Bean recipes are just too damn sweet, so I modded this to be much less sweet...

Cowboy Bacon Beans


Ingredients

4 cups dry pinto beans
1 pound thick-cut bacon, cut into pieces
2 whole green bell peppers, diced (red bell)
1 whole onion, diced
1 cup brown sugar (1/4 cup)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons mustard
1 tablespoon chili powder, optional
2 teaspoons salt, more to taste
2 teaspoons black pepper, more to taste (1 TBSP)
4 cloves garlic, minced (4 tsp granulated)
(1 med size Jalapenos)
(1 tsp chipotle chili powder)
( ) indicates my mods

Directions

Rinse the beans under cold water, sorting out any rocks/particles. Set aside.

In a largish pot (8 qt.) saute the bacon pieces until halfway cooked and the fat is rendered. Add the green peppers and onions to the pot and cook until starting to get brown, about 3 minutes. Add the beans and cover with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, and then add the brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, chili powder, salt, pepper and garlic. Reduce the heat to a simmer, place on the lid and cook until the beans are tender and the liquid is thick 3 to 4 hours

Notes:
Cut waay back on the brown sugar as shown
I like 1 green and 1 red bell pepper
1 fresh jalapeno can be enough heat for many
I don't do the pre-cook of the bacon when using lean bacon like Hempler's
And I use 1/2 the bacon amount...no reason but guilt

It's a good size batch and could be cut in half.
A dollop of BBQ sauce will transform it into BBQ beans that will please any miscreants in camp.

This weekend in steelhead camp we will have this along with a dinner sausage (Johnsonville Irish O'Garlic)
Should make a nice, old-timey meal with plenty of campfire farts afterwards.