Cowboy Baked Beans (Ranch Style)

Last summer I had the distinct pleasure of visiting cattle ranches in Kansas with Certified Angus Beef ® brand. One of (many) highlights of the trip with a spending time with cowboy and Food Network star Kent Rollins and his wife, Shannon. 

Close up of Cowboy Baked Beans on a spoon


 

Together, they taught us to make Cowboy Beans over the golden embers of a campfire. A great recipe that soon became a family favorite. 

This post is sponsored by the Certified Angus Beef® brand in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

My New Favorite Baked Bean Recipe

Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans are smoky, spicy and sweet. The perfect side dish recipe for BBQ, potlucks and parties. 

This dynamic duo is well-known in the foodie world for being the only chuck wagon chefs, teaching us all to cook like a cowboy courtesy of Certified Angus Beef® brand.

After teaching us how to make the best cast iron biscuits using a sourdough starter, we also watched as Kent prepared an amazing dinner out of the chuck wagon.

Certified Angus Beef® brand on the grill, cast iron biscuits, cowboy homemade baked beans.
Certified Angus Beef® brand on the grill, cast iron biscuits, cowboy homemade baked beans.

Chuck Wagon Food

All of the food was remarkable, but perhaps the most translatable to home was his homemade baked beans, also known as Spicy Barbecue and Bacon Baked Beans.

Kent reminisced about his childhood and beans sometimes serving as the “meat” of their meals. 

Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans are smoky, spicy and sweet. The perfect side dish recipe for BBQ, potlucks and parties. An easy baked bean recipe with loads of flavor! #homemadebakedbeans #bakedbeans www.savoryexperiments.com

These baked beans with bacon do not disappoint. Of course, I took the liberty of modifying his original recipe to create my own sweet and spicy ranch beans masterpiece. 

A couple of things to note are that the type of BBQ sauce you choose will carry the flavor through your beans. I highly recommend going with a sweet BBQ sauce for this one. It will also change the ending color- some are darker burgundy and others will be lighter or even more yellow.

Unless the goal is sweat beads on your nose and forehead, then by all means, go for the spicy!

Group of people outside Tiffany Cattle Co

Ranch Style Beans

One question I originally had was “what are ranch style beans?” They are beans simmered with oregano, cumin and chili powder. If you can’t find Ranch style beans, look for chili beans, which will have a similar flavor profile. 

But I also found another explanation… ranch beans are just any beans that have been doctored up from a basic baked bean recipe. 

On thing that surprised me, but then made a ton of sense was that Kent Rollins even used canned beans! But as he explained life on a chuck wagon, the majority of the day is spent in route and moving. 

Since ranch beans are so hard to find, I’ve since modified the recipe to use just pinto beans and remains just as delicious.

Cattle ranchers and cattle in a field

There isn’t time for soaking beans with fresh water.

Kent Rollins: “Water is for drinking and daylight is for moving.”

There are times they can be on the chuck wagon for weeks, even months, at a time. Canned foods last longer. Surprisingly, dry beans weigh about the same amount as canned beans. 

Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans are smoky, spicy and sweet. The perfect side dish recipe for BBQ, potlucks and parties. An easy baked bean recipe with loads of flavor! #homemadebakedbeans #bakedbeans www.savoryexperiments.com

Prep it for Camping

Much like many of our favorite camping recipes, they need to be easily prepared with simple, easy to tote ingredients.

For Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans as your favorite camping food, dice up the onion and jalapeno before you leave.

You can omit or cook the bacon ahead of time if you’d prefer to not travel with raw meat. Of course, it all depends on the event you plan to make them for. I’m not much of a camper, so mine are usually just being made at home on the grill or stovetop. 

PRO TIP: Use your favorite canned beans you don’t have to stick to the beans your recipe calls for. 

While I like to make mine in a cast iron skillet like we did out on the range, you can also make crock pot baked beans by throwing the ingredients in a slow cooker on low for 2 hours. Or follow the same process, but bake them in the oven for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

To find even more cowboy worthy recipe from life on a chuck wagon, check out A Taste of Cowboy, one of my favorite go-to cookbooks, especially for summer recipes.

Jessica with Kent Rollins rancher holding a cowboy magazine
My pregnant self with Kent Rollins.

Check out these tasty recipes to serve with your beans!

two halves of a grilled stuffed pork chop on a plate with green beans

Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops

Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops are an easy grilled pork recipe. Herb marinated pork is stuffed with bread crumbs, herbs and Parmesan cheese and grilled to flavorful perfection in just 15 minutes!
See The Recipe!
Healthy meal idea, easy dinner recipe with only 4 ingredients!

Thai Grilled Shrimp

Thai Grilled Shrimp is an easy and healthy dinner idea, using light coconut milk, Thai seasoning and lime juice, it comes together in a snap!
See The Recipe!

Tools for making Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans:

Heavy Bottom Frying Pan– this will be one of your most used kitchen tools. Having something that is heavy bottom will distribute heat better and prevent burning whether you are using an electric or gas range.

Cast Iron Skillet– Yes they are heavy, yes they take a little extra TLC. Are using cast iron pans worth it? YES!!! Just buy one and you’ll thank me later! I have both pre-seasoned and unseasoned. I like them both for different reasons. 

Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans are smoky, spicy and sweet. The perfect side dish recipe for BBQ, potlucks and parties. An easy baked bean recipe with loads of flavor! #homemadebakedbeans #bakedbeans www.savoryexperiments.com

Questions you might have about how to make cowboy baked beans:

Can baked beans be made ahead of time? Sure! Beans are such a sturdy ingredient and can withstand a lot, including being made ahead and reheating. However, as with most recipes, they best eaten within 24 hours of cooking. 

How do I reheat baked beans? Like I said above, they are pretty sturdy, so you take your pick of how to reheat them. Saucepan, crock pot, skillet, cast iron, baking dish, oven or even the microwave. It is pretty hard to hurt them! 

Can I freeze baked beans? You can freeze cooked baked beans. Place them in an airtight container or plastic bag, trying to get out as much air as possible. They will stay good for up to 4 months. 

Can I use a different type of bean? You can substitute whatever type of beans you want! Here are the best beans for baked bean recipes: 

  • Great Northern
  • White Beans
  • Pink Pinto Beans
  • Pinto Beans
  • Kidney Beans
  • Black Beans
  • Navy Beans
pinto and black beans in a skillet

Can I use dry, raw beans instead of canned beans? You sure can! I just usually don’t have the time. Start with 2 cups of each type of dry beans. Put them all in a large bowl, cover with water and set in the fridge for 6-8 hours. Pick up where the recipe starts off for the same results!

What can I substitute for bacon? Technically, this is a pork and beans recipe, but you can either omit the bacon altogether or even use cooked, browned ground beef

Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans are smoky, spicy and sweet. The perfect side dish recipe for BBQ, potlucks and parties. An easy baked bean recipe with loads of flavor! #homemadebakedbeans #bakedbeans www.savoryexperiments.com

Before you get started, make sure you know how to properly season your cast iron and how to clean your cast iron!

Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans in a skillet with a spoon

Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans

4.46 from 51 votes
Cowboy Homemade Baked Beans are smoky, spicy and sweet. The perfect side dish recipe for BBQ, potlucks and parties. An easy baked bean recipe with loads of flavor! 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium heat. Add bacon strips. Cooke until nearly crispy. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. When cool, cut into 1-inch pieces.
  • Drain excess bacon grease from cast iron, carefully wiping out with a paper towel.
  • Add black and pinto beans, BBQ sauce, jalapeno, yellow onion, brown sugar and yellow mustard. Mix well.
  • Bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring frequently. Cook for 20 minutes.
  • Add bacon back into the mixture, heating for an additional 2-3 minutes to reheat bacon.
  • Serve hot!
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 487 kcal, Carbohydrates: 65 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 18 g, Saturated Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 29 mg, Sodium: 796 mg, Potassium: 669 mg, Fiber: 10 g, Sugar: 34 g, Vitamin A: 75 IU, Vitamin C: 4 mg, Calcium: 98 mg, Iron: 3.2 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Anne
Calories: 487
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cast iron baked beans, homemade baked beans
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Learn more about Certified Angus Beef® brand HERE! 

Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.46 from 51 votes (42 ratings without comment)

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I was not sure if my dad and I would have figured it all the way out on our own. Thought we had lost the recipe forever to be only a fading memory from my childhood without my mother around to help us. Still can’t figure out the password for the Hulu account since she passed on this year!

  2. 5 stars
    This is now my “signature” family recipe. My kids don’t even bother with bbq joint baked beans anymore, they’ve come to expect this recipe’s quality and flavor. Only modification I make is adding an extra jalapeño for a little more kick.

  3. 5 stars
    I normally don’t take the time to rate recipes but I have to give credit where credit is due… these are the best homemade baked beans. It’s hard to eat beans at a restaurant now. I do a couple things that I think are key.
    I use a smoky bbq sauce (Diana Sauce Gourmet Western Smokehouse) because I believe getting a smoky flavour is key.
    I also add a 127ml can of Old ElPaso Chopped Green Chillies because I find they have a unique flavour that I really like.
    Finally, I usually put them on the smoker to get extra flavour. These pair well with pork of course, so I just put them on the smoker on low heat along with a pulled pork or ribs and it makes great use of the smoke already going for the pork.
    Honestly everyone that’s tried these loves them and we do too. Thanks for the recipe.

  4. 5 stars
    My gosh,2nd time I’ve made them, what a hit!!
    So much flavor with a little kick. Thank you from Wisconsin!!!

  5. 5 stars
    Made these beans for family dinner and they were a hit! I decreased the jalapeños and added cubed kielbasa to it. I shared the recipes with family and will never have baked beans any other way!

  6. 5 stars
    Made these cowboy homemade baked beans and they were fabulous! With 3 kids, I’d decrease the amount of jalapenos. All 3 of them liked these beans, which is hard to find something everyone likes. I also cut the brown sugar in half and cooked in the crock pot for 2 hours on low. Thanks for a new family favorite!

  7. 5 stars
    These Baked Beans were Fabulous!!! I really need to make these on the 4th. So glad I stopped by! P.S. Miss seeing you!

  8. 5 stars
    I had a big baked beans fail recently so great to see your DELICIOUS sounding recipe!
    What a wonderful day it must have been when you visited the famous chef!

    1. Oh no, nothing more upsetting than a baked beans FAIL. I hope you like this recipe!

  9. 5 stars
    OMG, That look absolutely delicious! I have never made beaked beans my self, always buy them in a tin. I doun’t think I will go back to store bought baked beans after this one 😀