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Comforting Texas-Style Cowboy Beans Recipe with Ground Beef and Bacon

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A hearty and smoky Texas-style cowboy beans recipe featuring ground beef, bacon, and pinto beans simmered with spices for a comforting, flavorful meal perfect for casual dinners and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon (Applewood smoked recommended)
  • 2 cups dried pinto beans or 3 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup tomato sauce (plain or fire-roasted)
  • 2 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  1. If using dried pinto beans, rinse and soak overnight. Drain and simmer in fresh water for 1 to 1½ hours until tender but not mushy. If using canned beans, drain and rinse thoroughly.
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon slices until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet; discard or save the rest.
  3. In the same skillet with bacon fat, sauté chopped onion until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  4. Add ground beef to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned and no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  5. Transfer beef mixture to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot. Add cooked or canned beans, tomato sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
  6. Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Crumble half of the crispy bacon and stir into the beans. Add Worcestershire sauce if using. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered for another 5 minutes.
  8. Serve beans hot, topped with remaining bacon for crunch.

Notes

Use bacon fat to brown the beef and sauté onions for added flavor. Avoid overcooking beans to keep them tender but intact. Adjust salt after simmering as bacon and broth add saltiness naturally. Add a splash of broth if beans get too thick. For a vegetarian version, omit meat and use smoked paprika or liquid smoke with sautéed mushrooms or smoked tempeh.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy beans, Texas-style beans, ground beef recipe, bacon beans, pinto beans, comfort food, one pot meal, smoky beans

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/comforting-texas-style-cowboy-beans-recipe-with-ground-beef-and-bacon-easy/