Best 9 The Best Calico Beans Recipes

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**Indulge in the Comforting Medley of Calico Beans: A Culinary Journey Through History and Taste**

Calico beans, an iconic dish steeped in history and culinary heritage, embark on a delightful dance of flavors and textures. Originating from Native American traditions, these speckled beans, also known as "Indian beans" or "Yankee beans," have captivated taste buds for generations. Typically prepared with a combination of beans, bacon, molasses, and a symphony of seasonings, calico beans weave a tapestry of sweet, savory, and smoky notes. This versatile dish takes center stage as a hearty main course or a delectable side, gracing tables at gatherings and potlucks. Our curated collection of calico bean recipes offers a culinary journey that celebrates the diverse culinary traditions and unique twists on this classic dish. From traditional New England-style calico beans to modern renditions featuring various beans, meats, and vegetables, these recipes promise an unforgettable taste experience.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

CALICO BEANS



Calico Beans image

Packed full of beef, beans and bacon, this calico beans recipe is one of my favorites. Serve it as a hearty side or main dish. -Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 1h10m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (21 ounces) pork and beans
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (16 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink, 5-7 minutes, breaking up beef into crumbles; drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. cast-iron pan or baking dish. , Bake, uncovered, until the beans are as thick as desired, 45-60 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 260 calories, Fat 5g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 32mg cholesterol, Sodium 826mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (19g sugars, Fiber 7g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

THE BEST COWBOY-CALICO BEANS



The Best Cowboy-Calico Beans image

These are the BEST! I've been making this recipe for over 20 years now, and it's always a HIT with my family and friends! Great for BBQ's, potlucks, camping etc. Can be made in the oven or in the crockpot, and it freezes and reheats well.

Provided by BecR2400

Categories     Beans

Time 1h20m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/2 lb ground beef (round or sirloin)
4 slices bacon, diced
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 (16 ounce) cans pork and beans, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can butter beans, rinsed and drained
1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup catsup
1/4 cup barbecue sauce (I use Hunt's original or hickory)
2 tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons dry mustard (Coleman's)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper (do not add any salt)
1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder, to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Brown beef, bacon and onion in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add beans and remaining ingredients, stirring to combine.
  • Pour into two (1 1/2- quart each) buttered baking dishes.
  • Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until beans reach desired thickness (do not stir---a nice chewy, crispy crust will form, which is my favorite part--yum!).
  • Alternatively, place in a buttered crock pot and heat on low for about 4 hours, uncover during the last hour of cooking if you like your beans thick.
  • Freezes/reheats well.

CALICO BEANS



Calico Beans image

Calico beans (aka cowboy beans or trucker beans) get their name from the variety of bean colors in the dish. Here we use a trio of canned beans: white navy beans, deep red kidney beans and light brown pork and beans. They're baked with bacon and ground beef in a tangy-sweet sauce until bubbling, resulting in the perfect summer side dish to accompany grilled meats. Calico beans are also great on their own as a main course, topped with shredded cheese and hot sauce.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 2 quarts (10 servings as a side)

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 slices bacon (about 6 ounces), cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 pound ground beef, 80/20
One 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
One 15-ounce can navy beans, rinsed and drained
One 11-ounce can pork and beans
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Steps:

  • Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
  • Put the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel lined plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the skillet. Add the onion and ground beef and cook, breaking up the beef, until the onion is softened and the beef is crumbled and fully cooked, about 5 minutes. If necessary, drain any excess moisture released from the meat. Add the cooked bacon, kidney beans, navy beans, pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, vinegar and salt. Stir together and then transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  • Bake until bubbling and caramelized on top, 35 to 40 minutes.

CALICO BEANS



Calico Beans image

This casserole is the best! I take it to pot lucks, picnics, camping trips, etc.

Provided by Kathy

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork

Time 1h25m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

½ cup bacon, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (15 ounce) can pork and beans
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can butter beans
1 (15 ounce) can lima beans, drained
½ cup ketchup
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard powder
½ cup chopped celery

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
  • Place bacon and ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside.
  • In a four quart casserole dish, mix together the bacon, ground beef, pork and beans, kidney beans, butter beans, lima beans, ketchup, onion, vinegar, dry mustard and celery.
  • Cover and bake for 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 434.5 calories, Carbohydrate 66.6 g, Cholesterol 38.2 mg, Fat 10 g, Fiber 10.1 g, Protein 22.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 952.9 mg, Sugar 35.7 g

COWBOY CALICO BEANS



Cowboy Calico Beans image

This is a tradition at the table when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls' weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us! -Julie Butsch, Hartland, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 4h30m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 can (16 ounces) butter beans, drained
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) pork and beans
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) lima beans, rinsed and drained

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain., Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. Combine the brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar and mustard; add to meat mixture. Stir in the beans. Cover and cook on low until heated through, 4-5 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 326 calories, Fat 5g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 35mg cholesterol, Sodium 808mg sodium, Carbohydrate 52g carbohydrate (22g sugars, Fiber 10g fiber), Protein 22g protein.

THE BEST CALICO BEANS



The Best Calico Beans image

More interesting than your plain baked beans, these are the perfect side dish to burgers, brats, hotdogs, or whatever else you have at your summer cook-outs. Easy and delicious!

