Calico Beans

These Calico Beans with beef and bacon are the ultimate comfort food, whether served as a hearty main dish or a flavorful side! Perfect for summer BBQs or a cozy Sunday dinner in the winter!

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This post was updated 3/2025.

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Shopping list:

• ground beef
• bacon
• onion
• bell pepper
• garlic
• canned kidney beans
• canned baked beans
• canned butter beans
• ketchup
• white vinegar
• ground mustard
• brown sugar
• salt
• black pepper

Hey, blog friends!  

It’s Sheena’s sister, Shannon, back again with one of our all-time favorite recipes!  

We make these amazing Calico Beans a couple of times a month during the summer. They pair perfectly with burgers, brats, BBQ, or any classic summertime meal! They’re packed with incredible flavor from bacon, onion, garlic, and bell pepper, making them a hearty and delicious addition to any cookout or potluck.  

This recipe makes plenty for a crowd or leftovers, and trust me, it tastes even better the next day. You can also make them in a slow cooker for easy prep or keep them warm and transport them in a slow cooker for gatherings! Need a smaller batch? Simply cut the recipe in half!

Canned beans are packed with protein and are so affordable! If you need some more recipes using canned beans, try my 5 Bean Salad or Black Bean Tostadas!

Looking for some more ground beef recipes? Check out Slow Cooker Fritos Casserole or Porcupine Meatballs!

Keep scrolling for the full printable recipe 💙

Recipe tips and substitution ideas:

• Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.

• You can substitute any color bell pepper or add some diced jalapeno, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.

• Use any combo of beans you love instead of the ones we use. We also sometimes add balsamic vinegar, jalapeno ketchup or some sriracha sauce!

Our favorite kitchen equipment and supplies used with this recipe:

• DOWAN Casserole Dish
• Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board
• Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener
• Nextrend Garlic Twister
• Nylon Meat and Potato Masher 

Yield 10 side servings

Author Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Prep time

10 Min

Cook time

1 H & 15 M

Total time

1 H & 25 M

Calico Beans

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 4 ounces bacon, chopped
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1- 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1- 16 ounce can baked beans
• 3- 15 ounce cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon ground mustard
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• salt and black pepper, as needed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large skillet over medium high heat, cook the ground beef, bacon, onion, bell pepper and garlic until beef is browned.
3. Remove from heat and add the beans, ketchup, vinegar, mustard, and brown sugar. Mix, taste and add salt and pepper, if needed.
4. Pour into a large casserole dish and bake for 60 minutes.

Hot Eats and Cool Reads is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you try from this blog/website. You may not always have the same results I do due to variations in ingredients, humidity, altitude, cooking temperatures, typos, errors, omissions, or individual cooking abilities. 

You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful. I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual's dietary needs and restrictions are unique to the individual.

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