Would you like a little of Yank and Brit food mixed? Maybe add a little spice to a Brit staple? I have found some of the food in England to be a bit bland for my taste. And, after living and cooking here for 5+ years, my hubby has acquired a taste for a bit more kick in his food as well. Try Cowboy Beans with a British twist!
The Origin Story: Cowboy Beans with a British Twist at a New England Gathering
On our last visit to the states, (Central Massachusetts, about 40 minutes west of Boston), to visit family and friends, we had a cousin gathering. It is customary when we all get together for everyone to bring a dish! One of my cousins brought what he called “Cowboy Beans”!
Now, hubby is gluten free, and even though he is very easy going and makes do, it can sometimes be a bit of a challenge when gathering with friends and family to find foods suitable for him. My family and friends tend to lean towards the Yank staples of pasta, breads and fried foods. Not healthy I know and not GF, but very tasty! So it was a pleasant surprise to find that my cousin who was hosting had GF buns available for the burgers! And another cousin brought the Cowboy Beans. Hubby was happy to be able to partake!
Bringing Cowboy Beans to Britain: A Homemade Version
For this post, I thought I would share the recipe for the Cowboy Beans and tie a Brit staple with a Yank flair. For those of you across the pond on the Yank side, baked beans are a staple here in England, Even as a common side dish for brekky!
Basically, a few tins of canned beans, add some onions, peppers, ground beef and kielbasa. Kielbasa is a staple for these types of dishes. Kielbasa is a Polish sausage and typically made from pork or a mix of pork and beef, seasoned with garlic, herbs, and spices, then smoked for its characteristic flavor, Add a little brown sugar and barbecue sauce to taste and, voila! A mixture of Yank and Brit foods with a bit of spice.
A Spicy Fusion of Yank and Brit Comfort Food
Now, back home in England, I made our own version as a side dish for hubby. It’s filling, can be GF, and is easy to make!
I used almost all the same ingredients. Tinned baked beans, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, onions and green peppers. Unfortunately, I have yet to be able to locate kielbasa here in England, so I substituted the kielbasa with chorizo. (I have found Polish sausage here, but it doesn’t have quite the same flavor as kielbasa). Chorizo is also a Brit staple, commonly used in all types of pasta dishes, paellas and the like. Chorizo is a coarsely textured, spiced pork sausage widely used in Spanish and Mexican cooking. It is made from chopped pork and red pepper and seasoned with chili and paprika.A bit of spicy meat to add to many dishes. So similar to kielbasa, but not quite the same texture and flavor. Yet, using the chorizo still brings that smoky, spicy flavor, and pairs perfectly with the sweet and savory beans.
Easy Cowboy Beans Recipe
🛒 Ingredients:
- 2 cans of tinned baked beans (Heinz or Branston work great)
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup chopped chorizo (or substitute with GF Polish sausage)
- ½ pound ground beef (optional)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ cup barbecue sauce (adjust to taste)
- Optional: cayenne, chili flakes, or hot sauce for added spice
👩🍳 Instructions:
Add extra spices (cayenne or chili flakes) to your desired heat level.
Sauté onion and pepper in a bit of oil until softened.
Add ground beef (if using) and cook until browned.
Stir in the chopped chorizo (or kielbasa if you’re in the states), baked beans, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce.
Transfer everything to a slow cooker.
Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours to let the flavors develop.
Try Cowboy Beans with a British Twist and Share Your Version!
My stepson and his girlfriend tried the dish I made here in England and thoroughly enjoyed it! They thought a bit of cayenne or chili flakes may add even more of a kick!
Have you ever tried fusing American and British recipes? I’d love to hear your version of Cowboy Beans with a British Twist! Comment below or tag me on Instagram or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/yankeebrit.blog/ to share your creation!
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