Provided by Jenni K

Categories     Other Side Dishes

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/2 lb ground beef
3-4 strips bacon
1/2 c ketchup
1 tsp garlic salt (to taste)
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 c brown sugar
1 tsp mustard
2 tsp vinegar
2 can(s) (28 oz) baked beans
1 can(s) (15.5 oz) dark red kidney beans, drained
1 can(s) (15 oz) lima beans, drained

Steps:

  • 1. Cut up bacon into small pieces. Fry and set aside to drain on a paper towel.
  • 2. Brown ground beef with garlic salt and pepper, drain.
  • 3. Mix all remaining ingredients together (including bacon)
  • 4. Bake in a casserole dish at 350 for 45 minutes ~OR~ put all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours, or more, until ready to serve.

WHITE BEAN PRIMAVERA



White Bean Primavera image

Pasta primavera, the creamy, vegetable-heavy pasta dish popularized in the 1980s at Le Cirque, in New York, is a little too fussy for a busy weeknight, but this reimagined white bean version comes together in less than a half-hour. The simple beans and vegetables feel fancy in their robe of cream, Parmesan, lemon juice and mustard. The dish is best with fresh spring vegetables, and it's also very flexible: Substitute spinach for the peas, a handful of halved cherry tomatoes for the carrot, and sugar snap peas for the asparagus. Drained jarred artichoke hearts wouldn't be out of place, either.

Provided by Sarah DiGregorio

Categories     dinner, lunch, weeknight, beans, main course, side dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium to large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into ½-inch thick semicircles
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
8 ounces asparagus (about ½ large bunch) or green beans, or a mix, cut into 1-inch lengths
1 carrot, peeled, then shaved into strips with a peeler
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen peas (no need to thaw)
2 scallions, green and white parts, sliced
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Black pepper
3 (15-ounce) cans butter beans or cannellini beans, drained
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice (from about 1/2 large lemon), plus more to taste
2 ounces grated Parmesan (about ½ cup), plus more for serving
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds or pine nuts
Fresh basil leaves, torn, for garnish

Steps:

  • Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet (preferably straight-sided) over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini and 1 teaspoon salt, and stir, then cook undisturbed in an even layer until one side is golden, about 4 minutes. (It's great if the butter browns, but decrease the heat if it threatens to get too dark.) Stir in the asparagus, carrot and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the peas, scallions and ½ teaspoon salt, then add the red-pepper flakes, oregano and a generous amount of black pepper. Cook, stirring, until the peas are warmed through and bright green, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the white beans and the cream, lower the heat to medium, and let the cream come to a simmer. Simmer for about 1 minute.
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice, Parmesan and Dijon. Taste and season with more salt, pepper or lemon juice as needed. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of warm water to the creamy beans to loosen as you like; the sauce will thicken as it cools. (You may need more water when you reheat any leftovers.) Serve in bowls topped with the nuts and a handful of basil leaves. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

CALICO BEAN CASSEROLE



Calico Bean Casserole image

Kidney beans, baked beans and butter beans are combined with ground beef, bacon and onion and baked. It's thick, hearty, and pretty tasty too! This can also be done in a slow cooker.

Provided by Dee Dee

Categories     Side Dish     Beans and Peas     Baked Bean Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can baked beans with pork
1 (15 ounce) can butter beans, undrained
½ cup ketchup
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 pound lean ground beef
4 ounces bacon, chopped
½ cup chopped onion
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, fry the ground beef, bacon and onion together until ground beef is no longer pink. Drain fat.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the kidney beans, baked beans with pork and butter beans. Stir in the ketchup, white vinegar, dry mustard, brown sugar and cook beef mixture. Mix thoroughly, adding salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour the bean and meat mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 617.1 calories, Carbohydrate 69.2 g, Cholesterol 74.9 mg, Fat 26.1 g, Fiber 10 g, Protein 27.6 g, SaturatedFat 9.5 g, Sodium 1089.1 mg, Sugar 38.8 g

BEST CALICO BEANS EVER



Best Calico Beans Ever image

These are the best calico beans I've ever eaten. You can use pretty much any beans in any combination you like but the below combo is really great.

Provided by sholman77

Categories     Beans

Time 1h20m

Yield 1 crockpot, 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 lb bacon
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
1 (15 ounce) can white beans, drained and washed
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and washed
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained and washed
1 (15 ounce) can lima beans, drained and washed
1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained and washed
1 cup ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon dry prepared mustard
3 tablespoons spicy mustard

Steps:

  • Chop and thoroughly cook bacon. Drain.
  • Brown hamburger and onion together. Drain.
  • Combine all ingredients in crock pot.
  • Cook on high for 1 hour or on low for as long as you wish.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 672, Fat 28.5, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 75.1, Sodium 1004.6, Carbohydrate 71.3, Fiber 12.4, Sugar 27.7, Protein 34

Tips:

  • Choose dried calico beans that are uniform in size and color, and free from blemishes.
  • Soak the beans in cold water for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
  • Rinse the beans thoroughly before cooking.
  • Use a large pot to cook the beans, as they will expand significantly during cooking.
  • Add enough water to cover the beans by at least 2 inches.
  • Bring the beans to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1-2 hours, or until the beans are tender.
  • Season the beans with salt, pepper, and other desired spices during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  • Serve the beans hot with cornbread, rice, or your favorite side dish.

Conclusion:

Calico beans are a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and iron, and they are also a good source of antioxidants. With their colorful appearance and mild flavor, calico beans are a great addition to any meal. Whether you are making a simple soup or a hearty stew, calico beans are sure to please everyone at the table.

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