Crock Pot Cowboy Beans With Beef And BBQ Sauce
These Crock Pot cowboy beans with beef and BBQ sauce are thick, smoky-sweet, and packed with ground beef and bacon in every single spoonful. I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count, and I can tell you that 2.5 hours on low is the sweet spot for keeping them saucy instead of dried out. This is my go-to when I want to take something to the church potluck or a neighbor’s house for a get-together. If you love that sweet-tangy barbecue flavor, you are going to love this Southern dish.
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Servings | Prep Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 2.5 hours | 3 | Beginner + |
Cowboy beans are one of those classic, stick-to-your-ribs dishes that work as a side dish or the main meal, depending on what you’ve got going on. And this one is perfect with only 6 ingredients, 10 minutes of prep time, and it’s beginner-friendly – you can’t beat that!
I like to serve them with some moist Jiffy cornbread on the side, or you can add some Southern fried corn fritters with the dish.
How To Make Crock Pot Cowboy Beans
This is the simple step-by-step, just like I make it.
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until it’s fully cooked. Drain the grease well. If you have a slow cooker that has a sear or sauté function, you can brown the beef that way, and you won’t dirty up a skillet. I am all about fewer dishes.
Tip: I like to break the beef up pretty small, so you get a little beef in every bite instead of big chunks.
Next, add the undrained beans, crumbled bacon, and brown sugar, and stir until it’s combined.
Add the BBQ sauce and beef broth and mix well. Cover and cook on low for 2.5 hours.
Once it’s done, give it a good stir and serve it warm.
Slow Cooker Size And Scaling Tips
- Slow cooker size: A 4-quart or 6-quart slow cooker works well for this amount. In a 4-quart, it’ll be closer to the top, but it’s fine.
- Want to double it for a party? Double everything and use a 6-quart slow cooker. Keep the cook time the same and stir once about halfway through if you’re home. (Stirring helps the sauce stay even and prevents the edges from thickening too much).
Tips For The Best Cowboy Beans
These are the little things that make the difference.
Do Not Drain The Pinto Beans
That bean liquid is flavor, and it also helps create a thicker, clingy sauce without extra steps. And it keeps the beans from getting pasty and dried out.
Keep The Cook Time Tight
This is not an all-day slow cooker recipe. Everything going in is already cooked, so you’re really just heating it through and letting the flavors blend. I also suggest cooking these on low. The high heat reduces the sauce faster, and the edges can dry out.
Stir Before Serving
The sauce thickens as it sits, and a quick stir brings it back together.
Taste After Cooking
BBQ sauces vary a lot. After 2.5 hours, taste and decide if you want a touch more BBQ sauce on top (for more tang), or leave it exactly as-is. If it’s too thick, add a splash of beef broth and stir. I love Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory and Brown Sugar BBQ sauce, but you can use your favorite.
Julie’s Make-Ahead And Potluck Notes
If you’re taking these somewhere, here’s what works best.
Make Ahead: Cook as directed, then let the beans cool and store in the fridge. Reheat the next day in the slow cooker on low, stirring occasionally, until hot.
Keeping Warm For A Party: After cooking, you can switch the slow cooker to warm. Just know the beans will continue to thicken the longer they sit, so stir once in a while and add a splash of beef broth if needed.
Substitutions And Variations (What Works And What Changes)
Since people always ask about swaps, here’s the straight answer.
Can I use different beans?
Yes. Pintos are my favorite here because they stay creamy and they don’t have tough skins. You can swap in kidney beans, white beans, or even a mix, but the texture will be a little different.
Can I use sausage instead of ground beef?
Yes, but you will want to brown it first, just like the beef. Sausage will make the whole pot a bit saltier and richer, so I use regular BBQ sauce (not extra salty) when I go that route.
Can I use ground turkey?
You can. It’ll be a little lighter, so don’t skip the bacon, because the bacon helps bring that smoky flavor back in.
Can I make it less sweet?
Use a tangier BBQ sauce and keep the brown sugar at exactly 2 tablespoons. That’s enough to balance without turning it into dessert beans.
How To Store Leftovers And Reheating
- You can store these in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 or 4 days. You can freeze them, but the beans’ texture will soften a bit after thawing. But still delicious.
- Reheating in the slow cooker: Great for reheating a larger amount. Use low and stir occasionally. Add a bit of broth if the sauce is too thick.
- Microwave: Reheat in a bowl in 30-second increments, stirring in between.
- Stovetop: Warm in a saucepan on medium-low heat, stirring often. Add a splash of beef broth if the sauce is too thick.
Crock Pot Cowboy Beans With Beef And BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef cooked and drained
- 30 ounces pinto beans, undrained I use two 15-ounce cans
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled (pre-cooked microwaveable works great)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ cup beef broth
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and drain.
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 2.5 hours, no longer or it will dry out.
Video
Nutrition
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