Bold Cowboy Beans (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 pound ground beef (85% lean)
02 -
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
03 -
1 medium green bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
04 -
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
05 -
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
06 -
3 minced garlic cloves
07 -
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
08 -
8 ounces of bacon slices, cut into small pieces (1/4-inch)
→ Seasonings and Sauces
09 -
1/4 cup of dark or light brown sugar, packed
10 -
1 tablespoon mustard (Dijon)
11 -
1/8 teaspoon optional cayenne pepper
12 -
1 cup water
13 -
1/4 cup tomato ketchup
14 -
1/4 cup barbecue sauce (tomato-based)
15 -
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
16 -
1 teaspoon salt (kosher)
17 -
1 tablespoon of chili powder
→ Optional Toppings
18 -
Thinly sliced scallions
19 -
Sour cream
# Instructions:
01 -
Turn on your oven to 350°F and place a rack in the center. Chop up the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Slice the bacon into small bits. Rinse the beans and set them aside.
02 -
Toss your bacon into a Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir it around every now and then until it's browned and crispy. Scoop it out with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel to drain. Pour off the extra fat, leaving just a tablespoon in the pot.
03 -
Throw the chopped onion and bell pepper in the pot. Cook them over medium heat, stirring every once in a while, until they soften up. Add the garlic, chili powder, and optional cayenne next. Stir it around for a minute until it smells amazing.
04 -
Add the ground beef to the pot along with salt and pepper. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon while you stir and scrape the bottom of the pot for those tasty browned bits. Keep cooking until the beef is no longer pink.
05 -
Pour in the beans, cooked bacon, water, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard. Stir it all together and let it start bubbling.
06 -
Put the lid on the pot and transfer it into the oven. Let it bake at 350°F for around 45 minutes, giving the sauce time to thicken and the flavors to come together. Give it a taste and sprinkle on more salt if needed.
07 -
Dish out the beans and add your favorite toppings like sour cream and scallions on the side.