Calico Beans

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Calico beans are a tasty dish that’s perfect for big gatherings. These beans mix ground beef, bacon, and several types of beans for a hearty meal. You can make them in your oven in just over an hour. The recipe serves 8 people and has 435 calories per serving.

This dish is easy to make and tastes great. You’ll start by cooking the beef and bacon. Then you’ll mix in the beans and other ingredients. The oven does most of the work, leaving you free to do other things. When it’s done, you’ll have a warm, bubbly dish that everyone will love.

Exact Ingredients List

Here’s what you’ll need to make these yummy Calico Beans:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped bacon
• 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
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder

Make sure to have all these ingredients ready before you start cooking. The mix of different beans gives this dish its unique “calico” look and taste.

Don’t forget to drain the kidney beans and lima beans. The pork and beans should be added with their sauce. This combo of beans makes for a tasty and filling meal!

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a deep skillet and add the ground beef and chopped bacon. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring often. Keep going until the bacon is crispy and the beef is brown with no pink left.

Drain the extra fat from the skillet. Put the cooked beef and bacon in a 4-quart casserole dish. Now for the fun part! Add all the other ingredients to the dish:

• Pork and beans (don’t drain)
• Kidney beans (drained)
• Butter beans
• Lima beans (drained)
• Brown sugar
• Chopped onion
• BBQ sauce
• Apple cider vinegar
• Mustard powder

Mix everything really well. Make sure all the beans are coated in the sauce. Cover the dish with foil or a lid.

Pop it in the oven for about an hour. You’ll know it’s ready when the beans are hot and bubbly. Give it a quick stir before serving. Enjoy your tasty calico beans!

Possible Substitutes List

You can swap out some ingredients in this calico beans recipe if needed. Here are some easy substitutions:

• Ground turkey or chicken instead of beef
• Turkey bacon in place of regular bacon
• Navy beans or great northern beans for lima beans
• Pinto beans instead of kidney beans

For a vegetarian version, try:

• Plant-based ground “meat”
• Vegan bacon bits
• Extra beans to replace the meat

You can also change up the flavors:

• Use honey instead of brown sugar
• Try different BBQ sauce flavors
• Add diced bell peppers with the onions
• Sprinkle in some chili powder or smoked paprika

Don’t have apple cider vinegar? White vinegar works too. And you can use prepared mustard if you’re out of mustard powder.

Feel free to mix and match beans based on what’s in your pantry. The recipe is very flexible!

How To Make It Diabetes-Friendly

To make this Calico Beans recipe more diabetes-friendly, you can try a few easy swaps. Use lean ground turkey instead of beef to cut down on saturated fat. Pick turkey bacon or Canadian bacon to replace regular bacon.

Reduce the brown sugar by half and use a sugar substitute for the rest. Try a low-sugar BBQ sauce or make your own with less sugar. These changes will lower the carb count.

Rinse canned beans well to remove extra sodium. Choose low-sodium versions when possible. This helps control blood pressure, which is important for people with diabetes.

Add more veggies like diced bell peppers or zucchini. They’ll boost fiber and nutrients without adding many carbs. Fiber helps slow down sugar absorption.

To lower the portion size, serve 1/2 cup as a side dish instead of a full cup. Pair it with a big salad or steamed veggies to fill up your plate.

Remember to check your blood sugar after trying this new version. Everyone responds differently to foods, so keep an eye on how it affects you.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

For extra flavor, try adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce to your calico beans. It gives them a nice savory kick.

You can make these beans ahead of time. Just prep everything, cover, and refrigerate. Pop them in the oven when you’re ready to cook.

Got leftovers? No problem! Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. They taste even better the next day.

To freeze, let the beans cool completely. Put them in freezer-safe containers, leaving some space at the top. They’ll keep for about 3 months.

When reheating, add a bit of water if the beans seem dry. Heat them on the stove or in the microwave until they’re hot all the way through.

Want to use your slow cooker? Brown the meat and bacon first, then toss everything in the crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and add extra beans or some chopped veggies like bell peppers or carrots.