Grandma’s calico beans recipe is meaty and delicious. Three kinds of beans cook in a sweet and savory sauce with ground beef and bacon. This hearty dish is a perfect side for a BBQ, but is substantial enough to make a meal out of.
If you are looking for a fun twist on baked beans, you are in the right place. This yummy bean recipe packed full of flavor.
My grandma called them ranch beans on the recipe card, but some research shows this recipe is better known as calico beans or cowboy beans. Ranch beans generally have more of a chili style sauce which also sound amazing but doesn’t quite fit this recipe.
The nice thing about bean recipes is they are filling and can take on so many different flavors. Drunken beans are savory with just a bit of heat.
We love apple pie baked beans and maple bacon baked beans with their sweet and savory flavors. This calico bean recipe is more in that lane with a tomato and brown sugar sauce coating the beans.
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If you use an oven safe skillet or small dutch oven, this recipe can all be made in one pan. I used my 3.5 quart cast iron braiser and it was the perfect size.
However, you can transfer the mixture to a 3 quart casserole or 9×13-inch pan to bake if you prefer. You could even load everything in a crockpot and let them finish cooking that way, just give them a couple of hours on high or low for at least 4 hours.
Everything is already cooked, so you are just warming it through and giving the sauce a chance to thicken and meld together.
I love the mixture of beans in this recipe. There is just something about the big white butter beans that is fun.
Because the beans are canned, you don’t have to worry about soaking them or getting them tender. It makes the recipe almost foolproof.
The hamburger and bacon add great richness to the dish. Though it is usually a side dish, you could easily serve it with some corn muffins or rice and make it the meal.
No matter what you call them, these beans have withstood the test of time. They are delicious and certainly worth making!
Grandma’s Calico Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound bacon
- 1 medium onion diced
- 16 ounce can kidney beans drained
- 16 ounce can butter beans drained
- 15 ounce can pork and beans
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vinegar
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ cup ketchup
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Slice 1 pound lean ground beef into small pieces.
- Put the bacon pieces, 1 pound lean ground beef, and 1 medium onion in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned and the onions are translucent. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the 16 ounce can kidney beans, 16 ounce can butter beans, and 15 ounce can pork and beans.
- Stir in the ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon vinegar, ½ teaspoon mustard powder, and ½ cup ketchup.
- Transfer to a casserole if using. Otherwise, you can leave the mixture in the skillet if it is oven safe. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
- Stir and adjust the seasoning to taste.
Notes
Video
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How many servings does this serve. ?
About 12 as a side dish. Though, it depends how big of eaters your guests are.
Yes i love calico beans i dont put as much sugar as they do my mom used to always make this to i buy the mixed beans in bulk so it ha lima beans and other beans to its so good
Yum!! Buying the mixed beans in bulk is a great idea!
Love the calico beans…have made it without the ketchup and it is now a favorite…I usually make it in a crockpot…so much easier. And not necessary to keep an eye on it. Great for pot lucks!
I will have to make them in a crockpot next time for sure!
great!
Thank you!