This calico bean casserole is the perfect blend of savory, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors, making it a crowd-pleasing dish for any meal. Packed with ground beef, crispy bacon, and a variety of beans, this bean hamburger casserole is both hearty and satisfying. You can even add vegetables for extra texture and nutrition.
Calico cowboy beans are a flavorful mix of ground beef, crispy bacon, and a variety of beans, cooked together in a sweet and tangy sauce. This mixed beans casserole is not only delicious but also budget-friendly and easy to make, making it a great option for a hearty weekday dinner or potluck dish.
One of the best things about calico beans in the Crock Pot is that they come together with simple pantry staples. Just grab a few cans of beans and whatever meat you have on hand, and you’ll have a delicious meal in no time. But don’t be fooled by the simplicity—when the ingredients combine, they create bold, savory flavors with a hint of sweetness from brown sugar, tang from vinegar and mustard, and richness from ketchup.
This calico bean recipe is also highly adaptable. You can make it on the stovetop in a skillet, bake it in the oven in a casserole dish, or even slow-cook it in a Crock Pot for a hands-off meal. Whether you prepare it as a main dish or a side, this calico bean casserole is ready in just 30 minutes, making it a go-to comfort food for busy nights!
What are calico beans? The word “calico” describes a kind of color. In this case, it’s referring to beans because there is usually a brown, white, and red mixture of beans all combined together in one pot.
We included a traditional mix of beans—kidney, baked, butter, and garbanzo—in this recipe. The variety of beans makes the casserole both colorful and flavorful!
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Why We Love These Calico Cowboy Beans
- Loaded with flavor & hearty ingredients
The combination of ground beef, bacon, and a mix of beans creates a dish that’s savory, smoky, and satisfying. The sweet and tangy sauce ties everything together for the perfect bite. - Easy to make & perfect for meal prep
This calico beans recipe comes together quickly and can be prepared ahead of time. Just mix everything together and bake—it tastes even better the next day! - A versatile dish for any occasion
Whether you serve it as a side dish at a summer BBQ, a main meal with cornbread, or a slow-cooked dish for a cozy dinner, these calico cowboy beans fit any menu. Plus, you can customize it with your favorite beans and spices!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This simple yet satisfying calico baked bean casserole is made with classic pantry staples and happens to be gluten-free.
- Bacon: We used pork bacon but you can swap it with turkey bacon. Since turkey bacon has less fat add 1 tbsp of oil to the skillet after the bacon has cooked (if needed).
- Ground beef: You can also use ground turkey.
- Ketchup: You can also swap this with homemade bbq sauce for even tangier and smokier taste.
- Brown sugar: For a sweeter flavor, you can also add molasses and/or a teaspoon of liquid smoke for a more savory taste.
- Yellow mustard: For a spicier flavor, you can add Dijon mustard.
- Apple cider vinegar: For a tangy flavor, you can add red wine vinegar.
- Beans: We used Pork and beans, butter beans (lima), kidney, and garbanzo (chickpeas) for this recipe. However, you can use any kind of canned beans that you have. You can use cannellini, broad, soybeans, pinto, or other kinds of beans.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy: Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, a chopped jalapeño, or a few dashes of hot sauce for a little extra heat. You can also swap out regular bacon for spicy smoked bacon to kick up the flavor!
- Slow cooker version: Instead of baking, cook the baked beans with ground beef in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. This is a great way to make the dish ahead of time or for serving at potlucks and gatherings.
- Vegetarian: Skip the ground beef and bacon and replace them with plant-based crumbles, diced mushrooms, or extra beans. The flavors are just as rich and satisfying!
- Sweeter BBQ-style baked bean casserole: For a sweeter twist, add ¼ cup of honey or maple syrup and increase the brown sugar by 1-2 tablespoons. You can also use barbecue sauce instead of ketchup for a deeper smoky-sweet flavor.
- Extra smoky & savory flavor: Add a few dashes of liquid smoke or use smoked paprika to enhance the rich, smoky taste. You can also swap the ground beef for smoked sausage or chorizo for an extra layer of flavor.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Skillet – oven-safe
- 3 quart casserole dish – if skillet isn’t oven-safe
How to Make Mixed Beans Casserole
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon, ground beef, and onions. I like to use a cast-iron skillet for this dish. Cook until the ground beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. After that, drain off any excess fat from the pan.
- Then, stir the ketchup, sugar, mustard, and vinegar in a skillet. Then add the drained beans and pork and beans. Stir until they are mixed well together.
- Then, add bacon and a drizzle of barbecue sauce for a tangy, crispy topping!
- Lastly, cover the calico bean casserole dish or skillet and bake for 20-25 minutes. The baked beans will be bubbly when they are done.
