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Southern Cowboy Bean Bake Delight

Southern Cowboy Bean Bake Delight

Hearty, sweet-and-smoky baked beans loaded with ground beef and bacon. A crowd-pleasing Southern classic perfect for potlucks.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients
 

Main Ingredients

  • 6 oz thick-cut bacon chopped
  • 1.25 lb lean ground beef about 85% lean
  • 1 cup yellow onion chopped
  • 0.75 cup green bell pepper diced
  • 2 tsp garlic minced
  • 30 oz canned pork and beans do not drain
  • 15 oz canned kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz canned pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 0.75 cup barbecue sauce
  • 0.5 cup ketchup
  • 0.33 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp molasses
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt to taste
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Instructions

Preparation Steps

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 3-quart dish or use an oven-safe Dutch oven.
  • Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, 6–8 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
  • Brown ground beef in the bacon drippings until no pink remains, 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
  • Sauté onion and bell pepper until softened, 4–5 minutes. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
  • Add pork and beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans. Stir to combine.
  • Whisk barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire, paprika, and chili powder.
  • Pour sauce into the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
  • Fold bacon back in. Transfer to the dish if your pot isn’t oven-safe.
  • Bake uncovered until bubbly and thick, about 35 minutes. Rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Variation: Add 1 diced jalapeño with the onion for gentle heat. Slow cooker option: After browning meat and softening vegetables, combine everything in a 5–6 quart slow cooker and cook on Low 4–5 hours. Serve with cornbread or over baked potatoes. Leftovers keep 4 days refrigerated; reheat gently with a splash of water.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Southern Cowboy Bean Bake Delight flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.