The recipe can be varied infinitely and there are many versions out there – we use Stephanie’s version. It’s sometimes also known as cowboy beans. The recipes for hillbilly beans do typically originate from the Southern United States. I believe this recipe is originally from West Virginia.
I find that this dish works in almost any situation or season, it always disappears.
Whether it’s a main dish or a side I’m not sure, but I guess it doesn’t matter since it’s so popular!
Hillbilly Beans Mixed (Ready For Oven)
Hillbilly Beans Ingredients
To make hillbilly beans, it just takes a pound of ground beef, a pound of bacon, a diced onion, four types of canned beans, ketchup, brown sugar, and vinegar.
Hillbilly Bean Ingredients
For the four bean types, we like to use pork & beans, kidney beans, lima beans, and butter beans. However, I’ve seen it made with all different kinds of beans so use whatever makes your family happy.
It’s a really simple recipe to make too. After frying the bacon and browning the ground beef, all the ingredients are mixed together in an oven-proof casserole and the whole thing goes into the oven for an hour.
Or, you can always use a slow cooker to make the beans. That makes it even easier for a potluck dinner, just take the slow cooker and plug it in at the party.
And, that’s it – you’ve got a great tasting side or main dish! It’s a higher protein dish since it’s got both the beans and meats in it and makes a hearty dish for meals in cooler temperatures.
We love to make cornbread to go along with hillbilly beans and Best Blackberry Cobbler as a dessert dish.
Hillbilly Beans
Equipment
- Oven Proof Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion (diced)
- 2 cans kidney beans (15 oz.) (drained)
- 2 cans pork and beans (15 oz.)
- 1 can lima beans (15 oz.) (drained)
- 1 can butter beans (15 oz.) (drained)
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons vinegar
Instructions
- In a large oven-proof casserole, cut the bacon into 1" pieces, fry until crisp, remove the bacon from the pan, and remove the grease.
- Brown the ground beef and onion in the pan, and add the remaining ingredients.
- Mix well, and bake in a 300 F degree oven for one hour.
- That's it - enjoy!
Sandy says
Great recipe – everyone loved it!