Cowboy baked beans are the ultimate cookout side dish, loaded with ground beef, bacon, and a sweet tangy sauce that turns a couple of cans of beans into something special! With just 15 minutes of prep, they’re hearty enough for an easy family dinner and perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and backyard gatherings.
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What Are Cowboy Baked Beans?
Cowboy baked beans are a hearty version of traditional baked beans made with ground beef, bacon, and a sweet tangy sauce. The added meat turns them into a substantial side dish that can easily double as a main course. They’re a longtime favorite for cookouts, potlucks, camping trips, tailgates, and easy family suppers.
Before You Get Started
A few quick tips will help ensure the best batch of cowboy baked beans:
- Pork and beans give the dish its classic flavor and texture. If needed, you can substitute canned baked beans.
- Cook the bacon separately so it stays crisp and adds texture to the finished dish.
- The beans will continue to thicken as they cool, so don’t worry if the sauce seems a little loose when it first comes out of the oven.
Looking for more cookout sides?
My Southern Cookout Side Dishes collection features more than 20 of our favorites.
How to Make Cowboy Baked Beans
This recipe comes together quickly, and most of the cooking time is completely hands-off. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Brown the Beef and Vegetables
Start by cooking the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper together until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables have softened. Drain away any excess grease before moving on.
This simple step builds the savory foundation for the entire dish.
** Tip: I like using lean ground beef so there’s less grease to drain and the finished beans don’t feel heavy.
Step 2: Stir Together the Sauce
Add the pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Let everything simmer for a few minutes so the flavors can start mingling before the beans go into the oven.
At this point, the sauce may seem a little thin, but that’s exactly what you want.
** Tip: Don’t skip the vinegar. It balances the sweetness and gives the beans that classic tangy flavor.
Step 3: Transfer to a Baking Dish
Pour the bean mixture into your prepared baking dish and sprinkle the crumbled bacon evenly over the top.
Adding the bacon at the end helps it stay visible and gives every serving little bites of smoky flavor.
Step 4: Bake Until Thick and Bubbly
Cover the dish and bake until hot and bubbly. Remove the foil during the final few minutes so the sauce can reduce and thicken slightly.
** Tip: Let the beans rest for about 10 minutes before serving. The sauce thickens noticeably as it cools.
wonderful especially from a non baked beans person. I had these at a family barbecue and loved them . I them made them at home. Now it is a favorite dish at home and at my church pot luck. Yum
– Ruth
Serving Suggestions
These cowboy baked beans are one of those versatile dishes that go with just about everything.
For a simple family dinner, serve them with:
They’re also perfect alongside cookout favorites like:
Variations and Customizations
- Add sliced smoked sausage for even more smoky flavor.
- Stir in diced jalapeños, hot sauce, or cayenne pepper if you like a little heat.
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or breakfast sausage.
- Replace part of the ketchup with your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Add minced garlic or garlic powder for another layer of savory flavor.
- Use red or orange bell pepper instead of green for a slightly sweeter taste.
Storage, Freezing, and Make-Ahead
Make Ahead: Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze cooled beans in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Warm larger portions in a 350°F oven or microwave individual servings until heated through. If the beans seem too thick after refrigeration, stir in a splash of water before reheating.
FAQs and Troubleshooting
Why are my cowboy baked beans watery?
The sauce naturally thickens as it bakes and cools. If the beans still seem too loose, bake them uncovered for a little longer to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
What beans are best for this recipe?
Canned pork and beans are the traditional choice because they already include a lightly seasoned sauce. Canned baked beans are a good substitute if needed.
Can these be served as a main dish?
Definitely. The combination of ground beef, bacon, and beans makes them hearty enough for dinner, especially when served with cornbread or biscuits.
How do I make cowboy baked beans for a crowd?
Simply double all of the ingredients and bake the beans in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. It’s an easy way to feed a large group at a cookout or potluck.
Can you make these in a slow cooker?
