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These classic Crockpot Calico Beans are always the first thing to get polished at our family BBQs. They’re sweet, savory, hearty, and so easy to make.
What are Calico Beans?
Every time we have a big family BBQ, my mother-in-law makes these Calico Beans, and they’re always one of the first things to disappear. If you’ve never had them before, Calico Beans are a mix of several kinds of beans, ground beef, bacon, and a sweet and tangy barbecue-style sauce that’s slow cooked until all the flavors come together. They’re kind of like the ultimate baked beans but heartier, meatier, and more flavor. I have had plenty of BBQ baked beans over the years, but this recipe is hands down one of the best. It’s incredibly easy to throw together in the Crockpot, which means I can keep the oven off during the hot summer months. I like to serve them alongside hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, or anything coming off the grill. Try it once and it will immediately become a requirement at every backyard BBQ!
🩷 Erica
Table of Contents
Ingredients in Calico Beans
- Bacon – I like using regular-cut or center cut bacon for this recipe. I have found that thick cut back makes for too much grease and the bacon gets chewy after being in the crock pot. You can also cook up the bacon and serve it over the top at the end if you want it to stay extra crispy!
- Seasoned ground beef – I like to cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic together right in the bacon grease so all those flavors have a chance to come together. I actually prefer using lean ground beef (like 93/7) because the bacon already adds plenty of richness and flavor. You still get juicy, flavorful beef without ending up with a greasy pot of beans.
- Beans – Traditionally, Calico Beans use a colorful mix of beans (that’s where the name “calico” comes from, like a calico cat), but there aren’t hard-and-fast rules. You can mix and match based on what you have in your pantry. I usually use pork and beans, butter beans, and kidney beans.
- Sauce – I like simmer the beans in a sauce made with BBQ sauce (use your favorite kind), ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, yellow mustard, and a little salt and pepper.
How to Make Calico Beans
- Cook up the bacon in a large skillet. Set on paper towels to dry, then crumble.
- To the same pan, add chopped onion, garlic, and ground beef and cook until beef in browned and onions are clear.
- Place beef mixture, bacon, and remaining ingredients in a large crock pot (8-quart or larger works best).
- Stir until well combined. Place lid on the crock pot and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
Additions/Substitutions
- If you want to use something besides ground beef, try it with smoked sausage, pulled pork, ground pork, ham, or even shredded chicken.
- If you want to switch up the beans, you can add navy beans, dark kidney beans, chili beans, or pinto beans. I have used just about every combination of beans you can imagine and it turns out great every time!
- Add diced green or red bell pepper along with the onion for even more flavor.
- For an even sweeter flavor, add a tablespoon of pure maple syrup.
What to serve with Calico Beans
This crock pot side dish is so hearty you could practically eat it as the main dish. But let’s be honest, most of the time these beans are playing a supporting role to another main entree. Try them with the amazing Blue Cheese Smoked Brisket Burger or any of these Summer BBQ Grill Recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The name comes from the colorful mix of beans used in the recipe. Just like a calico cat has patches of different colors, Calico Beans combine several varieties of beans for lots of color, texture, and flavor.
Absolutely! In fact, I think they’re even better the next day after all the flavors have had time to come together. Make them a day ahead, refrigerate, then reheat them in the slow cooker, on the stovetop, or in the oven until they’re hot all the way through.
One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s really flexible. I usually use pork and beans, butter beans, and kidney beans, but pinto beans, Great Northern beans, navy beans, black beans, or cannellini beans all work well too. Just use your favorite combination or whatever you have in the pantry.
Yes! After browning the bacon and beef, combine everything in a Dutch oven or baking dish, cover, and bake at 325 degrees for about 1½ to 2 hours, stirring once or twice while they cook.
Traditional baked beans are usually made with one type of bean in a sweet sauce. Calico Beans are much heartier because they use several kinds of beans along with ground beef and bacon.
READ MORE: 35+ Best BBQ Side Dishes
More Bean Side Dishes
Have you made these Calico Beans? I would love to know what you think! Drop a comment below or take a pic and tag us on Instagram @favoritefamilyrecipes! 📸🫘
Calico Beans
Ingredients
- ½ pound bacon
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 45 ounces pork and beans, (Van Camp's is gluten-free)
- 16 ounces butter beans, drained
- 15 ounces kidney beans, drained
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons mustard
- 2 tablespoons molasses, (or dark Karo syrup)
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt, (or more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, (or to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the skillet. Crumble the bacon once cooled.
- Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Cook until the beef is browned and the onions are tender. Drain any excess grease if needed, then season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the beef mixture and bacon to a large (8-quart or larger) slow cooker. Stir in the pork and beans, butter beans, kidney beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and molasses until well combined.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours. Stir before serving.
Equipment
- Crock Pot (Slow Cooker)
Notes
- Leftover baked beans can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days and warmed up in the microwave or on the stovetop. Enjoy on top of burgers or on hotdogs!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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These are a must have for any BBQ or potluck! Made them over the weekend and everyone kept asking for the recipe. I’d call that a winner!
I love using my slow cooker in the summer. Such a great way to make dinner without heating up the kitchen. Thank for you sharing this delicious recipe. We loved it.
What a fun, family friendly recipe! Can’t wait to enjoy this for dinner tonight!
These baked beans look and sound good! I love that you used ground beef, that must give a really nice flavor boost over just plain baked beans.
Nothing beats a great pot of beans at a BBQ! Can’t wait to try out this crock pot version!
Those are some GOOD LOOKING beans!
😉
😀 haha thanks Hailey!
Love that these are in a slow cooker! I’m all about baked beans, but not turning on the oven this time of year. Can’t wait to try!