Nothing says fall and football season like a hearty recipe that you can make on the grill! Today I thought I’d share with you guys one of my favorite recipes…the BEST EVER Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe! The recipe is really easy to make and full of flavor. You can make it as a game day appetizer or side dish and it’s even better on the grill! We like to make these in a skillet on the grill for some added smoky flavor and taste (just like the cowboys did), but you can make in a regular pan in your oven too if desired.
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How to Make Cowboy Baked Beans
Once your grill is started, you can get to work! I suggest using a cast iron skillet if you intend to make this recipe on the grill. You can place it directly on the grill and there’s so many other uses for a cast iron skillet with grilling recipes in your home!
For this recipe I start by browning my beef and baking my bacon and crumbling it up. While the beef and bacon are going, I work to combine my beans and other sauces.
Once everything is combined and your meat is cooked, throw it into your skillet and give it a good mix. Then put it directly onto your grill to cook.
If you don’t have a grill or it’s not “grilling weather” then you can place it directly into the oven too (although the grill gives it more flavor!). Cook until the beans are done and the whole thing is completely heated throughout (30 minutes typically).
Once done, be careful to use a hot pad to pull the skillet off the grill and serve warm!
What kind of beans are best for Cowboy Baked Beans?
The best part about Cowboy Beans are that they have a nice variety of beans in the recipe. We use white beans, kidney beans, and pork and beans. Go with a good brand of pork and beans, don’t buy a budget brand for this recipe.
If you want to mix things up, you can substitute other beans too like black beans, butter beans, etc.
Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
Another option for this recipe is to make this in the slow cooker. Combine all the ingredients and cook on low for 4-5 hours. You could also make this recipe for cowboy beans with ground beef and bacon. I love bacon, but I don’t always put it in this recipe! It already has the pork from the pork and beans, so it’s not completely necessary.
How to Serve…
This would be great served with homemade cornbread or biscuits. You could also serve alongside something like homemade ribs.
This is such a great, hearty fall recipe and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I do! These truly are the BEST EVER Cowboy Baked Beans made in true authentic cowboy fashion…over a fire! 🙂
My Recommendations for Cast Iron Skillets:
- Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
- Back Country Cast Iron Skillet
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
- Cast Iron Skillet Cleaner
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Recipe for The Best Cowboy Baked Beans in a Skillet with Meat
Best Ever Cowboy Baked Beans
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, browned
- 1 lb bacon
- 2 tbsp bacon drippings
- 3 15 oz cans kidney beans
- 3 15 oz cans white beans
- 3 15 oz cans pork and beans
- 3 small onions, diced
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 3 tbsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- In a large cast iron skillet, fry bacon until crisp. Drain and crumble.
- In the same cast iron skillet, cook the ground beef and onions until the meat is no longer pink, drain off excess liquid.
- Drain off all the beans except for one can of pork and beans, Combine the beans, cooked beef, bacon, and onions and remaining ingredients.
- Cook on grill until hot and beans are tender. Optional: Cook in oven on 350 until beans are cooked well if grill not available.
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