Cowboy Beans make an excellent side dish to your next Mexican feast.

Cowboy Beans

4 quarts water
2 1/2 cups pinto beans, rinsed, sorted, soaked and drained
1 small onion, quartered
1 tablespoon salt
1 pound ground beef
10 ounces longaniza-style chorizo or breakfast sausage, casing removed, crumbled
1 small onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 (14.5-ounce) can recipe-ready diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 (1.25-ounce) packet taco seasoning mix

1. Place water, beans and quartered onion in large stockpot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, partially covered, for 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender. Add salt; cook for additional 30 minutes.
2. Combine beef, chorizo, chopped onion, bell pepper and garlic in large skillet until beef is no longer pink; drain. Add beef mixture, tomatoes and juice, tomato paste and fajita seasoning mix to beans. Mix well; cover. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

Makes 5 servings.

Recipe is the property of Nestlé® and Meals.com, used with permission.