Calico Beans

Thanks to canned beans and pantry ingredients, our calico beans come together in a snap to create a simple barbecue-inspired sauce. This calico beans recipe is like a cross between your favorite baked beans and beef chili.

All you have to do is fry a few strips of bacon and brown a package of ground beef with diced onion, then mix everything in a baking dish and pop it in the oven. It’s the perfect side dish to take to potlucks and backyard cookouts, and it’s hearty enough to enjoy on its own or scooped over a piece of cornbread or fluffy rice.

What are calico beans?

Like cowboy beans, calico beans are a meaty version of baked beans. The dish combines several types of canned beans, ground beef and bacon baked in a sweet and tangy barbecue-inspired sauce. The name comes from the colorful assortment of beans used in the recipe. Calico beans have a patchwork appearance when mixed, similar to multicolored calico fabric.

Ingredients for Calico Beans

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• Ground beef: A full pound adds plenty of meaty texture and flavor. We recommend using 90% lean ground beef to prevent the final dish from having a greasy texture.
• Onion: When baked, onion enhances the sweetness of this dish and adds a savory aroma. We recommend using yellow onion, which isn’t as sharp as white onion.
• Canned beans: This recipe calls for one can each of pork and beans, kidney beans and butter beans. Canned pork and beans contain tomato sauce and spices, but if you don’t have them, you can swap in a can of baked beans. Calico beans are super versatile, so mix and match your favorite beans or use what you have stocked in your pantry.
• Brown sugar: Use dark brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor. This recipe calls for 1/2 cup sugar, but you can start with half that amount and adjust to your liking.
• Ketchup: Sweet and tangy ketchup forms the base of the sauce and adds rich tomato flavor. See which ketchup brands stood out in our Test Kitchen taste test.
• Bacon: Use your favorite method for cooking bacon before adding it to the beans.
• Cider vinegar: The acidic tang of apple cider vinegar adds brightness and helps cut through the rich flavors of the beef and bacon.
• Mustard: Prepared mustard helps balance the sweetness of the brown sugar and ketchup. Yellow mustard is the traditional choice, but you can use Dijon or spicy brown for a bolder flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the ground beef and onion

Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat. Break the meat into crumbles and cook until the meat is no longer pink, five to seven minutes. Drain the beef of excess fat or moisture.

Step 2: Mix in the beans and sauce ingredients

Add the pork and beans, kidney beans, butter beans, brown sugar, ketchup, bacon, cider vinegar, mustard and salt to the skillet. Stir to combine, then transfer the mixture to a greased 2-quart cast-iron pan or baking dish.

Editor’s Tip: This recipe calls for 1/2 cup brown sugar, which some readers find too sweet. To prevent overly sweet beans, start with 1/4 cup brown sugar and then taste the dish to see if it needs more sugar.

Step 3: Bake the beans

Bake, uncovered, for 45 to 60 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: The longer you bake the beans, the thicker the sauce will be. Check the beans after 45 minutes and, if needed, continue baking until they reach your desired consistency.

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Recipe Variations

• Switch up the beans: A calico beans dish is all about using a variety of beans, so feel free to include whatever kinds of beans you have stocked in the pantry.
• Swap proteins: You can use lean ground turkey or venison instead of beef. For a pork-free dish, substitute another variety of canned beans for the pork and beans and use turkey or plant-based bacon.
• Add bell peppers: Add extra veggies to this dish with a diced green or red bell pepper. You can saute the peppers with the beef or stir them in with the beans (they’ll soften in the oven).
• Adjust the seasoning: Add a few minced garlic cloves or sprinkle in garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper for extra aromatics. For smoky beans that taste as if you cooked them on an open campfire, stir in 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke.
• Spicy beans, please: Increase the heat by adding chopped jalapenos to the dish or season with a few dashes of hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes.
• Use a different sweetener: For a slightly different flavor profile, use molasses or maple syrup to sweeten the beans. You can substitute one of these sweeteners for all the brown sugar or use a combination.
• Slow-cook the beans: If you’re making them for a summer cookout and prefer not to heat the house with the oven on, you can cook this calico beans recipe in a slow cooker. After cooking the ground beef and onion on the stovetop, combine everything in a slow cooker and cook on low for four to six hours.

How to Store Calico Beans

Allow leftover calico beans to cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days. Reheat a single serving of beans in the microwave or warm a larger batch in a saucepan on the stovetop or in a 350° oven.

Can you freeze calico beans?

Calico beans can be frozen for up to three months. Once they have cooled, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or storage bag and place them in the freezer. Thaw the beans overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Can you make calico beans ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can assemble and bake calico beans one or two days in advance. When it’s time to eat, simply reheat them in the oven or on the stovetop until warm.

Calico Beans Tips

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What beans can you put in calico beans?

Calico beans can be made with any type of canned beans you have on hand—kidney, navy, pinto, black, lima, great northern and butter beans all work. You could even toss in a can of chickpeas or black-eyed peas. This dish is known for its patchwork appearance, so the more colors and shapes you use, the better!

How can you thicken calico beans?

If you like your calico beans dish thicker, bake the beans for close to a full hour—the saucy portion should thicken the longer it’s in the oven.

You can also thicken the sauce with a simple cornstarch slurry. Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch into 2 tablespoons of cold water. After the calico beans recipe has baked for about 45 minutes, stir the mixture into the beans and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until thickened to your preferred consistency.

Can you make calico beans in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can slow-cook calico beans instead of baking them. Cook the ground beef and onion on the stovetop, then transfer the meat mixture to a slow cooker. Stir in the canned beans, bacon and sauce ingredients, then cook on low for four to six hours.

Slow-cooked dishes tend to be saucier than baked versions because they’re cooked with the lid on, so the liquid doesn’t evaporate at the same rate. Use the tips above to thicken the calico beans recipe, if needed.

How can you serve calico beans?

Calico beans are typically served as a side dish at backyard cookouts and potlucks. The sweet and tangy beans pair perfectly with barbecued meats like saucy ribs and grilled chicken.

This calico beans dish is also filling and flavorful enough to enjoy as a main course. Serve the beans with cornbread and a green salad, or pile them over hot cooked rice or creamy mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.