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A large glass baking dish filled with a savory cowboy casserole featuring baked beans, ground beef, chopped onions, and green bell peppers.

Classic Cowboy Casserole

A nostalgic, hearty Midwestern comfort food casserole made with baked beans, ground beef, bell peppers, onions, a tangy BBQ sauce blend, and crispy bacon.
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Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cans 15 oz each pork and beans
  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • 3 slices bacon chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Spatula
  • 9x13 inch glass baking dish
  • Small bowl and whisk

Method
 

  1. Prep Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Brown Meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, chopped onion, and chopped green bell pepper until the meat is fully browned. Drain excess grease.
  3. Combine Base: Pour the 4 cans of pork and beans into the baking dish. Add the cooked beef and vegetable mixture, stirring gently.
  4. Make Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and BBQ sauce. Pour over the bean mixture and stir lightly.
  5. Add Bacon: Scatter the chopped bacon pieces evenly across the top of the casserole.
  6. Bake: Bake uncovered at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes until bubbly and the bacon is crisp. Serve warm!

Notes

Bacon Crispness: For extra crispy bacon topping, you can partially pre-cook the bacon strips before chopping them.
Make-Ahead: You can assemble this dish a few hours ahead of time, cover, and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to bake.