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.
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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
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- 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
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and saute until browned.
- Add the browned beef and all ingredients to the slow cooker.
- Stir, cover, and cook on low for 4 hours.
Dutch Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/176°C.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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
Serving Suggestions
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Eileen xo
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.
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Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
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 kosher 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.
- 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.
Marcy L Johnson
I think you meant cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours...
Eileen xo
Hi Marcy, thank you for catching that. I corrected the recipe - we only do 4 hours on low. I haven't tried to cook it on high for 2 hours - yet.