauce will yield the best results.
- Let It Rest: After cooking, let the beans sit for about 15-20 minutes with the lid off. This allows the sauce to thicken up even more.
Delicious Variations to Try
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few ideas to make it your own:
For a Spicy Kick
If you like a bit of heat, add a diced jalapeño (with seeds for more spice), a pinch of red pepper flakes, or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the slow cooker along with the other ingredients.
Different Meat Options
Feel free to swap the ground beef for ground turkey or even spicy Italian sausage for a different flavor profile. For a truly classic touch, you can use leftover brisket or pulled pork.
What to Serve with Cowboy Beans
These beans are so versatile they can be served as a main course or a side dish. They pair wonderfully with classic barbecue fare. Serve them alongside some fresh homemade Amish bread for dipping or with a main course like our Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken. For a lighter pairing, a simple green salad or some crispy roasted cauliflower would be perfect. And if you’re planning a full feast, you can’t go wrong with serving them next to some tater tot casserole.
Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions
Cowboy beans are a fantastic make-ahead dish, and the leftovers are even better the next day!
Storing Leftovers
Allow the beans to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing for Later
These beans freeze exceptionally well. Let them cool, then place them in a freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator.
How to Reheat
Reheat leftover cowboy beans gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through. You can also reheat them in the microwave, stirring every minute or so until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Absolutely! Cowboy beans freeze beautifully. Allow them to cool completely, then store them in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Yes, but you will need to soak and cook the dry beans before adding them to the slow cooker. To replace one 15-ounce can of beans, you will need about 1.5 cups of cooked beans.
The sauce will naturally thicken as it cooks and cools. If you prefer an even thicker sauce, you can cook the beans uncovered on the HIGH setting for the final 30 minutes of cooking time to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
Cowboy beans are incredibly versatile. They are a classic side dish for barbecue, pairing perfectly with grilled chicken, brisket, and ribs. They also go well with cornbread, coleslaw, and potato salad.
Cowboy beans are typically heartier than traditional baked beans. They almost always include a savory meat component, like ground beef or bacon, and have a more complex, smoky, and less sweet flavor profile compared to the classic sweet, tomato-based sauce of baked beans.
Your Go-To Cowboy Beans Recipe
This Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans recipe is a true crowd-pleaser, packed with robust flavors and hearty ingredients. It’s the kind of effortless, satisfying meal that brings everyone to the table. We know you’ll love it! If you make this recipe, don’t forget to share your creations with us on Pinterest!
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans Recipe
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans: The Ultimate Hearty Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until it is crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add the ground beef and chopped onion to the same skillet with the bacon grease. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onion is soft, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Transfer the cooked beef and onion mixture to the basin of a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the minced garlic, undrained pinto beans, undrained kidney beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the crispy bacon. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the sauce is thickened and bubbly.
- Stir the cowboy beans one last time before serving. Garnish with the remaining half of the crispy bacon. Serve hot.
Notes
This recipe is great for making ahead, as the flavors deepen overnight in the refrigerator.
