Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Calico Baked Beans

Teresa Ambra

Calico Baked Beans are awesome! Lima Beans, Butter Beans, Kidney Beans and Pork and Beans add zest to this recipe. The beans are mixed with ground beef, bacon and onions in a tasty homemade sauce. The casserole bakes up to absolute perfection.

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This casserole is a great dish to serve during the summer holiday season when you need a dish for a potluck, a backyard barbecue or grilling outside. We especially love to serve this dish with Barbecue BrisketCreamy Potato Salad and my Famous Deviled Eggs. Talk about a terrific meal. This is it!

I’ll never forget the kindness of Marge Currin when she brought us this casserole, a salad, and a delicious lemon pound cake back in January 1990. We moved to New England (from Florida) in the dead of winter. She was the executive director’s wife and took the time to make us this delicious meal as we were unloading our U-Haul. There was snow on the ground and we had two young boys in tow.

She is the one who inspired me to begin taking meals to others when they are sick, giving birth, moving into a new house, bereavement, etc. I remember how grateful we were to receive that meal. We were still unpacking and hauling furniture and boxes in from the truck. But we stopped and set up a card table in the kitchen and sat down to eat what was a delicious feast to us at the time.

Marge is the one who gave me this recipe. But it is another one that is all over the Internet and in cookbooks in many different versions. I have no idea who actually created the recipe, but it has been around a long time. It works wonderfully in the crockpot too.

I have to admit that I love Baked Bean recipes. I also have Hearty Cowboy Baked Beans, Spicy Baked Beans and Coca Cola Baked Beans that isn’t as unhealthy as it sounds. All recipes taste fabulously. If you’re a connoisseur of good baked beans give one of these tasty recipes a try sometime.

If you’re looking for a spiffed-up baked beans recipe, Calico Baked Beans has been one of my most requested recipes over the years. It’s truly delicious and not difficult to make either. This recipe is gluten free if your pork ‘n beans, bacon, and ketchup are gluten free.

When I initially posted this recipe June 2012, I had only been blogging for a week. My little iPhone 3 was just not up to snuff when it came to taking quality pictures. But it was all I had to work with. I recently remade this recipe for a potluck for our Sunday school class (April 2015) and retook the pictures. Everyone commented on how much they loved my beans and several wanted to take the leftovers home!

The original recipe called for one cup of white sugar and one cup of brown sugar which I’ve always found to be a little too sweet. I’ve eliminated the white sugar entirely and now use only about 1/2 cup brown sugar. Everyone found the beans to be flavored perfectly–not too sweet and not to vinegary.

I recently remade this recipe again (June 2019). I served it for our church’s college kids one night when they were having a volleyball night. The director was making hamburgers and asked me to make Baked Beans. I also sent along Roasted Paprika Corn, Kiwi-Strawberry Spinach Salad and some Oatmeal Scotchies. The kids loved all the food.

Calico Baked Beans are hard to beat. I hope you give them a try for your next potluck or backyard barbecue.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Calico Baked Beans has always been one of our most requested Baked Beans recipes.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Every bite of Calico Baked Beans is amazing.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

I served Calico Baked Beans with Hamburgers and Down Home Potato Salad.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

If you take Calico Baked Beans to a potluck, you won’t be bringing home ANY leftovers!

Here’s what I did.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

I used these ingredients.

Normally I would have used canned lima beans, but I had these in the freezer and wanted to use them up. So I used frozen lima beans instead.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Place ground beef in a skillet. Add bacon, cut in 1-inch pieces.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Fry both meats together in skillet. 

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Add chopped onion.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Stir to combine. Brown until bacon is cooked through and onions are tender. Drain off any grease.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Add kidney beans, butter beans, lima beans and pork and beans. 

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Stir beans into mixture to combine.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

This recipe called for a lot of sugar. I eliminated the white sugar entirely and used about 1/2 cup of brown sugar. 

Add sugar to skillet with ketchup, dry mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Stir to combine ingredients.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Pour beans into a greased 9×13″ glass baking dish.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Bake about 45 minutes at 350.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Calico Baked Beans is a great recipe to take to a backyard barbecue.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

If you enjoy Baked Beans you’ll love Calico Baked Beans! It’s wonderful served with Grilled Kielbasa and Roasted Paprika Corn.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

We also enjoyed it with Hamburgers and Down Home Potato Salad.

Here is the recipe.

CALICO BAKED BEANS

(Recipe adapted from Marge Currin, Baptist Convention of New England, Northborough, MA)

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Calico Baked Beans

Teresa Ambra
These delicious baked beans use several kinds of beans and are cooked up in a delicious sweet and savory sauce that's wonderful. Great for backyard barbecues and grilling out. This recipe is gluten free if your pork 'n beans are gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Veggie Side Dish/Casserole
Cuisine Southern
Servings 12
Calories 482 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 hamburger chopper to cut meat down in small pieces while frying
  • 1 9x13" glass baking dish
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon or spatula (or both)
  • 1 can opener

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. 93% or 96% lean ground beef Or use ground turkey
  • 1 lb. thick-sliced bacon cut up in one inch slices
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 15 oz. can kidney beans rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz. can butter beans rinsed and drained
  • 36 oz. can Van Camp pork & beans with sauce do not drain
  • 15 oz. can lima beans rinsed and drained (I used frozen lima beans)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp. white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. dry mustard
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tsp. Salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper or to taste

Instructions
 

  • Brown beef and bacon in skillet or Dutch oven.
  • Chop the beef with a hamburger chopper while frying to break it up into small pieces.
  • Add onions and cook until softened.
  • Drain off grease.
  • Add beans, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour ingredients into a greased 9x13" baking dish
  • Bake 40-45 minutes, uncovered, at 350°.
  • Stir beans before serving.

