Description
A hearty and flavorful calico beans recipe made with a colorful mix of beans, ground beef, and smoky bacon, all in a sweet and tangy sauce. Perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and comforting family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup bacon, chopped
- 1 (15-ounce) can pork and beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can butter beans, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can lima beans, drained
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped onion
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Gather all ingredients and tools, including a large skillet and a 4-quart casserole dish.
- Cook the Meat: In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and drain. In the same skillet, brown ground beef. Add onions and celery, cooking until softened. Drain excess grease.
- Combine Ingredients: In a casserole dish, mix together cooked meat, bacon, pork and beans, kidney beans, butter beans, and lima beans.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard. Pour the sauce over the beans and mix well.
- Bake: Cover the casserole dish and bake for 45-60 minutes until bubbly. For a caramelized top, uncover during the last 10 minutes of baking.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, replace meat with plant-based crumbles and use vegetarian baked beans.
- Adjust the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce to taste by varying the brown sugar and vinegar amounts.
- Leftovers freeze well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Side Dish or Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 435
- Sugar: 36g
- Sodium: 953mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 67g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 38mg
Keywords: Calico beans recipe, mixed bean casserole, sweet and savory beans, potluck dish, BBQ side dish