Calico Baked Beans with Beef and Bacon

Calico Baked Beans can be a delicious BBQ side dish or even a meal on their own. Loaded with ground beef, bacon, and a variety of beans. This is a protein-packed dish that's a treat for the taste buds.

Other BBQ sides you'll need to complete your summertime meals are my Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale and Cabbage Salad, Golden Dijon Potato Salad, and the ever popular Old-Fashioned Red Bean Salad.

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Jump to:

• Ingredients for making calico baked beans:
• Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
• How this recipe came to be:
• Why this recipe works:
• Can these baked beans be frozen?
• How to make the best baked beans using canned beans:
• Make it a full meal:
• Printable Recipe Card

Ingredients for making calico baked beans:

Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

• strainer
• can opener
• Dutch Oven with lid
• wooden spoon
• chef's knife
• cutting board
• measuring cups and spoons
• oven gloves
• garlic press
• slotted spatula

How this recipe came to be:

Mary (a co-worker of mine when I was a young girl in the 1970s) shared her recipe for calico baked beans with me. Every time I make them, I think fondly of her. 

Mary has since passed away, but I hold her dear in my heart for many reasons, but first and foremost, for this delicious, hearty baked bean dish. Whenever I make calico beans with ground beef and bacon, they immediately bring Mary back into my life. 

Thank you, Mary. I miss you to this day and am blessed to have had you in my life for that short period of time. 

Your recipe may have changed a bit over the years, but your memory hasn't. 🙂

Why this recipe works:

• It's easy to make.
• It has a wonderful hearty texture.
• It uses canned beans which is quick and easy.
• The balance of ingredients is perfection.
• Calico beans can be eaten as a side dish or a main course.
• It's a protein packed powerhouse.
• Everyone loves them!

Can these baked beans be frozen?

You bet!

Store them in an airtight freezer container or bag for up to 4 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and reheat them on a medium/low stovetop or in a microwave on medium power (stirring frequently) until hot.

How to make the best baked beans using canned beans:

• Brown ground beef in a Dutch oven. Add minced garlic, onion, and cooked bacon to the pot with the beef. Season with salt and pepper.
• Once the beef is fully browned, add the drained beans along with the condiments and seasonings. Stir to combine.
• Add the pot to the oven to bake (covered) at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
• It's time to eat!

 
Grab your spoon and dig in.

These beans are a little bit sweet, a little bit smoky, and a whole lot of hearty. 

Make it a full meal:

My recipe for Slow-Roasted Baby Back Ribs may be slightly unconventional, but the flavor is outstanding and tenderness of these ribs are out of this world. They can be made inside in the oven or outside on the grill.

Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale and Cabbage Salad is as pretty as it is delicious. Filled with healthy ingredients, this is the salad everyone gravitates to every single time it's on the table.

Don't let the name Zucchini Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Covered Raisins scare you away from these delicious cookies. They are soft and chewy with delicious oatmeal and chocolaty goodness. Even those who aren't that keen on zucchini or raisins will enjoy the wonderful flavor of these cookies.

Printable Recipe Card

I sincerely hope you'll enjoy today's delicious baked bean recipe as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.