Slow Cooker Calico Baked Beans
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read our privacy policy.
Slow Cooker Calico Baked Beans are the perfect side to make for your next BBQ or cookout. This bean dish is easily made with ground beef, three different kinds of beans, and bacon all slow-cooked to meld the flavors to perfection.
I just love BBQ season! We can cook out most of the year here, but when the summer rolls around it seems like we are grilling out nearly every day. So many reasons we do – the flavors of the food seem to taste better on the grill, easier cleanup, and the sides that you can make to go along with that BBQ chicken or grilled burger are all amazing.
This is a delicious slow cooker side dish that will be perfect for anything you are grilling up. It’s baked beans with hamburger and bacon in the crock pot – simple ingredients slow-cooked to perfection. The recipe is from my wonderful brother-in-law and I first had it a few years ago at a family cookout. The thing that impressed me the most is that every ingredient that is in this calico bean casserole is something I always have in the pantry and refrigerator/freezer. Can’t get easier than that.
How to Make Slow Cooker Calico Baked Beans
This couldn’t be a simpler recipe. Grab that slow cooker, dump all the ingredients in, and turn it on low for a few hours, and done. That being said, you do have to use a skillet to brown the ground beef and saute the onion.
I use the same skillet to fry up the bacon unless you are using precooked bacon – which there is no judgment from me! I use it often. Feel free to use turkey bacon.
Grocery shopping being what it is these days with the virus thing, I did have to substitute the Lima Beans with cannellini beans as my grocery store was clean out of canned butter beans and lima beans – even the frozen kind. That was the only ingredient I didn’t have at the house but I always have cannellini beans on hand.
Once you have everything combined in the slow cooker, turn it on low for 3-5 hours. Then, enjoy! You may want to serve my sister-in-law’s slow cooker mac and cheese with this, too.
Printable Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Calico Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 8 oz bacon (10-12 slices)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp dry mustard
- 2 cans (15 oz each) pork and beans (do not drain)
- 2 cans (15 oz each) butter beans (or Lima beans), drain and rinsed *I used 2 cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed)
- 1 can (15 oz) light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a skillet, fry up the bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels and then chop cooked bacon into small pieces; set aside.
- Drain the grease from the skillet, and then brown the ground beef until it's just about cooked, add the chopped onion. Cook until the onion is softened and ground beef is cooked through. Drain off excess grease, if necessary.
- Add the ground beef and onion to slow cooker, along with the bacon.
- Add all the beans, ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and vinegar to slow cooker. Give it all a good stir to combine, add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and Cook on low for 3-5 hours. Serve.
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Connect with Blogghetti! Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO BLOGGHETTI NEWSLETTER FOR FREE AND RECEIVE FRESH RECIPE NOTIFICATIONS DELIVERED INTO YOUR INBOX EVERY WEEK!
FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION
Enjoy!
Is it even a barbecue if there are no baked beans? I love these are made in the slow cooker and they sound perfect for any summer party.
I just showed these to my husband to see if he wants me to make them. I have a ton of beans in the cupboard and he loves baked beans with bacon and I love the ground beef twist!
These look so amazing, I want to lick the page! (but i won’t)!! Love your recipe and I am looking forward to making it very soon!
I have never made homemade baked beans. These look so hearty and delicious! I am adding it to the must try list.
Have made this for years! Always requested for annual family reunion! I add 1/4 c ketchup and 1/4 c Heinz 57 to zing it up and a dash or 2 of Worcestershire sauce. So delicious any time of the year!
I love the addition of the Heinz!
I’ve misplaced my ‘Bean Bake’ recipe I grew up with & I think this is very close to what it is. My mom always used a silver electric roast & bake pan that apparently sat on top of an electric something or other. I would send a pic, but can’t find a way to. She gave me the pan & it is the ONLY thing that makes this taste like my childhood! I’ve tried regular pans, but always go back to this one. As for the Heinz57, I will taste test without before baking, in case it might need a little somethin’ somethin’!
I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Oops…forgot to ask…vinegar. Which kind? Thanks!
I used white vinegar and a few times when I was out, I used apple cider vinegar both work great.