Pioneer Woman Cowboy Beans Recipe
Are you looking for the ultimate side dish for your next barbecue? This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Beans Recipe is exactly what you need. It is smoky, sweet and incredibly hearty.
Ingredients
- 8 slices of thick-cut bacon chopped
- 1 large white onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 pounds ground beef lean
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce your favorite brand
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 cans 15 oz each pork and beans
- 1 can 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the Bacon
- Place the chopped bacon into a large cold dutch oven. Turn the heat to medium and cook until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon bits but leave the grease in the pot.
Sauté the Vegetables
- Add the diced onions and green peppers into the hot bacon fat. Cook them for about five minutes until they are soft. The kitchen will start to smell amazing right now.
Brown the Ground Beef
- Add the ground beef to the pot with the vegetables. Break the meat apart with your wooden spoon. Cook until the beef is fully browned and no pink remains.
Drain Excess Fat
- Carefully tilt the pot or use a spoon to remove extra grease. Leaving too much oil can make the beans feel heavy. Keep just a little bit for extra flavor.
Combine the Sauces
- Stir in the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, mustard and apple cider vinegar. Mix everything well so the meat is coated. This creates the delicious tangy base for your beans.
Add the Beans
- Pour in the pork and beans and the rinsed kidney beans. Stir gently so you do not mash the beans. Add the crispy bacon bits back into the mixture.
Simmer the Mixture
- Turn the heat down to low and cover the pot. Let the beans simmer for about 45 minutes to one hour. This allows all the flavors to melt together perfectly.
Season and Serve
- Taste the beans before serving to see if they need salt. Add a generous pinch of black pepper for a little kick. Serve while they are hot and bubbly.
Notes
- Add some heat: Mix in diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce if you like spicy food.
- Vegetarian option: Skip the bacon and beef and use extra bell peppers and smoked paprika for flavor.
- Slow cooker method: You can brown the meat first and then put everything in a crockpot for 4 hours.
- Different beans: Feel free to use pinto beans or black beans if that is what you have in your pantry.
- Extra smoky: Add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to give it a "campfire" taste without the fire.