Description
Hearty Calico Baked Beans is a comforting American side dish featuring tender navy beans baked with crispy bacon, sautéed bell peppers, onions, and a rich, flavorful sauce made from ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, and spices. This dish is perfect for backyard barbecues and family dinners, offering a satisfying combination of sweet, smoky, and savory flavors with a slightly caramelized finish on top.
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Bacon
- 4 cups cooked navy beans or 2 cans (15 oz each) navy beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
Vegetables
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Bacon: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until it becomes crispy. Once done, remove the bacon pieces and set them aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet for flavor.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the finely diced onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper to the skillet with the bacon fat. Sauté the vegetables until they are softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked navy beans, sautéed vegetables, crispy bacon, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and water. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly mixed and a consistent sauce forms.
- Bake the Beans: Transfer the bean mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish and cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to meld the flavors and heat through.
- Caramelize the Top: After 45 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking the beans for an additional 15 minutes. This step allows the top to slightly caramelize, adding texture and a deeper flavor.
- Serve: Remove the beans from the oven and let them cool slightly. Serve warm as a hearty side dish alongside your favorite meals.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and sauté the vegetables in olive oil instead.
- You can add diced tomatoes or cooked sausage for extra flavor variety.
- The flavors deepen and improve after resting overnight, making leftover beans even tastier.
