The ultimate comfort food mash-up. This Instant Pot Calico Beans recipe is what would happen if you combined chilli and baked beans. It’s a filling, comforting dish with great depth of flavor and plenty of protein!

Instant Pot Calico Beans Recipe

This calico beans recipe was a household favorite growing up. My aunt Pam got everyone hooked with her original recipe, but then after losing the recipe card my mom made a version of her own.

Calico beans get their name from the mixture of colors of all the different types of beans used that represents a multicolored, calico cat. It is very similar to a chilli, though it has more beans in it than most traditional chillies do.

Traditionally made by hydrating dried beans (which takes at least 4 hours or can be done overnight), this calico beans recipe can also be made super quick with the use of canned beans. I’ll give the measurements for both below, so feel free to use whichever method you prefer.

My mom still makes this calico beans recipe on the stovetop (using canned beans) but since I’m obsessed with my instant pot, I’ve converted her version into an instant pot calico beans recipe.

The instant pot will both sauté the beef and slow cook these beans so you’re not washing multiple pots at the end of the day. This hearty meal is ready in about 1 hour yet it tastes like they were slow cooked all day.

What to serve with Calico Beans

My favorite thing to serve with calico beans is a generous portion of bread – whether you go for real bread or a low carb bread (although there is nothing low carb about a bowl full of beans!)

Calico beans can be served as a main or as a side dish, so if you need even more to serve alongside it here are some suggestions:

• Side salad
• Sauteed or grilled veggies
  • Asparagus
  • Peppers
  • Zucchini
• Honey Roasted Carrots
• Low-carb onion blossom
• Mashed cauliflower (or potatoes)

Instant Pot Calico Beans Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze Calico beans? Yes, to freeze, portion the calico beans mixture into 2 cup servings and lay flat to freeze. This recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months without any texture loss.

To cook, let the beans thaw out completely and then reheat low and slow. If the beans get overheated, they can split and experience a texture loss.

Can I use dried beans to make calico beans? YES! And to make using budget-friendly dried beans even easier, I have provided a separate step-by-step recipe in the recipe card notes below, as the cook times and a few of the steps change considerably.

Is the cornstarch slurry necessary? No, it’s optional. The sauce will thicken naturally as it cooks, but cornstarch helps create a thicker, glossy finish.

How to store leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently, stirring to loosen the sauce.

Instant Pot Calico Beans Recipe Video Demo

Watch this quick recipe video first (the quality isn’t the best, sorry!) and then scroll down below to grab our free printable recipe card. Be sure to grab the card that corresponds with either canned or dried beans, whichever you plan to cook with.

Ingredients for Calico Beans

Scroll down to the recipe card below for exact ingredient measurements and nutritional info.

• Olive oil
• Onion, chopped
• Garlic, sliced
• Ground beef
• Ham, chopped
• Pinto beans, canned or dried
• Northern beans, canned or dried
• Black beans, canned or dried
• Brown sugar
• Molasses
• Ketchup or tomato paste
• Yellow mustard
• Butter
• Chili powder, or to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Corn starch, optional
• Water, optional

Tip: dried beans need to be soaked for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight. They may also require an increase in cooking time of up to two hours.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful:

• Instant pot
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Sharp kitchen knife
• Cutting board

How to Make Instant Pot Beans

To Prep: Gather and prep your ingredients. Set Instant Pot on counter and set to Saute.

1. Sauté the base: Add olive oil to the Instant Pot, then add onion and garlic, cooking until translucent, about 2 minutes.
2. Brown the meat: Add ground beef and cook until fully browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped ham.
3. Add the beans and sauce: Add the beans, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup or tomato paste, mustard, butter, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.
4. Slow cook: Set the Instant Pot to SLOW COOK, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.
5. Thicken and serve: Switch to SAUTE and uncover. Stir together cornstarch and water, add to the pot, and cook until bubbling and thickened. Set to KEEP WARM until ready to serve.

If using dried beans, soak dried pinto, northern and black beans in water overnight or for at least 4 hours. Drain and rinse well before using.

Pin this Instant Pot Calico Beans Recipe – and don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe!

Grab your printable recipe card for our Instant Pot Calico Beans recipe (with bonus directions on how to make the recipe using dried beans instead of canned):

Yield: 9 cups

Mom's Calico Beans Recipe (Instant Pot Baked Beans and Chili)

Print

Instant Pot Calico Beans are a cozy, classic comfort dish made easy. Ground beef, ham and tender beans simmer in a sweet and savory sauce that’s rich, hearty and perfect for family dinners. This Instant Pot comfort food is the perfect mash-up of baked beans and chili.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup ham, chopped
• 1-15oz can pinto beans, drained
• 1-15oz can northern beans, drained
• 1-15oz can black beans, drained
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 2 Tablespoons ketchup or tomato paste
• 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon corn starch, optional
• 1 teaspoon water, optional

Instructions

1. Set the Instant Pot to saute. Drizzle with olive oil.
2. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and garlic and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the ground beef and brown completely, about 5 minutes.
4. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. 
5. Set instant pot to slow cook for 30 minutes and cover. 
6. After 30 minutes, set instant pot to saute setting. Uncover.
7. In a small bowl, mix together the corn starch and water to form a slurry.
8. Stir cornstarch slurry into instant pot.
9. Let cook until bubbling, stirring often, until the sauce thickens. 
10. Set to and hold on keep warm until ready serve. 

Notes

To make with dried beans, you will need:

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup ham, chopped
• 3/4 cup dried pinto beans, soaked overnight (or at least 4 hours)
• 3/4 cup dried northern beans, soaked overnight (or at least 4 hours)
• 3/4 cup dried black beans, soaked overnight (or at least 4 hours)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 2 Tablespoons ketchup or tomato paste
• 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon corn starch, optional
• 1 teaspoon water, optional

Directions to Make with Dried Beans:

1. Set the Instant Pot to saute. Drizzle with olive oil.
2. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and garlic and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the ground beef and brown completely, about 5 minutes.
4. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. 
5. Set instant pot to slow cook for 30 minutes and cover. 
6. After 30 minutes, set instant pot to saute setting. Uncover.
7. In a small bowl, mix together the corn starch and water to form a slurry.
8. Stir cornstarch slurry into instant pot.
9. Let cook until bubbling, stirring often, until the sauce thickens. 
10. Set to and hold on keep warm until ready serve. 

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This Calico Beans recipe is a hearty comfort food meal that is incredibly filling and satisfying. It makes great leftovers, too, on weeks where you want to cook as little as possible!

For more delicious Instant Pot recipes, check out our Instant Pot Asparagus Soup or our Instant Pot BBQ Pork, Jamaican-style.