Cowboy Baked Beans

Cowboy baked beans are hearty, flavorful and loaded with ground beef, sweet sausage, onions and topped with crispy bacon. Slow cooked in the oven.

Course Main Course, Side Dish, Summer Grilling

Cuisine American, Barbecue, Southern

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 30

Servings people

Calories 600kcal

Line a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper or heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place the bacon slices closely together, overlapping slightly on the sheet pan. Sprinkle the uncooked bacon evenly with granulated maple sugar.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Place the sheet pan with bacon into the preheated oven and cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until crispy. Using tongs, remove the bacon and let drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
Brown the meat in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and let cook 4-6 minutes until softened. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, add the brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Use a large spoon or rubber spatula to stir everything together.
Pour the pork and beans into the baking dish and stir everything together to combine. Spoon in the browned meat and onion, stir to combine. Lay the cooked bacon on the top of the beans. Lay it whole or cut into pieces if you desire.
Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 2 hours, or until thick. Let the beans cool slightly before serving.

Additions -

Add different canned beans if desired - great options are Navy beans, red kidney beans and black beans. (Don't drain the beans!)

Add 1 jalapeno pepper finely chopped or green Bell pepper if desired

Traditional Cowboy baked beans often have barbecue sauce in them. You can add a few tablespoons of your favorite brand of barbecue sauce if desired.