The 4th of July is almost here, and it is time to talk about the menu! While burgers, hot dogs, and ribs are the main event at any summer cookout, true BBQ lovers know that the side dishes are what make or break the party.
If you are looking for the absolute best summer bbq side dishes, you need to make these Crockpot Cowboy Beans (also known as Southern Baked Beans).
This is not your average, runny can of plain baked beans. This is a hearty, smoky, sweet, and savory masterpiece loaded with ground beef and crispy bacon. Best of all? It’s a completely hands-off crockpot recipe. You don’t have to turn on your oven and heat up the house, and it frees up precious space on your grill!
🛒 The Ingredients (The Ultimate BBQ Upgrade)
We are using store-bought canned beans as a base to save time, but we are upgrading them so much that nobody will ever know!
- 1/2 lb Bacon, chopped into pieces.
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef.
- 1/2 Yellow Onion, finely diced.
- 3 cans (15 oz each) Baked Beans (Use a classic flavor like Bush’s Original. DO NOT DRAIN them!).
- 1/2 cup Your favorite BBQ Sauce (A hickory or brown sugar flavor works best).
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed.
- 2 tbsp Yellow Mustard (This cuts the sweetness perfectly!).
- 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar.
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: The “Crispy Base” Prep
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the chopped bacon until it is nice and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan.
Step 2: Brown the Beef
Add the diced onions and ground beef to the skillet with the leftover bacon grease. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onions are soft.
Crucial Step: Drain the excess grease from the skillet! If you don’t, your cowboy beans will have a layer of oil floating on top.
Step 3: The Slow Cooker Dump
Lightly spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick spray. Add the browned beef and onions, the crispy bacon, and the 3 cans of undrained baked beans.
Step 4: The Sticky Sweet Sauce
Add the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, and apple cider vinegar directly into the slow cooker. Stir everything together until the meat and beans are completely coated in the sauce.
Step 5: Cook Low and Slow
Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours (or HIGH for 2 hours). This gives the beans time to absorb the smoky bacon flavor and the brown sugar.
Step 6: The “Thick & Sticky” Hack (Crucial!) 🛑
One of the biggest complaints about slow cooker beans is that the sauce gets too watery because the steam is trapped inside the pot.
The Chef’s Secret: During the last 45 minutes of cooking, take the lid off the slow cooker!
Leaving the lid off allows the excess liquid to evaporate. The sauce will reduce, caramelize, and become incredibly thick, dark, and sticky—exactly like restaurant-style BBQ beans!
💡 Make-Ahead Cookout Tip:
These beans are the perfect cookout food because they taste even better the next day! You can make the entire recipe 24 hours in advance, keep it in the fridge, and just warm it back up in the slow cooker on the “Keep Warm” setting right before your 4th of July party starts.
