Calico Beans (Oven, Pellet Smoker, Crock Pot & Instant Pot)
Calico Beans can be cooked 4 different ways, but in the summertime I prefer to cook them outside on the pellet grill. In the winter, in the oven. In a rush, in the Instant Pot. Taking it low and slow, the slow cooker. Whatever works for you!
Servings: 16
Calories: 318kcal
Ingredients
- About 3/4 lb. raw bacon chopped or cut up small (6 thick slices/8 thin slices) - should be the equivalent to about a 1/2 heaping cup crispy chopped up bacon
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 15 oz. can pork & beans Do not drain
- 1 15 oz. can kidney beans drained
- 1 15 oz. can butter beans drained
- 1 15 oz. can lima beans drained
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sweet onion diced small
- 1 cup celery chopped small (About 3 celery sticks)
- 3 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar Can sub with white wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
Oven Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat up large skillet to cook bacon until crispy, then transfer bacon to paper towel lined plate. Reserve about 1 Tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
- Heat the same skillet on Medium-high heat, brown and crumble ground beef.
- Add all ingredients to large mixing bowl, including the ground beef and bacon. Gently stir to combine.
- Transfer bean mixture to a 11 X 9 casserole dish and cover with foil.
- Once Oven fully pre-heated, bake for 45 mins.
- Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes uncovered.
Pellet Smoker Instructions
- Preheat Pellet Smoker to 300 degrees F.
- Follow Oven Instructions, #2-5.
- Once smoker up to temp, place the casserole dish in the smoker, covered with foil for 1 hour. (You are using your smoker like an oven here)
- After 1 hour, remove foil and bake uncovered another 30 mins.
Slow Cooker/Crockpot Instructions
- Follow Oven Instructions, #2-4.
- Transfer beans to Crockpot.
- In Crockpot cook 4 hrs on High or 8 Hrs on Low.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Follow Oven Instructions, #2-4.
- Transfer beans to Instant Pot
- Set pressure to High for 15 mins, natural release for 10 mins, then depressurize fully before opening pressure cooker.
Notes
Store leftover calico beans in an airtight container and enjoy for up to 5 days. You can freeze leftovers as well in a freezer-safe container or freezer bags . Once defrosted, you can reheat the beans in a pot on low-medium heat or in the microwave on lower power.
Nutrition
Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 740mg | Potassium: 459mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 3mg