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A close-up, high-angle shot of hearty crockpot cowboy beans, highlighting the rich texture of the ground beef, bacon, and bean mixture simmering in the sauce.
FL Recipes

Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans (The Ultimate Hearty Recipe)

This Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans recipe is the ultimate comfort food! A hearty blend of ground beef, bacon, and three types of beans simmered in a rich, tangy BBQ sauce. Perfect for a crowd and incredibly easy to make.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 8 oz bacon chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 15 oz can pinto beans rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz can dark red kidney beans rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz can black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1.5 cups BBQ sauce
  • 0.5 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker (6-quart)
  • 1 Large Skillet

Method
 

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
  2. Add the ground beef, chopped onion, and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook until the beef is browned and the vegetables have softened, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
  3. Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in the cooked bacon, rinsed and drained pinto beans, kidney beans, and black beans.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Pour the sauce over the ingredients in the slow cooker.
  5. Stir everything together until well combined. Secure the lid on the slow cooker.
  6. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  7. Stir well before serving. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 410kcalProtein: 25gFat: 15gFiber: 10g

Notes

Flavor Tip: For a deeper, smokier flavor, use a hickory-smoked BBQ sauce or add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke along with the sauce.
Make-Ahead: This recipe tastes even better the next day! Feel free to make it a day in advance and reheat it before serving.
Keyword cowboy beans with ground beef,crockpot cowboy beans,easy cowboy beans

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