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Calico Beans

Calico beans bring together sweet, savory, and smoky flavors in one comforting casserole dish that works for potlucks, barbecues, and family dinners alike. This hearty recipe combines ground beef, bacon, and three types of beans with a tangy sauce that turns simple ingredients into something you'll crave year-round.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 385
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Base
  • 1 pound ground beef 80/20 blend
  • 6 slices bacon chopped into 1-inch 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 pork and beans, not drained
For the Sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • Large skillet or frying pan
  • 9x13 inch baking dish or casserole dish
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Can opener
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Colander for draining beans
  • Sharp knife and cutting board

Method
 

  1. Heat your skillet over medium heat and add the chopped bacon pieces. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and has released most of its fat. Don't drain the fat after cooking.
  2. Add the ground beef directly to the skillet with the bacon and its rendered fat. Break the meat apart with your wooden spoon and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until no pink remains.
  3. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the cooked meat and bacon. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth. The sugar should dissolve completely into the liquid ingredients.
  5. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In your 9x13 inch baking dish, combine the drained kidney beans, drained butter beans, and the undrained can of pork and beans.
  6. Add the cooked meat mixture and prepared sauce to the baking dish with the beans. Stir everything thoroughly to coat all the beans with sauce and distribute the meat evenly.
  7. Transfer the baking dish to your preheated oven and bake uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes. The sauce should be bubbling around the edges and slightly thickened.
  8. Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken considerably as it cools and the beans will absorb more flavor.

Notes

For deeper flavor, cook this dish a day ahead and reheat it before serving. The overnight rest allows the sauce to penetrate every bean and the flavors to marry completely, making leftovers taste better than the fresh batch. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.