Calico Beans

This easy Calico Beans recipe is a cozy classic, made with savory ground beef, smoky bacon, and a mix of tender beans in a sweet and tangy sauce. Baked until bubbly and full of flavor, it’s the perfect crowd-pleasing comfort food for potlucks, game days, or weeknight dinners.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Calico Beans recipe is a longtime reader favorite, and it’s easy to see why:

• Simple pantry ingredients – No special shopping trips needed
• Great for feeding a crowd – Plenty to go around at potlucks, game days, or family dinners
• Perfect for meal prep – Freezes well and reheats beautifully
• Nostalgic and versatile – A cozy comfort food with endless ways to make it your own
• Oven-baked or slow cooker ready – This classic Calico Beans recipe is oven-baked but can easily be made in the crock pot or slow cooker for even more convenience

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make Calico Beans, along with a few easy swaps to make it your own:

• Ground beef – Try ground turkey, chicken, or sausage for a different flavor
• Thick-cut bacon – Adds rich, smoky depth
• White onion – Yellow onion works too
• Brown sugar – Maple syrup makes a great substitute
• Apple cider vinegar – White vinegar also works if that’s what you have
• Yellow mustard – For a bit of tang and balance
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Ketchup – Swap in barbecue sauce for a smoky twist
• Butter beans – Lima beans are a great substitute
• Kidney beans – You can use dried beans instead of canned; just make sure they’re fully cooked (1.5 cups cooked = one 15-ounce can)
• Pork and beans (with juices) – Classic and flavorful
• Optional garnish: Sliced green onion for a fresh finish

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Calico Beans

This hearty dish comes together in a few simple steps:

1. Brown the meat: Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook the bacon: Fry the bacon until crispy, then chop and set aside.
3. Sauté the onion: In the bacon fat, cook the diced onion until softened.
4. Combine the base: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, stir together the cooked beef, bacon, onion, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and ketchup.
5. Add the beans: Mix in the butter beans, kidney beans, and pork and beans (with juices).
6. Bake: Bake uncovered at 325°F for 1 hour, or until the sauce is thickened and bubbly around the edges.
7. Serve: Garnish with sliced green onion if desired, and serve warm. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Use thick-cut bacon for maximum smoky flavor and richness.
• Adjust the sweetness to taste by adding more or less brown sugar or maple syrup.
• For a thicker sauce, simmer the beans uncovered for longer or during the last 10 minutes of baking or stovetop cooking.
• Add a splash of BBQ sauce or a pinch of smoked paprika to deepen the flavor and give the beans a smoky boost.

Additional Cooking Options

Storage and Reheating

• Store: Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Warm in the microwave or in the oven at 300°F (150°C) until heated through. Stir occasionally to keep the sauce from drying out.
• Freeze: Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

More Easy Side Dishes

• Mexican Coleslaw
• Crispy Smashed Potatoes
• Broccoli Salad
• Copycat KFC Coleslaw Recipe

If you’ve tried this Calico Beans Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below.