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Judy John

BBQ Cowboy Baked Beans Recipe

BBQ cowboy baked beans combine hearty beans with bold barbecue flavor in a rich bubbling sauce. This easy side dish turns glossy, smoky, and irresistible.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 18 servings
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 312
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beans
  • 3 15-oz cans pinto beans drained
  • 2 15-oz cans black beans drained
BBQ Sauce Base
  • 1 1/4 cups barbecue sauce favorite style
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp molasses
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 medium onion finely diced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Dish
  • Saucepan
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Measuring Cups
  • Can Opener
  • Oven
  • Freezer
  • Tray
  • Spatula

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 325°F and grease a baking dish.
  2. Cook diced onion in a saucepan for 5 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  3. Stir in barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, paprika, and pepper until smooth.
  4. Add drained beans and fold gently so beans stay intact.
  5. Transfer mixture to baking dish and spread evenly.
  6. Cover and bake 45 minutes until hot and bubbling.
  7. Uncover and bake 25 to 30 minutes until sauce thickens and edges turn sticky.
  8. Rest 10 minutes before serving for the best spoonable texture.

Notes

For softer texture, keep covered longer. For crispier caramelized edges, uncover earlier and extend baking time. Freeze cooled portions up to 2 months. Stir gently during assembly to avoid broken beans. Add bacon, jalapeno, or maple for flavor changes. Store refrigerated up to 5 days.