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Calico Beans

Calico Beans are a classic side dish that can be found served at barbecues, family gatherings and potlucks. Made with a variety of different beans, it’s further seasoned with both ground beef and bacon. The flavorful ingredients in the sweet and tangy sauce give it a zesty smoky edge that goes well with a variety of entrees from sloppy joes to grilled hot dogs, chicken, hamburgers, pork, steaks and more.

Calico Beans

Easy Calico Beans Recipe

Calico beans are one of those hearty casseroles that can serve as both as a side dish or an entrée. It’s almost always found in some form at church and office potlucks as well as casual barbecues here in the South. That said, it’s not limited to only warm weather. These beans make a tasty frugal entrée and are simply delicious ladled over a piece of hot buttered honey cornbread with a little green onion, hillbilly cole slaw or chow chow on top. When serving them that way, they transform into a stick-to-your ribs kind of meal. How to make homemade Calico Beans: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Prepare Dish – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Bacon – Cook the bacon. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Reserve drippings in pan.
  • Onion – Cook onion in the drippings until the onion becomes translucent.
  • Ground Beef – Add the ground beef. Add seasoned salt and black pepper. Cook until no pink remains in the ground beef. Drain any excess fat from the pan before adding to the bean mixture.
  • Combine – Add the remaining ingredients to the cooked ground beef and onions along with crumbled bacon. Mix well.
  • Transfer to Dish – Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake [er the recipe until bubbly around the edges. Stir before serving.
Calico Beans

How to Make the BEST Calico Beans Recipe

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Calico Beans: Bacon, onion, lean ground beef, seasoned salt, black pepper, pork and beans, light red kidney beans, baby lima beans, ketchup, light brown sugar, pure maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, whole grain mustard, molasses, dark chili powder, garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: Skillet, 13×9 inch baking dish, measuring cups and spoons, sharp knife and cutting board, large spoon and
  • Calico beans recipes vary in ingredients and seasonings. Don’t be intimidated by the ingredient list, this recipe calls for ingredients you likely already have stocked in your pantry.
  • If you prefer a different combination of beans, there’s room to adapt to your taste.
  • I’ve also included the cooking times for making these beans in your slow cooker.
  • Serve Calico Beans as a side dish or turn them into an entire meal, either way, you can’t go wrong.
  • Store bake Calico Beans chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat in single servings in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Freeze these beans for up to 3 months.
Calico Beans

More Casserole Recipes to Make

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Calico Beans

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: calico-beans, homemade-baked-beans-recipe
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 423kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 oz sliced bacon
  • 3 Tbsp bacon drippings
  • 1 medium sweet onion diced
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 16 oz cans pork and beans
  • 2 16 oz cans light red kidney beans drained
  • 1 16 oz can baby lima beans drained
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp whole grain mustard
  • 1 Tbsp molasses
  • 2 tsp dark chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large pot or dutch oven cook the bacon over medium high heat until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Reserve 3 Tbsp drippings in pan.
  • Add the diced onion to the drippings. Cook for 2 minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Add the ground beef. Add seasoned salt and black pepper.
  • Cook until no pink remains in the ground beef. Drain any excess fat from the pan. Remove from the heat.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to the cooked ground beef and onions along with crumbled bacon. Mix well. (Reserve some bacon to sprinkle on top, if desired.)
  • Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 1 hour or until bubbly around the edges. Stir before serving.

Notes

Slow cooking method: Prepare beans per the recipe up to the point of pouring into the baking dish. Instead, pour into a 6 quart slow cooker spritzed with cooking spray. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 1044mg | Potassium: 455mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 260IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

 

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