Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans With Ground Beef

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 08/11/19
Beans with ribs

Noel Barnhurst/Getty Images
  • Total: 6 hrs 15 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 6 hrs
  • Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
846 Calories
22g Fat
101g Carbs
62g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 846
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 8g 38%
Cholesterol 105mg 35%
Sodium 617mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 101g 37%
Dietary Fiber 25g 89%
Protein 62g
Calcium 214mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

These super easy cowboy beans are cooked in the crockpot with ground beef, a variety of canned beans, and seasonings. Barbecue sauce and molasses give them amazing cookout flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound lean bacon
  • 1 pound ground beef (lean, at least 85%)
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup green pepper (diced)
  • 1 can pork and beans, 16 oz
  • 1 can red kidney beans, 16 oz
  • 1 can butter beans, 16 oz
  • 1 can baby lima beans, 8 oz
  • 1 can great northern beans, 16 oz
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/4 cup molasses or maple syrup
  • 1 jar barbecue sauce (or use homemade barbecue sauce)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Cut the bacon into small pieces; brown in a large skillet. Remove bacon from the rendered fat and set aside.

  2. In the bacon drippings, sauté the onion and bell pepper until tender.

  3. Add the ground beef and brown lightly. Put the meats into the bottom of a crockpot. Add the can of pork and beans.

  4. Drain most of the liquids from the remaining cans of beans and add them to the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients. Mix well to blend.

  5. Cook on high setting for 1 hour, and then set to low and continue cooking for 5 to 6 hours. Stir occasionally.

  6. Check for seasonings and correct if desired, with a little salt and pepper, or more brown sugar or syrup.