Bursting with hearty textures and bold, tangy-sweet flavors, Calico Bean Bake is a crowd-pleasing comfort food classic perfect for family gatherings or potluck dinners. This baked bean casserole combines a medley of beans—kidney, butter, and pork and beans—with savory ground beef, crispy bacon, and a perfectly balanced sauce made from brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. The dish is brought together with a quick trip to the oven, creating a bubbling, rich casserole that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare. Ready in just an hour, this all-in-one side dish pairs beautifully with barbecue, cornbread, or crusty bread, making it an absolute star for your next get-together. Keywords: Calico Bean Bake, baked bean casserole, hearty comfort food, quick casseroles, potluck recipes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the cooked bacon, crumble it into small pieces, and set aside, reserving 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease in the skillet.
Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté in the bacon grease until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onions and cook until the beef is browned and fully cooked, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain excess grease if necessary.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ground beef and onions, crumbled bacon, kidney beans, butter beans, pork and beans (with liquid), brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, mustard, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well blended.
Pour the mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40–45 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling and heated through.
Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your Calico Bean Bake as a side dish or with crusty bread for a fuller meal!
Calories |
3366 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 118.1 g | 151% | |
| Saturated Fat | 43.7 g | 218% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 403 mg | 134% | |
| Sodium | 5887 mg | 256% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 424.2 g | 154% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 68.6 g | 245% | |
| Total Sugars | 171.7 g | ||
| Protein | 180.9 g | 362% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 645 mg | 50% | |
| Iron | 33.8 mg | 188% | |
| Potassium | 6304 mg | 134% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.