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You are here: Home / Food / Crock Pot Cowboy Beans

by Stacy  30 Comments

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans

I love beans. Sometimes, I think beans get a bad reputation. Sure, they make you musical and you can start your own band, but they also have the magical power to clean you out and fill you up. Not many foods are like that.

If I eat a big bowl full of beans, they keep me satisfied for a long time. We’re a bean-loving family. When I ask Annie what she wants to eat for dinner, (just for fun) she always says “Bean!” Beans, beans, good for your heart. *Cough*

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

Let’s make some Crock Pot Cowboy Beans, y’all! You need ground meat (I used venison), 4 cans of various beans, onion, sweetener, barbecue sauce, ketchup, dry mustard, vinegar, and salt.

Now, I used some canned beans and some frozen beans. I’m trying to use up a lot of my canned beans so I can make dried beans in the crock potand freeze them instead of buying canned. I think they taste better and they’re a WHOLE LOT cheaper.

In total, you’ll need about 6 cups of beans. One can of beans is equal to about 1 ½ cups. The best part about this recipe is that you can use whatever you have. I used Great Northern Beans, Pork-n-Beans, chili beans, and pinto beans. If you have all of one type of bean, go for it. Or if you have black beans or lima beans, those work too. Anything goes…..and these go too…….fast.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

Grab a skillet and brown your ground meat and onions. Every time I use this skillet I dream about replacing it with cast iron enamel. Ahhhhhh. I think I might have an obsession with kitchen pots, pans, and skillets. And glass jars. Have I mentioned that? You can drain your meat if you like.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

Spray or butter your crock pot. I found this olive oil spray at the store and I’ve been using it. It’s unique…..and I’m trying to use it up. Butter is better. Better butter, better butter, better butter.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

In the crock, mix the beans (NOT DRAINED), sweetener (you can use honey if you like), barbecue sauce, ketchup, dry mustard, vinegar, and salt. I also added pepper but forget to mention it above or take a photo. Oops. I’m really on top of things.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

When your meat is done, pour it into the crock with the other stuff and give it a good stir.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

Put the lid on and cook on low for about 4 hours. It will let the flavors really mingle and learn stuff about each other. Beans are not wallflowers. I have a lot to learn from beans.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

Beautiful! Tasty! Gone! These went fast. Our family loves Cowboy Beans. These are excellent to make for a crowd (and very cost effective) and they’re also a good dish for freezer cooking.

Make up a crock or two of these and a few batches of cornbread and you’ll have some happy visitors. One batch is about 8 servings.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans

  • 1 pound of ground meat
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 cans of beans, undrained (or 6 cups of cooked beans total)
  • 1/3 cup sweetener (I used Sucanat)
  • 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Brown ground meat and onion in a skillet. Drain if desired.
Combine beans, sweetener, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in the crock.
Stir in browned meat and onions.
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
Serve piping hot with cornbread.

Crock Pot Cowboy Beans. This dish is great for taking to a potluck or even making an extra batch to freeze later!

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About Stacy

Stacy is a Homemaking and Business Mom Mentor, the author of two cookbooks, creator of multiple e-courses, seasoned life coach, and comedian extraordinaire. Her first priority is her husband and her children - family first. She presses on each day because her calling is to teach, train, and mentor other ladies to have their dreams. She believes if it’s not easy, you won’t do it – because she’s lived it. She’ll bring YOU the awesome so that you can get your home back into control and watch your business soar. For tips and easy strategies, you can follow her on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the content above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comment Policy: I love reading your thoughts and input on what you read here. I'm sure we'll disagree sometimes and that's okay! In those cases, do what's right for you and yours. As with any form of communication, only post comments that move the discussion in a positive direction.

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Comments

  1. Kat says

    July 30, 2022 at 10:40 am

    Love these!
    I used Worcestererrrerrireereerr sauce instead of vinegar and add garlic. Excellent flavor, not too bold, not too sweet, and not spicy at all.

    Reply
  2. Pat says

    March 3, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    My recipe is almost the same! Mine includes a pound of cooked and crumbled BACON! Add it to yours. I’m sure you will love it?

    Reply
    • Julie Chittock says

      May 3, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      Everything is better with bacon. 😉
      — Julie, HH Team

      Reply
  3. Beth says

    September 26, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    I make these but also add 5 smoked sausage, fried then chopped up and added to the pot. Yum!!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 26, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      Well that sounds delightful!

      Reply
  4. duane osborne says

    June 25, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    ok thanks it turned out great anyway

    Reply
  5. duane osborne says

    June 17, 2014 at 10:49 am

    went to the store today for this meal just as my luck out of dry mustard hope french’s mustard works just as good ???

    got it cookng now

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      June 25, 2014 at 2:24 pm

      It should – it just doesn’t give as much of a depth of flavor. Try checking Target – they have it for a very good price here. 🙂

      Reply
  6. duane osborne says

    June 16, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    ok thanks

    Reply
  7. duane osborne says

    June 15, 2014 at 10:27 am

    what is the best can of beans i like bushes ?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      June 16, 2014 at 3:28 pm

      Any brand will work.