Notes

NOTE: I like to add a can of lima beans and one of any of the following: pinto, black, navy or cannelloni beans.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 26gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 888mgPotassium: 1059mgFiber: 12gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 174IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 5mg
Keyword bacon, baked beans, beef, side dish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Calico Baked Beans[/b]
 
Recipe Type: Veggie/Side Dish/Casserole
Cuisine: Southern
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from Marge Currin, Baptist Convention of New England, Northborough, MA
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
These delicious baked beans use several kinds of beans and are cooked up in a delicious sweet and savory sauce that’s wonderful. Great for backyard barbecues and grilling out. This recipe is gluten free if your pork ‘n beans are gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. 93% lean ground beef (I used ground turkey)
  • ½ lb. [url href=”http://www.wrightbrand.com/” target=”_blank”]Wright’s[/url] thick sliced bacon, cut up (I used 1 pound)
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 can kidney beans, drained
  • 1 can butter beans, drained
  • 1 can [url href=”http://www.vancampsbeans.com/index.jsp” target=”_blank”]Van Camp[/url] pork & beans with sauce
  • 1 can lima beans, drained
  • 1/2-2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. white or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. dry mustard
  • ½ cup [url href=”http://www.heinz.com/” target=”_blank”]Heinz[/url] Ketchup
  • Salt & pepper
Instructions
  1. Brown beef and bacon in skillet, add onions and cook until softened.
  2. Drain off grease.
  3. Add beans, sugar, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, and salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Bake 40-45 minutes at 350°.
 
Notes
I like to add a can of lima beans and one of any of the following: pinto, black, navy or cannelloni beans.
Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Consider baking a pot of Calico Baked Beans the next time you make hamburgers or hot dogs.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

The savory and sweet flavors of Calico Baked Beans are perfectly blended.

Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Every bite is so scrumptious. I can make a meal out of just these beans!

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Hearty Cowboy Baked Beans

Hearty Cowboy Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the most spectacular #bakedbeans #sidedish you'll ever eat! This one's filled with #groundbeef #bacon and 6 kinds of #beans!

Spicy Baked Beans

Spicy Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | great for summer picnics, these #bakedbeans have cayenne pepper for a little kick! #bacon

Coca Cola Baked Beans

Coca Cola Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this terrific #bakedbeans #recipe is perfect for potlucks, family reunions, backyard #BBQs & other company dinners. I used #turkey #sausage & #VirgilsRealCola which is a much healthier option than regular #cocacola. #turkeysausage
Calico Baked Beans | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #BakedBeans are heavenly & one of my most requested #recipes! They use 4 kinds of beans, #bacon & #GroundBeef. Wonderful for potlucks, backyard BBQs or grilling out with friends. #casserole #SideDish #CalicoBakedBeans #Holiday #HolidaySideDish #MemorialDay #FourthOfJuly #LaborDay

Calico Baked Beans

Teresa Ambra
These delicious baked beans use several kinds of beans and are cooked up in a delicious sweet and savory sauce that's wonderful. Great for backyard barbecues and grilling out. This recipe is gluten free if your pork 'n beans are gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Veggie Side Dish/Casserole
Cuisine Southern
Servings 12
Calories 482 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 hamburger chopper to cut meat down in small pieces while frying
  • 1 9×13" glass baking dish
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon or spatula (or both)
  • 1 can opener

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. 93% or 96% lean ground beef Or use ground turkey
  • 1 lb. thick-sliced bacon cut up in one inch slices
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 15 oz. can kidney beans rinsed and drained
  • 15 oz. can butter beans rinsed and drained
  • 36 oz. can Van Camp pork & beans with sauce do not drain
  • 15 oz. can lima beans rinsed and drained (I used frozen lima beans)
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp. white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. dry mustard
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tsp. Salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper or to taste

Instructions
 

  • Brown beef and bacon in skillet or Dutch oven.
  • Chop the beef with a hamburger chopper while frying to break it up into small pieces.
  • Add onions and cook until softened.
  • Drain off grease.
  • Add beans, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour ingredients into a greased 9×13″ baking dish
  • Bake 40-45 minutes, uncovered, at 350°.
  • Stir beans before serving.

Notes

NOTE: I like to add a can of lima beans and one of any of the following: pinto, black, navy or cannelloni beans.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 26gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 888mgPotassium: 1059mgFiber: 12gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 174IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 5mg
Keyword bacon, baked beans, beef, side dish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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