Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

Jul 14, 2023Updated Aug 28, 2025

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This cowboy baked beans recipe is so delicious and super easy to make. You just need a few cans of beans, ground beef, and a few extras to make these rich, cowboy-approved beans.

cooked cowboy baked beans in a slow cooker.

What are Cowboy Beans? Cowboy beans are a hearty dish made with ground beef, beans, and flavorful seasonings that set them apart from traditional baked beans. Think of them as baked beans with a savory twist — a stick-to-your-ribs recipe perfect for feeding a crowd at summer cookouts. This is of the most talked-about recipes from my first cookbook, and my fans still rave about it!

Key Ingredients

Ground Beef: You’ll only need a pound of lean ground beef, which will be browned before adding it to the crock pot.

Pork and Beans: Grab a few cans of these beans for the base of this dish.

Sweet Yellow Onion: The onion will add sweetness and texture.

Barbecue Sauce: I use a basic barbecue sauce such as Sweet baby Ray’s.

Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper help season the beans.

Worcestershire Sauce: My secret ingredient for many crockpot recipes. Adds a beefy robust flavor.

ground beef, baked beans, onions, seasonings and more in a slow cooker to make cowboy beans.

How to Make Cowboy Beans

Brown the beef and toss it into the crockpot with the beans, onion, and seasonings.
Mix in the sauces, cover, and let it cook low and slow until everything comes together.

cooked cowboy baked beans in a crockpot with corn muffins on the side.

How to serve Cowboy Beans

This is a great main dish! Spoon into bowls and serve with a big hunk of cornbread.
You can also serve the beans with toppings such as crumbled bacon, additional diced onion, and shredded cheese.
Of course, this hearty side dish can be served with all your cookout favorites like slow cooker hot dogs, hot tub beer brats, hamburgers, and grilled chicken.
If you are serving these for game day, a potluck, or a summer cookout, you can keep them in the crock pot. Just be sure to turn it to the KEEP WARM setting.

Pot of baked cowboy beans with a wooden spoon in them.

Tips & Variations

Different beans: We love the base of pork n’ beans, but you can use baked beans or ranch beans.

Meat Swap: Try ground turkey, ground chicken, or a ground pork combination. It will still yield the best cowboy baked beans. You can even add bacon in addition to the other meat.

Veggie Additions: You can add bell pepper or poblano pepper for more flavor.