Calico Bean Casserole

5 from 9 votes

Enjoy a calico bean casserole packed with ground beef, bacon, and a sweet, tangy sauce! This hearty dish is perfect for dinner or potlucks.

Prep Time10

Total Time30

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: calico beans, baked beans, baked beans with ground beef, beans, Ground beef

Servings: servings

Calories: 363kcal

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.

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!

Ingredient Notes:

Substitute garbanzo, lima (butter), or kidney beans with black beans, pinto, or navy beans.
Substitute ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard with 2 cups of BBQ sauce.

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.

Storing Instructions:

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.