Calico Beans with Adobo Sauce

Smoky, savory, and just the right amount of spicy, Calico Beans with Adobo Sauce is a hearty twist on a classic comfort dish. This recipe brings together a vibrant medley of beans—kidney, pinto, great northern, and baked—all simmered in a rich sauce infused with smoky chipotle peppers, tangy adobo, and a touch of sweetness from brown sugar. Crispy bacon, tender ground beef, and aromatic spices like cumin and smoked paprika elevate every bite, creating a dish that’s both satisfying and packed with bold flavors. Perfect as a side or main course, this one-pot meal comes together with ease in under an hour, making it ideal for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. Serve it alongside crusty bread or fluffy rice for a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner that’s sure to impress!

Nutriscore Rating: 78/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:65 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 6 slices Bacon
• 0.5 pound Ground beef
• 1 medium, diced Yellow onion
• 3 minced Garlic cloves
• 1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed Canned kidney beans
• 1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed Canned pinto beans
• 1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed Canned great northern beans
• 1 16-ounce can Canned baked beans
• 2 whole, chopped Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 2 tablespoons Adobo sauce
• 0.25 cup Brown sugar
• 0.5 cup Ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon White vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon, crumble it, and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings in the skillet.

Step 2

Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary.

Step 3

Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the cooked beef. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent and fragrant.

Step 4

Stir in the kidney beans, pinto beans, great northern beans, baked beans, chopped chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce. Mix well to combine.

Step 5

In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and stir to coat the beans evenly.

Step 6

Add the crumbled bacon back into the skillet. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 7

Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve warm as a side dish or a main course, accompanied by crusty bread or cooked rice if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2382.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3093.3

Total Fat 67.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 24.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.9g
Cholesterol 198.0mg	0%
Sodium 10189.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 470.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 100.4g	0%
Total Sugars 117.9g
Protein 177.9g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 978.3mg	0%
Iron 43.1mg	0%
Potassium 7932.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 19.0%

Protein: 22.2%

Carbs: 58.8%