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Cowboy Baked Beans is a hearty, smoky, slightly sweet dish popular at barbecues and cookouts in the United States. It usually combines baked beans with ground beef or bacon, barbecue sauce, and seasonings—making it rich and filling, almost like a meal by itself. 🤠🔥
Ingredients
- 2 cans (15–16 oz each) baked beans
- 250–300 g ground beef (or chopped bacon)
- 1 small onion, diced
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp mustard (yellow or Dijon)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the meat
- In a skillet, cook ground beef (or bacon) over medium heat until browned.
- Add diced onion and cook until soft. Drain excess fat.
- Mix the sauce
- In a bowl combine barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Combine
- In a baking dish or pot, add baked beans, cooked meat mixture, and sauce.
- Stir well.
- Bake
- Bake at 180 °C (350 °F) for 30–40 minutes until bubbly and thick.
Optional Add-ins
- Jalapeños or chili flakes 🌶️ for heat
- Diced bell peppers
- A little maple syrup for sweetness
- Shredded cheddar cheese on top
Serving Ideas
- With grilled meat or BBQ ribs
- As a side for burgers or hot dogs
- With cornbread or toasted bread
If you want, I can also show you:
- A quick 15-minute stovetop version 🍳
- A slow-cooker cowboy beans recipe
- A Texas-style spicy version 🤠🔥