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Crockpot with a wooden spoon full of calico beans.
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5 from 6 votes

Calico Beans

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.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked beans, Crock Pot, Side, Side Dish, Slow Cooker
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 138kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Equipment

  • Crock Pot (Slow Cooker)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 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.
    Cooked and diced bacon.
  • 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.
    Skillet of browned ground beef.
  • 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.
    Crockpot with mixed ingredients for calico beans.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours. Stir before serving.
    Crockpot of calico beans ground beef, bacon, pork and beans, onion, garlic, ketchup, barbecue sauce, butter beans, kidney beans, bacon, brown sugar, salt, pepper, molasses, and mustard.

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

Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 277mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg