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Savory Cast Iron Cowboy Beans with Smoked Bacon

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A hearty and smoky cowboy beans recipe cooked in a cast iron skillet with thick-cut smoked bacon, spices, and tender Great Northern beans. Perfect comfort food that’s quick and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 ounces thick-cut smoked bacon, chopped
  • 1 ½ cups dried Great Northern beans, soaked overnight
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soak the beans: Place 1 ½ cups dried Great Northern beans in a large bowl. Cover with cold water by at least 2 inches and soak overnight (8-12 hours).
  2. Drain and rinse the soaked beans under cold water and set aside.
  3. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add chopped smoked bacon and cook until crispy and browned, about 8-10 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
  4. Add olive oil to the skillet if needed. Sauté the chopped onion until translucent and slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and chili powder. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to develop flavors and caramelize the tomato paste.
  6. Add the soaked beans and beef broth to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
  7. Add Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender and sauce thickens. Add more broth or water if liquid reduces too much.
  8. Stir the crispy bacon back into the beans and warm through for 5 minutes.
  9. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot straight from the skillet.

Notes

For thicker sauce, uncover skillet for last 10 minutes to evaporate liquid. If beans are tough, continue simmering uncovered with splash of broth until tender. Use canned beans for quicker cooking (reduce simmer time to 20-30 minutes). For vegetarian version, omit bacon, use vegetable broth, smoked paprika, and liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy beans, smoked bacon, cast iron skillet, Great Northern beans, comfort food, easy recipe, smoky beans, hearty beans

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/savory-cast-iron-cowboy-beans-with-smoked-bacon-easy-homemade-recipe/