Meaty Three-Bean Bake (Printable Format)

Loaded with three meats and four kinds of beans in a sweet and tangy sauce, these cowboy beans are perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.

# What You'll Gather:

→ Meat Mixture

01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1/2 pound bacon, chopped
03 - 1 pound smoked sausage links, cut into bite-sized pieces
04 - 1/2 cup diced onion

→ Bean Base

05 - 1 (14.5-ounce) can pork and beans, undrained
06 - 1 (14.5-ounce) can pinto beans, drained
07 - 1 (14.5-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
08 - 1 (14.5-ounce) can great northern beans, drained

→ Sauce Ingredients

09 - 1/2 cup ketchup
10 - 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
11 - 2 tablespoons molasses
12 - 2 tablespoons mustard
13 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
14 - 1 teaspoon salt
15 - 1 teaspoon ground pepper

→ Topping

16 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Grab a skillet and cook the ground beef until it's no longer pink. Drain off any extra grease, then toss the meat into your slow cooker.
02 - Using the same skillet (no need to wash it!), cook the chopped bacon until it gets nice and crispy. Scoop the bacon bits into your slow cooker but save that tasty bacon grease in the pan.
03 - Toss your diced onions into the hot bacon grease and cook until they're soft and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape the onions and any remaining bacon grease into the slow cooker for maximum flavor.
04 - Add the sliced sausage and all four cans of beans (remember to drain three but keep the liquid from the pork and beans). Give everything a good stir to combine.
05 - In a bowl, stir together the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, chili powder, salt, and pepper until well blended. Pour this sweet and tangy sauce over everything in the slow cooker and stir well.
06 - Cover your slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-4 hours. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors meld together.
07 - Just before serving, sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top and let it melt. Grab a big spoon and enjoy!
08 - No slow cooker? No problem! Follow the same prep steps but put everything in a Dutch oven or 9×13 baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350°F for about 1 to 1½ hours until hot and bubbly.

# Important Tips:

01 - These beans taste even better the next day after the flavors have had time to really develop.
02 - This recipe feeds a crowd and is perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and game day gatherings.
03 - For a spicier version, add diced jalapeños or a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the sauce mixture.
04 - Leftovers freeze beautifully for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

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