Calico Beans Recipe
Calico Beans Recipe
Table of Contents
Calico Beans Recipe
This Calico Beans recipe is a perfect blend of savory, sweet, and smoky flavors, making it a delightful dish for potlucks, family dinners, or casual gatherings. Packed with a variety of beans, ground beef, bacon, and a flavorful sauce, it’s both hearty and satisfying.
Description
Calico Beans, often referred to as “cowboy beans” or “three bean casserole,” is a dish that beautifully combines the texture of multiple beans with the rich flavors of ground beef and crispy bacon. This dish is a symphony of taste and texture, featuring tender beans soaked in a tangy, sweet, and slightly smoky sauce.
This recipe takes you on a culinary journey where every bite is a burst of comfort. It’s perfect for serving a crowd, whether it’s at a summer barbecue or a cozy winter meal. The variety of beans gives the dish its signature “calico” appearance, resembling a patchwork quilt.
With its origins rooted in hearty home cooked meals, Calico Beans is a versatile dish. You can tweak the ingredients to suit your taste or dietary preferences, making it a staple in your recipe arsenal.
Ingredients
Protein and Base:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 6 slices of bacon, chopped
Beans:
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) pork and beans (undrained)
Sauce:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Garnishes:
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon and Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. In the same skillet, add the ground beef. Cook until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk until combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large oven safe casserole dish, combine the cooked ground beef, bacon, kidney beans, butter beans, and pork and beans. Pour the sauce over the mixture and stir well to coat everything evenly.
- Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let the dish cool for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Customizable Beans: Feel free to mix and match beans based on your preference. Black beans, pinto beans, or navy beans can be excellent substitutes.
- Make it Vegetarian: Skip the bacon and ground beef. Add more beans or plant based protein like lentils or textured vegetable protein.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: This dish freezes well. Allow it to cool completely, transfer to a freezer safe container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Calico Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- Protein and Base:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 6 slices of bacon chopped
- Beans:
- 1 can 15 oz kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can 15 oz butter beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can 15 oz pork and beans (undrained)
- Sauce:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional Garnishes:
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon and Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. In the same skillet, add the ground beef. Cook until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk until combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large oven safe casserole dish, combine the cooked ground beef, bacon, kidney beans, butter beans, and pork and beans. Pour the sauce over the mixture and stir well to coat everything evenly.
- Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let the dish cool for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Customizable Beans: Feel free to mix and match beans based on your preference. Black beans, pinto beans, or navy beans can be excellent substitutes.
- Make it Vegetarian: Skip the bacon and ground beef. Add more beans or plant based protein like lentils or textured vegetable protein.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: This dish freezes well. Allow it to cool completely, transfer to a freezer safe container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
