Calico Beans Recipe

From cowboys to kiddos, everyone goes crazy for Slow Cooker Calico Beans. Loaded with beef and bacon, they’re great for a cookouts, parties, and easy meals!

Oh, this recipe! Sort of a chili, kind of baked beans, maybe a sloppy Joe, but always completely delicious. It’s just the kind of thing to make when the weather takes a chilly turn and you’re hungry for something that really sticks to the ribs.

Calico Beans can also go by the name Cowboy Beans, probably because this meaty one-pot meal was a campfire favorite under the starry skies for generations. And if you haven’t tried it before, you’re in for quite a treat.

Just like a calico cat with so many colors, “calico” just refers to the hodge-podge of beans used in the recipe: pork and beans, kidney beans, and butter beans. The beans are all cooked with bacon and ground beef in a tangy, sweet sauce.

By the way, you don’t have to use those exact beans, strictly speaking. Some people swear by lima beans, while others simply must have pintos. And black beans are always good too.

In other words, pick an assortment of beans that you like and put them together in the crockpot. They’ll be great, no matter what you use.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe. Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Slow Cooker Calico Beans

From cowboys to kiddos, everyone goes crazy for Slow Cooker Calico Beans. Loaded with beef and bacon, they’re great for a cookouts, parties, and easy meals!

Prep: 15min

Total: 270min

Yield: 12

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 259 kcal, Carbohydrate 19 g, Protein 13 g, Fat 14 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 45 mg, Sodium 496 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 17 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ pound bacon (diced)
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 2 (16 ounce) cans pork and beans (drained)
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 (15 ounce) can butter beans (drained and rinsed)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• Salt

Instruction:

1. Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Mix well, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Season to taste with salt (I like 1 teaspoon).
2. Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Mix well, cover, and bake until heated through, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season to taste with salt (I like 1 teaspoon).
3. Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt (I like 1 teaspoon).

Calico Beans

Packed full of beef, beans and bacon, this calico beans recipe is one of my favorites. Serve it as a hearty side or main dish. —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania

Prep: 25min

Total: 01h10min

Yield: 10 servings.

Nutrition Facts: calories 260 calories, Fat 5g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 32mg cholesterol, Sodium 826mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (19g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 can (21 ounces) pork and beans
• 1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (16 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instruction:

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink, 5-7 minutes, breaking up beef into crumbles; drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. cast-iron pan or baking dish. , Bake, uncovered, until the beans are as thick as desired, 45-60 minutes.

Calico Beans Recipe

This vintage Calico Beans recipe is a must-make for everything from summer picnics to cool winter evenings. Serve as a main dish or a side dish.

Prep: 25min

Total: 70min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 358 kcal, Carbohydrate 50 g, Protein 23 g, Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 41 mg, Sodium 797 mg, Fiber 11 g, Sugar 15 g, unSaturated Fat 5 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 4 ounces bacon (4 slices)
• 2/3 cup diced white onion
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (100 grams)
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar (31 grams)
• 1 tablespoon mustard (15 grams)
• 1 teaspoon salt (5 grams)
• 1/2 cup ketchup (4 ounces)
• 15 ounces lima beans (1 can, drained)
• 15.5 ounces kidney beans (1 can, rinsed and drained)
• 28 ounces pork and beans (with juice)

Instruction:

1. In a skillet over medium high heat, brown the ground beef along with the bacon and onion. Cook and stir until the beef and bacon are fully cooked. Then drain off any fat.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, salt and ketchup. Set aside.
3. In a large dutch oven or oven safe casserole dish, add the drained lima beans, rinsed and drained kidney beans and then add the whole can of pork and beans, juice and all.
4. Add the beef/bacon mixture and then add the sauce. Mix well until it is all combined.
5. Preheat the oven to 300ºF.
6. Cover the beans (if you don’t have a lid that works, use aluminum foil), then bake for 45 minutes or until heated through and bubbling.
7. Serve warm.
8. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Calico Baked Beans (+Video)

The Best Calico Baked Beans are made with a variety of beans along with ground beef cooked in a delicious sauce. Perfect for a crowd!

Prep: 10min

Total: 65min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 207 kcal, Carbohydrate 8 g, Protein 9 g, Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 39 mg, Sodium 438 mg, Sugar 7 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• ½-1 pound ground beef ((depending on how meaty you want it))
• 1 small onion, (diced)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 pound bacon, (crisply cooked and crumbled)
• 3 (16 ounce) cans baked beans in sauce (do not drain)
• 2 (16 ounce) cans pinto beans, (drained and rinsed)
• 1 (16 ounce) can northern beans, (drained and rinsed)
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder

Instruction:

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Begin browning ground beef in a medium pan over medium heat.
2. Add in diced onion and garlic. Cook beef until brown and crumbled and onion is translucent. Drain excess fat from cooked ground beef.
3. In a large bowl, combine ground beef mixture, cans of baked beans, rinsed pinto and northern beans, crumbled bacon, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, salt and dry mustard.
4. Stir well. Then pour mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
5. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Then remove foil and bake for additional 5-10 minutes.

Calico Bean Bake

FAQ

Why is it called calico beans?

How to make calico?

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and bacon; drain well and transfer to the slow cooker.
2. Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Mix well, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.

How to jazz up canned beans?

How do you thicken calico beans?