Calico Beans is a hearty and flavorful dish that’s perfect for a family dinner. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 lb bacon
- 2 cans pork and beans
- 2 cans dark kidney beans, drained
- 2 cans butter beans, drained
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ground Beef:
- In a skillet, cook the lean ground beef and chopped onion over medium-high heat until the beef is browned and the onion is translucent. Be sure to break up the ground beef into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Cook the Bacon:
- In a separate skillet, fry the bacon until it’s crispy. Once done, remove the bacon from the skillet, drain it on paper towels, and then crumble or dice it into smaller pieces.
- Combine Ingredients in the Crockpot:
- In a large crockpot, combine the cans of pork and beans, dark kidney beans, and drained butter beans.
- Add Meat and Onions:
- Add the cooked ground beef and onions to the crockpot with the beans.
- Add Bacon:
- Sprinkle the crumbled or diced bacon on top of the other ingredients in the crockpot.
- Ketchup and Brown Sugar:
- Drizzle the ketchup over the mixture, followed by the brown sugar.
- Mix and Cook:
- Gently stir all the ingredients in the crockpot until they are well combined.
- Cook in the Crockpot:
- Cover the crockpot with a lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours. This allows the flavors to meld together and the beans to become tender.
- Serve:
- Once the Calico Beans are done cooking, they are ready to be served. You can serve them hot with cornbread on the side.
Enjoy your delicious homemade Calico Beans for dinner! It’s a hearty and comforting dish that’s perfect for a family gathering or any occasion.
