This cowboy bean recipe is perfectly balanced, inexpensive and versatile. These can be served as a side dish or a main dish, and is perfect for large crowds.

How to Make Cowboy Beans

In a large stock pot, rinse and soak pinto beans overnight. In a Dutch oven sauté chopped onions and bell peppers, add chopped garlic right before adding the other ingredients (you don't want it to burn). Add browned ground beef and cooked and diced bacon, we like the bacon in bigger pieces. Add the rest of the ingredients, put the lid on your Dutch oven and let it slowly cook for 4 to 5 hours, or until the beans are tender and the liquid is thick.

Ingredients

4 cups dry pinto beans
1 pound thick-cut bacon, cut into pieces
1 pounds ground beef
1 onion, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
5 cloves garlic, diced
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons fresh cracked black pepper

This cowboy bean recipe can be served as a main dish with cornbread, crackers or tortilla chips, or as a side dish with your favorite BBQ meat.

Cheers.