Cowboy Beans

Baked beans are a side dish that our family has always been on the fence about. Depending on who’s made them and what’s in them, we’re either “in” our “out”. But once we tried these cowboy beans on a chuckwagon ride in the Black Hills many years ago, I found the way to our family’s baked beans lovin’ heart!

Why are they called cowboy beans? The story goes that beans were an easy, protein-packed food for cowboys to carry with them, as all they needed to prepare them was water. The ground beef and seasonings were likely added later to give more flavor and substance to the meal.

Why My Family Loves This Cowboy Beans Recipe

Cowboy beans (also called “chuck wagon beans”) are baked beans cooked with ground beef, bacon, and onion. And they’re one side dish that my family demands I make frequently, especially through the summer months!

• Sweet & savory: Ingredients like ground beef, bacon, and mustard add the savory flavor while the canned baked beans and brown sugar add a bit of sweetness. They’re not as sweet as classic baked beans, which I prefer.
• Lots of texture: Every bite of these beans offers smooth, buttery beans, crispy bacon, tender onion, and seasoned ground beef. They’re not super saucy, but I appreciate the variety in texture so much.
• Perfect for sharing: Cowboy beans are great for any kind of casual gathering, any time of year – from summertime BBQs to wintertime football parties. One recipe makes plenty to share with a crowd as a side dish.
• Super easy to make: This recipe requires just 7 ingredients and a handful of steps. I can have these ready to enjoy in well under an hour!

Recipe Ingredients

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it only requires 7 ingredients! Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements and the printable instructions.

• Bacon – Bacon is a key ingredient in any baked beans recipe, in my opinion! It adds lots of salty, savory flavor plus texture.
• Ground beef – This is one of the ingredients that sets cowboy beans apart from other baked beans. It makes this side dish extra hearty and filling, with lots of beefy flavor.
• Yellow onion – Fresh onion adds so much flavor to this dish – do not skip it!
• Baked beans – I always use a 28-ounce can of Bush’s “Original” baked beans since this is supposed to be a baked bean side dish. These beans are what you’ll most commonly see used. However, I’ve also seen recipes that use kidney beans, white beans, and pinto beans as well.
• Yellow mustard – Adds a wonderful earthy flavor without making these taste like mustard.
• Brown sugar – Adds a little sweetness to the savory beans, bacon, and beef.
• Black pepper – Sometimes I sprinkle in extra – this dish loves black pepper! (Also note: I don’t ever feel the need to add extra salt, as the bacon and baked beans already have some.)

How to Make Cowboy Beans

These beans are so ridiculously easy to make!

• Cook the bacon. Fry the bacon until chewy-crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and drain the fat from the skillet.
• Brown the beef. Add the ground beef and onion to the same skillet and cook until the beef is browned. Drain the fat.
• Combine everything. Chop the cooled bacon and add it to the skillet with the beef and onion. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook until warmed throughout.

Recipe Tips & Variations

This recipe is pretty fool-proof, but I do have two suggestions to offer, plus a few ways to customize it.

• Bite-sized bacon. I recommend dicing the bacon into bite-sized pieces instead of super small pieces. I love biting into an actual piece of bacon, and presentation-wise, it looks best too.
• Simmer for a few minutes. In addition to letting all the ingredients heat up, it really gives the flavors a chance to blend together. (This is one of the reasons leftovers are so good!)
• Try it with BBQ sauce. For a richer version of this recipe, swap the mustard for your favorite BBQ sauce.
• Other bean options. I personally prefer the ease of using a single can of baked beans in this recipe – especially since they’re already seasoned and add more flavor to the dish. However, I’ve seen others use cannellini beans, kidney beans, and even canned pork and beans.
• Add smoky flavor. For a smokier flavor in these cowboy beans, consider adding a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the ground beef.

Serving Suggestions

Oh, the many ways you can serve cowboy beans!

Technically, since this dish is so packed with protein, it really could be considered the main course. In that case, you can serve them with some cornbread and maybe a fresh salad.

However, we usually serve this as a side dish. I especially love these baked beans in the summer alongside anything hot off the grill, whether it’s burgers, hotdogs, pork chops, steak, or my “famous” beer can chicken or margarita shrimp!

This is a great potluck side dish in place of regular (boring) baked beans. Everyone always comments on how especially good this recipe is!

How to Store & Reheat Extras

• Fridge. Leftover cowboy beans will last in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer. Allow them to cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheat. You can simply reheat them on the stovetop, pop them in the microwave for a minute or two if reheating a small portion, or in a baking dish covered with foil in the oven at 300° F.