This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.
From cowboys to kiddos, everyone goes crazy for Slow Cooker Calico Beans. Loaded with beef and bacon, they’re great for cookouts, parties, and easy meals!
Oh, this recipe! Sort of a chili, kind of baked beans, maybe a sloppy Joe, but always completely delicious. Itโs just the kind of thing to make when the weather takes a chilly turn and youโre hungry for something that really sticks to the ribs.
Calico Beans can also go by the name Cowboy Beans, probably because this meaty one-pot meal was a campfire favorite under the starry skies for generations. And if you havenโt tried it before, youโre in for quite a treat.
What are Cowboy Beans?
Just like a calico cat with so many colors, โcalicoโ just refers to the hodge-podge of beans used in the recipe: pork and beans, kidney beans, and butter beans. The beans are all cooked with bacon and ground beef in a tangy, sweet sauce.
By the way, you donโt have to use those exact beans, strictly speaking. Some people swear by lima beans, while others simply must have pintos. And black beans are always good too.
In other words, pick an assortment of beans that you like and put them together in the crockpot. Theyโll be great, no matter what you use.
Cowboy Beans Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
- Ground beef
- Bacon
- Canned pork and beans
- Butter beans
- Kidney beans
- Onion
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Vinegar
- Brown Sugar
How to make Calico Beans
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and bacon; drain well and transfer to the slow cooker.
- Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard.
- Mix well, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Season to taste with salt (I like 1 teaspoon).
Cowboy Bean Recipe variations
- Molasses. Some people love the richness that the molasses provides, but this recipe already includes molasses in the form of brown sugar.
- Liquid smoke. A tiny bit of liquid smoke gives a nice smokiness to the beans. Try it!
- Pork sausage. Some cooks love using pork sausage in Calico Beans in place of ground beef.
- Lima beans. Canned lima beans are super tasty, too. Any bean is a good bean.
- BBQ sauce. Switch out the ketchup (or part of the ketchup) for your best barbecue sauce.
How to make oven-baked Calico Beans:
- Turn the oven on to 350 degrees. Cook the bacon and beef together in the bottom of a large Dutch oven, cast iron casserole, or other stove-to-oven safe cookware, as long as it has a lid.
- Drain off the fat and add the remaining ingredients and cover, Bake in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes, until piping hot.
Calico Beans with dried beans:
Itโs always super economical to use dried beans in recipes, especially when youโre cooking for large groups. Itโs a little extra work to cook the beans, but your whole recipe ends up costing just a few dollars.
- Cook the beans separately, according to size (larger beans may take longer) in a large pot of unsalted water, simmering until tender. Then drain them and theyโre ready to go.
- Or, cook the dried beans cook in mere minutes in an Instant Pot (Even though itโs a fabulous appliance, itโs not recommended to make Calico Beans in the Instant Pot using cooked, canned beans. You run the risk of overcooking the canned beans in the electric pressure cooker).
How many dried beans do you need for Calico Beans? Hereโs some tips:
- A rounded ½ cup of dried beans = 1 (15-ounce) can of beans
- 1 ½ cups of cooked beans, drained = 1 (15-ounce) can of beans
- 1 ½ pounds dried beans = 1 (#10) can of cooked beans (109 ounces)
How to serve this Calico Bean Recipe
These beans are divine all on their own in a bowl, as a main course. You can treat them like chili and load them up with all your favorite chili toppings:
- Diced jalapeno
- Chopped raw onions
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- A dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Crunchy corn chips
Or serve them as a filling and hearty side dish alongside Barbecue Chicken, roasted Greek Potatoes, and the Best Macaroni Salad at your next shindig under the starry skies.
How to store this Recipe for Cowboy Beans
To store Cowboy beans, cool them to room temperature, then pack in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Cowboy beans are great for the freezer, too! Pack into freezer-safe containers and leave at least 1 inch headspace for expansion. Label, date, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat to 165 degrees on the stove top or in the microwave.
The flavor of the beans improves over time, so this is one recipe youโll definitely want to make ahead to get ahead for your next party.
Join Us
Cowboy Bean Recipe (Calico Beans)
Equipment
- Slow cooker (I use my trusty Crock Pot!)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ยฝ pound bacon diced
- 1 medium onion peeled and chopped
- 2 (16-ounce) cans pork and beans drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can butter beans drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Salt
Instructions
To make Calico Beans in a slow cooker:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and bacon; drain well and transfer to the slow cooker.
- Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Mix well, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Season to taste with salt (I like 1 teaspoon).
To make Calico Beans in the oven:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and bacon; drain well and transfer to a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Mix well, cover, and bake until heated through, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season to taste with salt (I like 1 teaspoon).
To make Calico Beans on the stove:
- In a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and bacon; drain well.
- Add onion, all beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt (I like 1 teaspoon).
Recipe Video
Notes
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
Best recipe for Calico beans I have tried.(and I have tried a few). My children and grandchildren love it…I serve every Easter dinner with glazed ham and garlic roasted serling potatoes.
Thank you so much, Cheryl-Lynn! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it. I hope you had a happy Easter! – Meggan
I married into a family of deer hunters, so I’m always looking for new ways to use up the venison in our freezer. So I used some sliced ring bologna in place of the ground beef, and it turned out so well! Rave reviews from my guys. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Katie! I’m glad it was a hit! – Meggan