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Calico Beans

Calico beans are the ultimate crowd-pleasing side dish that brings together ground beef, bacon, and a colorful mix of beans in a sweet and tangy sauce. This hearty casserole is perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and family gatherings where you need to feed a hungry crowd without spending all day in the kitchen.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 285
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Base
  • 1 pound ground beef 80/20 blend preferred
  • 6 slices bacon chopped into small pieces
  • 1 medium onion diced
For the Beans
  • 1 can 15 ounces kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 ounces butter beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 ounces pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 15 ounces navy beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can 28 ounces baked beans, not drained
For the Sauce
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • Large skillet or frying pan
  • 9x13 inch baking dish or large casserole dish
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Can opener
  • Colander or strainer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Cutting board and knife

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Dice your onion and chop the bacon into roughly half-inch pieces while the oven heats.
  2. Add the chopped bacon to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and has rendered most of its fat.
  3. Add the ground beef and diced onion to the skillet with the bacon. Break up the beef with your spoon and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until the meat is no longer pink and the onion has softened. Drain off most of the excess grease, leaving just a tablespoon or so for flavor.
  4. Open all the cans of beans except the baked beans. Pour the kidney beans, butter beans, pinto beans, and navy beans into a colander and rinse them under cold water.
  5. In your baking dish, combine the brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir everything together until the sugar dissolves and you have a smooth, tangy-sweet sauce.
  6. Add all the drained beans, the can of baked beans with its sauce, and the cooked meat mixture to the baking dish. Stir everything together until all the beans are evenly coated with the sauce and the meat is distributed throughout.
  7. Place the uncovered baking dish in your preheated oven. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and has thickened slightly.
  8. Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This resting time allows the sauce to thicken further as it cools slightly. Serve warm with your favorite barbecue dishes.

Notes

Make this dish a day ahead and refrigerate it overnight. The flavors meld together beautifully, and reheating it in the oven the next day actually improves the taste and texture. Store leftover calico beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freezes well for up to 3 months.