Spicy Cowboy Beans are a hearty and flavorful side for your next barbecue spread. This dish combines beans, bacon, smoked sausage, ground beef, and chorizo in a tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce. Perfect for backyard gatherings, this recipe allows for easy preparation using a smoker, enhancing the rich, smoky flavor.
Spicy Cowboy Beans
If you’ve never made baked beans from scratch, you are seriously missing out. So many recipes out there call for just doctoring up canned baked beans and I’m here to tell you – NO.
I mean, do what you want, but there is 100% a better way and I’m going to keep showing it to you until you finally decided to listen and give it a shot.
These cowboy baked beans take my regular Smoked Baked Beans recipe and amp it up several notches with all kinds of hearty meat in the mix, as well as our new OWYD Rubs adding major flavor punches. Pick up a jar of our Spicy Pork Rub and the Everything Rub and you can use it on all of your new summer BBQ favorites.
We made this recipe on our Traeger, but any pellet or smoker will work for this recipe. If you don’t have a smoker, this dish can also be made in the oven or the slow cooker.
Why you’ll love this dish…
- Hearty and Filling: Packed with beans and multiple types of meat, it’s a substantial side or main dish.
- Smoky Flavor: Cooking on the smoker adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to beat.
- Versatile: Easy to customize with your favorite meats and spices.
- Perfect for Gatherings: Feeds a crowd and pairs well with many barbecue dishes.
- Simple Preparation: Minimal hands-on time after initial prep.
Get all of my Traeger Recipes here!
Cowboy Beans shopping list
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Sauce
- Ketchup
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Beer
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Spicy Pork Rub
- Yellow Mustard
Beans & Meat
- Bacon
- Smoked Sausage with Cheddar
- Ground Beef
- Chorizo
- Everything Rub
- Great Northern Beans
- Navy Beans
- Small Onion
- Large Jalapeño Peppers
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How to make Spicy Cowboy Beans on the Smoker
Wondering what you’re getting yourself into when you make this dish? Here’s a quick overview of the process! Make sure you follow the instructions at the recipe card at the bottom of the post while you’re cooking.
- Preheat Smoker: Preheat your smoker to 220°F and prep a grill-safe pan with cooking spray.
- Cook Meat: Brown ground beef and chorizo in a sauté pan, seasoning with Everything Rub.
- Prepare Sauce: Mix sauce ingredients and simmer on the stovetop until the sugar dissolves.
- Combine Ingredients: In the grill pan, combine beans, onion, jalapeños, cooked meats, and sauce. Stir gently.
- Smoke and Cook: Place the pan on the smoker. Cook for 1 hour, increase heat to 325°F, stir, and cook for an additional 30-60 minutes until thickened.
Try our Homemade Cherry Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce!
Cowboy Beans FAQ
How do I store the leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What’s the best way to reheat this dish?
Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Alternatively, microwave on medium power in short intervals, stirring in between. You can also toss it back on the smoker if you have it running for something else!
Can I prepare this dish in advance?
Yes! This dish keeps well and is perfect to make in advance. Sometimes if I want to bring these to a party, I’ll make them a day ahead and then toss them in my casserole crockpot the morning of the party to heat up and to transport over to the shin-dig.
What variations can I try?
- Substitute different beans like pinto or black beans.
- Use different sausages or add more vegetables like bell peppers.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer jalapeños or using a milder rub.
Have some BBQ Pickled Eggs!
Serve this with…
- Cornbread: The perfect companion to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Grilled Vegetables: Adds a fresh, light side to balance the hearty beans.
- Coleslaw: A cool, crisp contrast to the rich, smoky beans.
- Barbecue Ribs: Complements the meaty, smoky flavors perfectly.
More great Traeger recipes to love!
Homemade Baked Beans ALL DAY
Spicy Cowboy Beans
Ingredients
Sauce
- 3 cups ketchup
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 can beer (we like Ambers Ales)
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoons Spicy Pork Rub (or your favorite rub is fine here, too)
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
Beans & Meat
- 1/2 pound bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 links smoked sausage with cheddar sliced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound chorizo
- 1 tablespoon Everything Rub
- 1 can cans Great Northern Beans drained
- 2 cans Navy beans drained
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 large jalapeño peppers sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 220° following factory directions. Prep a grill-safe pan with cooking spray.
- Put the ground beef and chorizo into a sauté pan. Season with the Everything Rub (or your favorite BBQ rub) and break apart while it browns over medium-high heat.
- While the meat is browning, mix together all of the sauce ingredients until combined. Bring to a simmer on the stovetop and stir frequently, simmering until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Put the beans, onion, and jalapeno into the pan. Pour in the cooked ground meats and sliced smoked sausage and crumbled bacon. Top with the sauce and stir gently.
- Put the pan on the grill, shut the lid, and go do something else for an hour.
- Turn the heat up to 325°F. Stir gently and go away again.
- Cook for another 30-60 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened to your liking and reduced slightly and everything is bubbly and melded together.
- Remove from the grill and enjoy!