You can then garnish the top of the casserole with crispy cooked bacon bits, french onions, green onions, or shredded cheese before serving.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Let it rest before serving – After baking, let the baked bean casserole sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together, thickens the sauce, and makes every bite even more delicious!
Serving Suggestions
One of my favorite things to serve with a mixed beans casserole is Bisquick cornbread recipe. But if cornbread isn’t your thing, Try our easy 3 ingredient desserts that are ready in 15 minutes. Or maybe some tender easy biscuits or cheesy Cheddar Bay biscuits.
To add some healthiness to these beans, serve them with a crisp fresh salad with tahini dressing.
We love cooking this recipe, and we have a few recipes to share. These bean recipes are sure to please any palate. For a salad lover, this Cannellini bean salad recipe is a must-try. If you love spicy foods, this stovetop chili is a perfect choice.
For soup lovers, these navy bean and lima bean soups are perfect for a comfort meal and both made in the Instant Pot. For those who like to eat beans as a main dish, this Slow Cooker calico beans recipe is hearty and filling.
Recipe FAQs
Do not use dried beans in this baked beans recipe. They will not soften during baking time. Instead, use my recipe to make them in the crockpot with this slow cooker calico beans recipe.
You can add an 8-ounce can of tomato sauce, or a 16-ounce can of drained diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes.
Yes! This dish tastes even better the next day because the flavors have time to develop. Prepare it up to 2 days in advance, store it in the fridge, and reheat in the oven or slow cooker before serving.
Absolutely! Let it cool completely, then store them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Oven: Reheat in a covered baking dish at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until warmed through.
Microwave: Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
Slow Cooker: Reheat on low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Yes! Ground turkey is a great leaner alternative to ground beef and works well in this calico baked beans recipe.
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Calico Bean Casserole
Equipment
- skillet - oven-safe
- 3 quart casserole dish - if skillet isn't oven-safe
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef 85/15 recommended
- 1 medium onion peeled and chopped
- 1 cup ketchup *See Notes
- ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
- 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 15 ounces canned pork and beans
- 15 ounces canned lima beans drained (also known as butter beans)
- 15 ounces canned kidney beans drained
- 15 ounces canned garbanzo beans drained (also known as chickpeas)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cook the ground beef, bacon, and onions in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, until the ground beef is no longer pink and the onions are translucent. Drain excess fat from the skillet.
- Stir in the ketchup, sugar, mustard, and vinegar to the skillet. Add the canned beans and combine, stirring until well mixed. If your skillet is oven-safe, skip to step 4. Add calico beans mixture to a 3 quart casserole dish.
- Cover skillet or casserole dish, and bake for 20-25 minutes, until bubbly. Garnish calico beans with crispy bacon bits, french onions, green onions, or shredded cheese before serving.
Notes
-
- Spicy: Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, a chopped jalapeño, or a few dashes of hot sauce for a little extra heat. You can also swap out regular bacon for spicy smoked bacon to kick up the flavor!
-
- Slow cooker version: Instead of baking, cook the baked beans with ground beef in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. This is a great way to make the dish ahead of time or for serving at potlucks and gatherings.
-
- Vegetarian: Skip the ground beef and bacon and replace them with plant-based crumbles, diced mushrooms, or extra beans. The flavors are just as rich and satisfying!
-
- Sweeter BBQ-style baked bean casserole: For a sweeter twist, add ¼ cup of honey or maple syrup and increase the brown sugar by 1-2 tablespoons. You can also use barbecue sauce instead of ketchup for a deeper smoky-sweet flavor.
-
- Extra smoky & savory flavor: Add a few dashes of liquid smoke or use smoked paprika to enhance the rich, smoky taste. You can also swap the ground beef for smoked sausage or chorizo for an extra layer of flavor.
- Let it rest before serving – After baking, let the baked bean casserole sit for 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together, thickens the sauce, and makes every bite even more delicious!
- This dish tastes even better the next day because the flavors have time to develop. Prepare it up to 2 days in advance, store it in the fridge, and reheat in the oven or slow cooker before serving.
- Let the beans cool completely, then store them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Reheat this by:
Oven: Reheat in a covered baking dish at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until warmed through.
Microwave: Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
Slow Cooker: Reheat on low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition
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Elisa says
This Calico Baked Beans With Ground Beef recipe looks so comforting and delicious!!! will make it soon for dinner. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Donalyn says
This is one of my favorite side dishes and this version is delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!
Ned says
The combo of bacon and ground beef with BBQ sauce was a winner! I really enjoyed this dish and was an awesome opportunity to use my cast iron! Thank you!
TAYLER ROSS says
These were the best baked beans I’ve ever tried! The perfect side to any meal!
Ann says
There’s so many layers of flavors in this recipe. Thanks!