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    Home » Recipes » Beef Dishes

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

    Published: Jun 28, 2024 · Modified: Jun 11, 2025 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

    Jump to Recipe
    Slow Cooker Cowboy beans pinterest pin
    two photos of beans and beef in a slow cooker and second photo pf cowboy beans in a white bowl.

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans is a Southern favorite. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. A simple blend of lean ground beef, beans, and spices for a fabulous crockpot meal.

    Slow cooker cowboy beans with ground beef

    For specifics on the recipe use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Eileen's Tips for Success
    • Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Similar recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans are super easy to make – everything goes right into the slow cooker or bake in the oven.
    • Crockpot Cowboy Beans is a hearty recipe and we include instructions to bake the beans.

    Love a great slow cooker recipe, try our Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken, Slow Cooker Italian Beef, Slow Cooker Flank Steak, or Crockpot Beef Stroganoff.

    Ingredients

    Cowboy beans ingredients with text overlay.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • ground beef 80/20 works well (minced beef)
    • yellow onion
    • 16 ounce can pork and beans 
    • 16 ounce can kidney beans 
    • 16 ounce can butter beans 
    •  ketchup
    •  light brown sugar
    •  Worcestershire sauce
    •  apple cider vinegar
    • water
    • garlic powder
    •  salt
    •  black pepper

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker
    • Dutch Oven
    • Colander
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Measuring Spoons and Cups
    • Cutting Board
    • Knives

    Instructions

    This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

    1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and saute until browned.
    A slow cooker with ketchup, butter beans, kidney beans, pork and beans, brown sugar, and hamburger meat.
    1. Add the browned beef and all ingredients to the slow cooker.
    A slow cooker with pork and beans, butter beans, kidney beans, and ground beef to make cowboy beans.
    1. Stir, cover, and cook on low for 4 hours.
    Slow Cooker Cowboy beans in a bowl topped with fresh parsley.

    Dutch Oven Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/176°C.
    2. In a Dutch Oven or an oven-safe pot, over medium heat add ground beef and onions, and saute until the beef is brown and the onions are soft, about 6 minutes.
    3. Add in the pork and beans, drained kidney and butter beans, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and water. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
    4. Stir to combine. Cover and place in the preheated oven on the center rack and bake for 45- 60 minutes. The liquid will be bubbly and everything is cooked through.
    5. Serve and enjoy.

    Eileen's Tips for Success

    • If you looking to increase your carbohydrates and make this recipe even heartier add a cup of cooked rice or quinoa.

    Make-ahead, storage, and freezer tips

    Storage - Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered airtight container for up to  3 days.

    Freezer: Cowboy beans can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Place the beans in a freezer-safe container.

    Defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.

    Cowboy beans with cooked ground beef, and beans in a bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are Cowboy Beans?

    These baked cowboy beans are made of ground beef, onion, pork, and beans, drained kidney and butter beans, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and water.

    Why are they called Cowboy Beans?

    Many people believe this recipe started in Texas.
    Cowboys were served ground beef and beans as a hearty meal while working their ranches and fields.

    Variations

    Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways to change the flavor of this dish.

    • Spice: Add jalapenos, chili powder,
    • Additional protein: Add ham or bacon.
    • Protein: Instead of ground beef, use ground turkey, ground pork, ground chicken, or smoked sausage.
    • Liquid smoke can add a nice depth of flavor.
    • Change up the sweetener and use pure maple syrup.
    • Beans: Use black beans or pinto beans.
    • Use ketchup instead of BBQ Sauce
    A wooden spoon with cooked beef and beans for a cowboy bean recipe.

    Serving Suggestions

    • Cajun Mac and Cheese
    • Cheeseburger Sliders
    • Green Beans with Mushrooms and Shallots
    • Arugula Salad

    Similar recipes

    • Instant Pot Turkey Chili
    • Frito Pie recipe
    • Instant Pot Gumbo
    • Tuscan Bean Salad
    • A cast iron skillet with ground beef topped with avocado, tomatoes, and cheese.
      Easy Skillet Ground Beef Tacos
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    • A large gold handled skillet filled with rice, sliced smoked sausage, beans, and peppers.
      Cajun Red Beans and Rice
    • A Mexican black bean salad with corn and a homemade vinaigrette.
      Black Bean Corn Salad

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    If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

    📖 Recipe

    A slow cooker vessel with cooked beans, kidney beans, and cooked chopped hamburger meat.

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans Recipe

    Enjoy hearty Cowboy Beans made in either the slow cooker or oven-baked. A tasty hamburger bean casserole for any occasion. Great for dinner, feeding a crowd, family celebrations.
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cowboy beans, crockpot cowboy beans, ground beef and baked beans
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours hours
    0 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 443kcal
    Author: Eileen Murphy Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    • Slow Cooker
    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Dutch Oven
    • Colander
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Measuring Spoons and Cups
    • Cutting Board
    • Knives

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground beef 80/20 works well
    • 1 small yellow onion ( diced)
    • 16 ounce can, pork and beans
    • 16 ounce can, kidney beans (drained)
    • 16 ounce can, butter beans (drained)
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • 1 cup light brown sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

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    Instructions

    Slow Cooker Instructions

    • In a large skillet over medium-high heat add 1 pound ground beef and saute until brown, no pink in the meat. Drain and discard excess grease. Set aside.
    • Into the vessel of a slow cooker, add all ingredients; browned ground beef, 1 small yellow onion ( diced), 16 ounce can, pork and beans, 16 ounce can, kidney beans (drained), 16 ounce can, butter beans (drained), 1 cup ketchup, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ cup water, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
    • Stir to combine ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. Taste for seasoning, if needed adjust seasonings.
    • Ready to serve.

    Baked Beans Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • In a Dutch Oven or an oven safe pot, over medium heat add ground beef and onions, saute until beef is brown and onions are soft, about 6 minutes. Remove and discard excess grease.
    • To the Dutch Oven, add pork and beans, drained kidney beans and butter beans, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, water, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
    • Stir well. Cover and place in the preheated oven on the center rack. Bake for 45- 60 minutes. The liquid will be bubbly and everything cooked through. Taste for seasoning, if needed adjust seasonings.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    NOTES

    Be sure to check Variations, Expert Tips, and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe.
    Storage:  The beans can be stored in the fridge in an airtight covered container for up to  3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
     
    Recipes written by Everyday Eileen are for information purposes. Eileen Kelly is not a registered dietician or nutritionist. Any nutritional data we provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 928mg | Potassium: 777mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 156IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

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