The Best Cowboy-Calico Beans

These are the BEST! I've been making this recipe for over 20 years now, and it's always a HIT with my family and friends! Great for BBQ's, potlucks, camping etc. Can be made in the oven or in the crockpot, and it freezes and reheats well.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb ground beef (round or sirloin)
• 4  slices bacon, diced
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped onion
• 2 (16 ounce) cans  pork and beans, undrained
• 1 (16 ounce) can butter beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1⁄2 cup white sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  packed brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup catsup
• 1⁄4 cup barbecue sauce (I use Hunt's original or hickory)
• 2  tablespoons molasses
• 2  teaspoons dry mustard (Coleman's)
• 1  teaspoon ground black pepper (do not add any salt)
• 1⁄2-1  teaspoon chili powder, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Brown beef, bacon and onion in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat.
3. Add beans and remaining ingredients, stirring to combine.
4. Pour into two (1 1/2- quart each) buttered baking dishes.
5. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until beans reach desired thickness (do not stir---a nice chewy, crispy crust will form, which is my favorite part--yum!).
6. Alternatively, place in a buttered crock pot and heat on low for about 4 hours, uncover during the last hour of cooking if you like your beans thick.
7. Freezes/reheats well.