Absolutely. Simply brown the beef, onion, and bell pepper on the stovetop first, then transfer everything except the bacon to your Crock Pot.
- Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or HIGH for 1 to 2 hours.
- Add the bacon during the final 30 minutes.
- Remove the lid during the last 30 minutes if you’d like a thicker sauce.
I make this at least once a month, love it!
– Laura
More Popular Cookout Sides
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Cowboy Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup total)
- 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 (15 ounce) cans pork and beans
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2 to 3-quart baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion, and bell pepper; cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off the excess grease.
- Stir in the pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Transfer the beef and beans to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the bacon on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the cover; continue baking for 10 more minutes. The total cooking time may vary. For really soft, broken-down beans or a thicker sauce, you might like to leave the dish in the oven a little bit longer. The beans and sauce will continue to thicken as they cool, so don’t worry if it looks a little bit soupy when it first comes out of the oven.
- Let the dish rest for 10 minutes, then serve. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions if desired.
Notes
- Pork and beans are traditional, but canned baked beans work as a substitute.
- Ground turkey, chicken, pork, or sausage can replace the ground beef.
- For a smokier flavor, replace some of the ketchup with your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Add diced jalapeños, cayenne, or hot sauce if you like a little heat.
- The beans will continue to thicken as they cool, so let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
- For thicker beans, bake uncovered for an extra 10 to 15 minutes.
- Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze cooled beans in an airtight container for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Slow Cooker Method: Brown the beef and vegetables first, then cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or HIGH for 1 to 2 hours. Add the bacon during the final 30 minutes.
Nutrition
Originally published in May, 2018, this post was updated in July, 2026.
Yummm! These look so good – and so easy!
Thanks, Kristy!!!
These look delicious and I am excited to try them!
Can leftovers be frozen for a few weeks?
Thank you
Hi, Gail! I haven’t actually tried freezing the leftovers myself, but I think that should work just fine! 🙂
Do you use dry mustard or prepared mustard in these beans?
Thanks
Hi, Judy! It’s regular prepared yellow mustard (not the dry mustard). 🙂
I made these last week for the first time and everyone LOVED THEM! I did add a green pepper coz I like ’em like that. Will make again.
Awesome! Thanks, Linda!
wonderful especially from a non baked beans person. I had these at a family barbecue and loved them . I them made them at home. Now it is a favorite dish at home and at my church pot luck. Yum
That’s great to hear, Ruth! Thank you!!
Who older than the age of maybe seven eats half a cup of these?
Hey, Fred! If you’re serving them as a side dish, they’re filling and 1/2 cup is a standard serving size on most cans of store-bought baked beans. That said, I offer the information so that you know how much the recipe yields and you can adjust your serving sizes according to how much you enjoy. No judgment if you want more! 🙂
I was wondering can u use baked beans in a can and omit the pork and beans brown sugar ketchup apple cider vinegar yellow mustard and salt cuz if I’m correct the pork and beans ketchup brown sugar apple cider vinegar yellow mustard and salt makes them into baked beans so could you take and just do the half pound ground beef the six slices of bacon The Onion and baked beans and omit the pork and beans ketchup brown sugar vinegar yellow mustard and salt would that be possible thank you for your time please get back to me ASAP Jay
Hi, Jay! You can sub canned baked beans for the canned pork and beans, but I’d still use the other ingredients as well so that the dish works. If you prefer to try it with your suggested changes, that may work too. It will just be a different dish with a different taste. Let me know if you give it a shot!
I make this at least once a month, love it!
Thank you, Laura!
Love your recipes, ❤️ easy-to-cook and not much fancy #shanty stuff in it, and it’s so good
Thank you, Eva! 🙂
? If I double your recipe will I need to increase the Crockpot cooking time? If so, how long? This weekend is Pot Luck Sunday. This would be a great recipe to bring!
Hi Marsha! As long as you use a big enough baking dish, you shouldn’t need to double the baking time.
We hope you enjoy!