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Savory Loaded Cowboy Baked Beans with Bacon and Beef

savory loaded cowboy baked beans - featured image
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A smoky, hearty baked beans recipe loaded with crispy bacon, ground beef, and a tangy-sweet sauce, perfect for BBQs and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (15 oz) cans navy beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed (substitute black beans if desired)
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, diced (preferably Applewood smoked)
  • 1/2 pound ground beef, lean or medium fat
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • Optional: 1 small green bell pepper, diced
  • Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños for heat

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook diced bacon until crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 2 tablespoons bacon fat in the skillet.
  3. Add ground beef to the skillet with bacon fat. Break up and cook until no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. If using, add chopped onion and bell pepper and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  5. In a large bowl, combine drained beans, cooked beef mixture, crisp bacon, and sauce. Stir gently to combine.
  6. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  7. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until sauce bubbles and thickens. For a crusty top, broil for last 3-5 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
  8. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken and flavors to meld.

Notes

Use firm navy beans for best texture. Keep some bacon fat in the pan for smoky richness but avoid too much grease. Adjust sauce thickness by adding beef broth if too thick or baking longer if too thin. For a crusty top, broil briefly at the end. Flavors improve after resting overnight. Substitute Worcestershire sauce with tamari for gluten-free. Add jalapeños or cayenne for heat. Vegetarian version can use smoked tempeh or tofu with extra smoked paprika and liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, cowboy beans, BBQ side dish, bacon, ground beef, smoky beans, potluck recipe, easy baked beans

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/savory-loaded-cowboy-baked-beans-with-bacon-and-beef-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-bbq/