Description
Hearty Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans is a bold, smoky, easy dinner packed with ground beef, tender beans, corn, and rich barbecue flavor. This easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, cozy dinner ideas, potlucks, and meal prep, giving you a filling comfort food option with simple pantry ingredients and classic food ideas everyone loves.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 can baked beans, 28 ounces
1 can kidney beans, 15 ounces, drained and rinsed
1 can pinto beans, 15 ounces, drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, 14.5 ounces
1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
2. Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until slightly softened.
3. Transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker.
4. Add the baked beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, corn, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
5. Stir everything together until well combined.
6. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, until hot and thickened.
7. Stir well before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
Drain the kidney and pinto beans so the sauce stays thick and rich.
For a smokier flavor, add a few chopped cooked bacon slices or a little smoked paprika.
The beans thicken as they sit, so add a splash of water when reheating if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 11g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 45mg