      Reply
  8. Peggy says

    December 31, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    Stacy, I was looking for a recipe for Cowboy Beans and was thrilled when your website popped up.

    Reply
  9. Kristy says

    November 18, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    This looks great. I think I’ll use navy and northern beans. They need to be soaked overnight before making this, right?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      November 18, 2012 at 4:19 pm

      Yes, if you’re starting with dry beans. I usually pull cooked beans out of the freezer. You’ll need 6 cups total – cooked. I’ll make a note on the recipe to clarify that. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Gail says

    September 13, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    When I first saw the picture of your Cowboy Beans, I thought there was corn it it, but what i was likely looking at was a white bean. But it made me wonder … would corn go good in this recipe?
    Thanks for sharing!
    Gail

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 13, 2012 at 8:29 pm

      I’m always game for trying corn in anything. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Elizabeth says

    October 5, 2011 at 9:00 am

    Stacy and Barry,
    Thanks so much for the lovely lunch last week. I really want that chicken crock pot soup that you served. I really liked it. Thank you again!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      October 5, 2011 at 10:06 am

      Elizabeth, I’ll be posting that recipe on Friday. 🙂 Thanks for coming over!

      Reply
  12. Rebecca says

    July 22, 2011 at 11:02 am

    Jason LOVED the cowboy beans. I will add this to the the other 5 things I know how to cook lol

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 22, 2011 at 12:05 pm

      They are YUMMY! Great potluck dinner too. 🙂 Good job Becca!

      Reply
  13. Willie Mitchell says

    July 19, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    Stacy, I just looked and washed 2 pounds of pinto beans and put them out to soak. Tomorrow, while I am baking banana bread to freeze I will put them in the pressure canner and can them. Have another 2 pound bag to do late in the week. I do some in quarts and some in pints. That way I’ve got it covered. When you want beans but don’t have time to cook them low and slow so the juice thickens a little, just pull out as many as you need and voila, pinto beans!

    Reply
  14. Melanie says

    July 16, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    I was wondering if I could use baked beans also in this recipe. I have pinto, pork and beans, and baked beans here at home and was wanting to make this tonight. Oh and can you fix biscuits instead of cornbread?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 16, 2011 at 8:14 pm

      Biscuits would be great! We’re just lovers of cornbread. 🙂 And you can use any type of beans you like, even green beans. Good luck!

      Reply
  15. Katie says

    July 16, 2011 at 9:03 am

    Ohhhh my grandma used to make these and I’ve been looking for the recipe! It’s so good! Thank you!

    And yes, I freeze beans often also..they do really well!

    Stacy – love your blog!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 16, 2011 at 11:49 am

      Thanks Katie! 🙂

      Reply
  16. becky says

    July 15, 2011 at 11:56 am

    First let me say I love beans too! LOL, but the downside is, I’m the only one in my family that does. Brad doesn’t like them, nor does Peyton. Anyways, with that being said, if I were to fix the cowboy beans, I will have a lot to freeze over, but I don’t see how when you freeze them, and then you re-warm them later, how they’re not turned to mush….

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 15, 2011 at 1:38 pm

      Becky, I freeze beans all the time. 🙂 If they are already overly soft, then they could get softer. When I know I’m going to freeze beans, I try to under-cook them just a tad. But for these I would just freeze them, then thaw in the fridge. After that, I would heat them up on the stove-top.

      Reply
    • Shannon says

      June 20, 2012 at 12:06 pm

      Elizabeth: I HATE beans. But on a whim I tried these at a wedding. Granted I can’t say the exact recipe considering it was a catering service, but I LOVED these and went back for seconds.

      Obviously it’ll be hard to get kids and bean haters to try this, they might be pleasantly surprised. 😉

      Stacy, thanks for the easiest/cheapest recipe I’ve found yet. While I can’t say I’ve made them, yet, I will definitely be testing these out for a work “BBQ” potluck!

      Reply
      • Stacy says

        June 20, 2012 at 12:28 pm

        Shannon, I can second that! My daddy will not touch beans…and he eats these every time I make them. 🙂

        Reply
  17. Christy Bailey says

    July 15, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Hello! Saw you on TV this AM sharing your cleaning secrets… Great job! I saw you at MPS and enjoy reading your blog and experimenting with all your ideas… You go girl!

    Reply


Hello! I’m Stacy!

I believe God created you to be the hero of your home. You CAN manage your home instead of it managing you. That’s why I empower women with simple solutions for their homemaking needs – because if it’s not easy, you won’t do it. {Read More…}

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