Calico Beans

Summer is about having fun, being outside, going on vacation 🛫 or camping, enjoying outdoor activities, relaxing and recharging. It’s also the time when we fire up the barbecue, host backyard parties, go for picnics with family and friends.
 
I don’t know if you’re like me but it seems that we serve the same side dishes over and over. Everyone makes either pasta or potato salads, coleslaws, fries, corn on the cob 🌽, roasted potatoes, onion rings, etc.
 
There’s one side that is not often found on tables but incredibly tasty and it’s Calico Beans also know as Cowboy Beans! With a nice combination of vegetables, bacon, ground beef and seasonings, this delicious recipe is perfect to pair with grilled foods 🔥.
 
This one-pot crowd pleaser dish is easy to make! After rendering the bacon fat slowly, the meat is scooped up into a bowl and set aside while the vegetables are sautéed. Ground beef is added to the pot and broken into small pieces, then cooked halfway through before adding pressed garlic 🧄.
 
When the meat is no longer pink, there will be some fat coming up to the surface therefore, the mixture has to cook longer. Normally, 5 minutes ⏰ is enough to get rid most of the fat. There will still be some and it’s okay as it gives a nice flavor to the dish.
 
It won’t be Calico Beans without the legumes…
When the meat is done, well-rinsed kidney and lima beans are added to the mixture. Another one that joins the party is baked beans. I like Bush’s Maple & Cured Bacon Hickory but use your preferred brand. If you want to make 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳 them from scratch, here’s my recipe… Old Fashioned Baked Beans with Bacon
 
Then comes the rest of the ingredients: brown sugar, ketchup, prepared yellow mustard and white vinegar. BBQ sauce is stirred 🥄 in as well. I use my Kansas City BBQ Sauce but nothing is stopping you from using the one you like.
 
The cooked bacon 🥓 goes back into the pot and after being well mixed, the mixture simmers gently for 45 minutes, stirring often. This gives time for the flavors to mingle and also to reduce the amount of liquid… after all, it’s a side dish, not a soup!
 
With all the summer gatherings, make something deliciously different like these Calico Beans! This easy, one-pot recipe is a nice hearty casserole that pairs beautifully with grilled foods, hot dogs 🌭, burgers, sandwiches, etc. but can also be enjoyed on its own…
Bon Appétit! 🍽
 
Check out these other great side dish recipes… 😀
– Smoky Bacon Creamed Corn
– Jicama Mango Pepper Salad
– Twice Baked Potatoes
– Tabbouleh
– Creamed Spinach – Steakhouse Style
– Tomates à la Provençale (Tomatoes Provencal)
– Moroccan Couscous Salad
– Vegetable Medley
– Chickpea Corn Salad
and for even more side dish recipes, click on this link… Recipe Category • Sides & Vegetables
 

 
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Calico Beans

Very easy to make, this Calico Beans aka Cowboy Beans recipe is perfect for pairing with grilled foods at your next family barbecue.

5 from 5 votes

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Servings 6

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Passive Time 0 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 6 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup yellow onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped tips & tricks
• 1/2 cup red peppers, chopped
• 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste (I always use mixed peppercorns)
• 2 large cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 can (28 oz.) Bush's Maple & Cured Bacon Hickory Baked Beans
• 1 can (15.5 oz.) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz.) lima beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup Kansas City BBQ sauce see Recipe
• 1 tbsp. prepared yellow mustard
• 1/2 tbsp. white vinegar

Directions

 

• In a large pot, add bacon, turn the heat on medium and cook until crispy, about 10 to 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, scoop it up into a bowl and set aside.
• To the pot, add onions and celery; sauté for 5 minutes.
• Add red peppers and sauté for 2 minutes.
• Add ground beef and break it down into small pieces; season with freshly ground black pepper. Sauté until halfway done before adding pressed garlic; cook until no longer pink.
• Cook an extra 5 minutes or until the fat is almost gone.
• Add the remaining ingredients and return the cooked bacon to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes, stirring often.
• Five minutes before time is up, taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

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