Valerie's Kitchen

Simple, seasonal home cooking

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans and a Cookbook Giveaway!

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These Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans are meaty, substantial and darn right delicious! They’ll make a great addition to your summer cookouts.

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

I’m excited to be sharing this recipe with today because it is from a very special cookbook that was written by a very special lady, Melissa Sperka of Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen. I’ve been a fan of Melissa’s blog and her Southern-inspired recipes since nearly day one of my blogging career.

I have always been drawn to Southern cooking. The recipes are typically steeped in tradition, many being handed down from generation to generation. A lot of the comfort foods we are all familiar with have Southern roots and Melissa’s got many of these classics covered in her cookbook. Recipes like Chicken and Biscuit Cobbler, Homestyle Potato Salad, Gooey 5-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese, Cast-Iron Buttermilk Fried Chicken (you have to try this one!), and Layered Corn Bread Salad. You’ll also find more contemporary recipes but always with a delicious Southern twist.

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

The cookbook is filled with big, glorious photos and easy to follow instructions. It runs the gamut from starters through to desserts and even includes some of Melissa’s holiday favorites. I’m happy to be sharing the cookbook love today and will be giving a copy away to one of you!  

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

It was tough to decide which recipe to try first but decided on these Slow Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans because I knew they’d be just the thing for a Memorial Day weekend BBQ.

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

They include a full pound of ground beef that is cooked with onion, red bell pepper, and a diced poblano pepper.

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

Pinto, kidney, and black beans make up the “3-bean” situation. Of course, we need some cooked crumbled bacon in there (of course!), a little brown sugar, spicy brown mustard, chili powder, cumin, BBQ seasoning, salt and fresh ground black pepper, and a cup of your favorite BBQ sauce. There is SO much flavor here!

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

Combine all this goodness in your slow cooker and set it to LOW for about 4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours.

That’s all there is to it. When you have a group coming, it is so nice to have one dish simmering away in your slow cooker. Hands-off cooking at it’s best.

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

These beans are meaty, substantial and so flavorful. A great choice for a hungry group!

Slow-Cooker 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

Enter below to win a copy of Melissa’s cookbook and best of luck to you all! Don’t want to wait? Click HERE to buy your copy now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

Prep Time Preparation 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Serves 6 to 8     adjust servings
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound bacon
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 small poblano pepper, seeded and diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound ground sirloin
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 (16 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (16 ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce, your favorite brand
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon barbecue seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • Bacon crumbles, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Spray the bottom and sides of an oval 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. In a large skillet, cook the bacon. Transfer to paper towels to drain and crumble when cool enough to handle
  3. Heat vegetable oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and poblano pepper for 3 to 5 minutes, or until softened and beginning to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the ground sirloin to the skillet. Sprinkle with the seasoned salt and black pepper. Cook for 10 minutes, or until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat from the pan and transfer mixture to prepared slow cooker. Add all the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker with the beef, except the bacon crumbles. Stir well to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.
  5. Stir well before serving and sprinkle with additional bacon crumbles, if desired.

Slow-Cooked 3-Bean Cowboy Beans

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Comments

  5. This is right up my husband’s alley! It is similar to one I make, but, I love the idea of using three beans.

    Reply

  10. Thank you for the recipe, I can’t wait to try it. The book looks amazing. Good luck to everyone

    Reply

  11. Anyone who doesn’t follow fromvalerieskitchen.com is missing a true gem. Every recipe we have tried has been great, especially the blueberry muffins. The absolute best blog I know of.

    Reply

  16. I’d love to win a copy of this recipe book, my grandma grew up in the South and I was always a fan of what came out of her kitchen!

    Reply

  28. My sister and I always talk about doing a foodie road trip through the south.
    I think we need to start planning it soon!

    Reply

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