Cowboy Beans a Baked Bean Recipe perfect for any Pot Luck BBQ, Camping, or Dutch Oven Cooking event. These beans are loaded with flavors and ingredients to bring the BEST to the table. Serve as a Side Dish or even Main Course
Place 16-18 hot coals as a base for the bottom and place 12 inch Dutch Oven over coals. Allow Dutch Oven to heat up. Once hot add sliced bacon. I like to cut bacon in about ¾in slices and throw them into the hot Dutch Oven and let them cook stirring as needed
Remove any excess oil and fat. It’s easiest to use a few paper towels to absorb the excess fat.
Add 1 lb of ground beef to the cooked bacon. I prefer a lean ground sirloin but choose what you prefer.
Chop ground beef and allow to fully cook. You may need to drain excess fat from the hamburger depending on what you choose.
Add diced Onion and Diced Bell Pepper. Green Bell Pepper gives a nice bite to this recipe, but Red or Yellow is also a great option! Stir to combine and allow onions and bell pepper to soften for a few minutes.
Drain Kidney Beans and Navy Beans. Add Kidney, Navy and Pork and Beans to meat mixture.
Pour Chili Sauce, broth, and Yellow Mustard on top.
Add ham cubes and brown sugar and stir to combine.
Cover with lid and add 12-14 hot coals on top of Dutch Oven
Stir every 15 minutes and cook for 60-70 minutes.
Enameled Dutch Ovens baked in Oven OR Slow Cooker
In a large skillet on the stove over medium/high heat add bacon slices. I like to cut bacon in ¾in pieces. Stir as needed until fully cooked.
Remove excess fat using paper towels to carefully remove.
Add 1 lb Lean Ground Sirloin to bacon and chop to break up beef. Feel free to use any ground beef. You may need to remove excess fat after cooking.
Dice Onion and Bell Pepper. Green Bell Pepper gives a nice bite to this recipe, but Red or Yellow is also a great option! Stir to combine and allow onions and bell pepper to soften for a few minutes.
Pour meat mixture into Slow Cooker or Dutch Oven
Drain Kidney Beans and Navy Beans. Add Kidney, Navy and Pork and Beans to meat mixture.
Pour Chili Sauce, broth and Yellow Mustard on top.
Add ham cubes and brown sugar and stir to combine.
Cover Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker with Lid
Bake in 350 Degree Pre-heated Oven for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes OR – Use Slow Cooker and set to low for 4 hours.
Notes
Charcoal Tips
Heat Temperature will vary depending on the weather. The wind is the biggest factor when trying to cook using charcoal. Wind will burn through charcoal faster, and divert the heat. Try to block the wind as much as possible for the best result or you will need to add additional charcoal to maintain the cooking heat process.
How Many Pieces of Charcoal is needed per Dutch Oven?
You will need different amounts of charcoal for different sizes of Dutch Ovens. A good rule of thumb is to place 1 ½ times the diameter of the Dutch Oven on the bottom. If you are using a 12in Dutch Oven, you will need about 18 coals on the bottom. You will also need 1 piece of charcoal for every inch in diameter on top.