Crowd-Pleasing Crock Pot Bean Mix
Whether it is for dinner or as a dish for your next gathering, this Crock Pot Bean Mix works well.
The 4th of July is coming up soon and that means many US citizens are planning to BBQ either at their house or with a group.
When it comes to summertime BBQs, there is one dish that my husband and boys love to eat.
My husband calls it bean mix, but I’ve also seen it called a ‘one-pot’ bean dinner.
This Crock Pot Bean Mix goes beyond your ordinary baked beans and really kicks it up a notch.
There is so much IN the recipe that I can see why it was originally called a dinner when it appeared in the Rival crock-pot cookbook.
However, I always consider it a side dish.
What to serve with these fabulous beans is a matter of preference.
My guys are happy to have hot dogs from the grill.
But, one thing that a few of them truly love is having it with potato salad.
Something about the cold salad and the warm beans is just really appealing.
I’ll confess to combining the 2 on my fork or spoon when taking a bite.
More Side Dishes to Make
Whether you are planning a meal or need to bring a dish to share, these are all tried and tested side dish recipes.
Homemade Mac and Cheese
Baked Beans with Bacon Made in a Slow Cooker
Yummy Broccoli and Bow-Tie Pasta Salad
TAKE CHARGE OF MEALTIME
Weekly Meal Planner
Meal planning can be a daunting task, but with the Weekly Meal Planner in spreadsheet format, it’s a breeze!
It comes with a list of meal ideas to help you plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week ahead. Plus, you can put together your shopping list, so you can make sure you have everything you need.
The planner is the perfect way to make meal planning easy and fun!
Making Crock Pot Bean Mix
Regardless of what name you want to give this dish, it is always well received.
We’ve brought it to church potluck picnics in the summer and almost never have even a spoonful left in the crock-pot.
What foods are must-haves for a summer BBQ or potluck?
Crock-pot Bean Mix
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1/2 lb. bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 31-ounce cans of pork and beans
- 16-ounce can of red kidney beans
- 15.5-ounce can of butter lima beans
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. liquid smoke flavoring
- 3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a skillet, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain off any fat and move the cooked beef to your crock-pot.
- While this is cooking, drain and rinse the kidney and butter beans.
- Add the bacon and onion to the skillet. Cook over a medium heat for approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
- Do not worry if the bacon is slightly undercooked! Drain off any fat and transfer to the crock-pot.
- Add remaining ingredients to the crock-pot and stir to mix.
- Cover and cook on low for approximately 6 to 9 hours. Alternatively, cook on high for 4 hours.
Notes
Some cookbooks with a similar recipe mark the liquid smoke as optional. BUY it and use it. It makes a real difference in the final flavor.
If you can not find butter beans, you can substitute another large bean of your choosing. My MIL has used chickpeas in hers at times.
Finally, if you are like me and enjoy crispy bacon, cook the bacon a bit longer.
More Patriotic Ideas
For more July 4th & Patriotic ideas, check out a few posts from my favorite bloggers:
- Patriotic Mini Berry Tarts by Confessions of an Overworked Mom
- Patriotic DIY Candy Dish by A Mom’s Take
- How to Host a 4th of July Parade by Mom on the Side
- Patriotic Pudding Cups by Better in Bulk
- Perfect Southern Sweet Tea by Greta’s Day
- Patriotic String Art Craft by This Mama Loves
- DIY Beaded Flag Charm Craft for Kids by Cait’s Beauty Blog
- Patriotic Red, White and Blue Mason Jar Planters by Home and Garden Cafe
- Cherry Vanilla Cupcakes by Our Family World
- Treats for your 4th of July Cookout by Momma D Jane
- Greek Pasta Salad, a simple summer side by About a Mom
- Beet and Blueberry Salad by Upstate Ramblings
This post was originally published on Jun 19, 2015.
Whatgood is a review, if you have NOT even attempted the recipe!
My fav soup growing up was Campbell’s Bean soup. This reminds me of it, and I adore beans, esp lima beans, I’d like to try this!! It looks so good!
Mmmm this looks great! I love all kinds of beans. Thanks for posting!
Yum! That looks delicious! This would be a perfect dish for our 4th of July BBQ this weekend!
That sounds delicious. I love baked beans and I bet everyone would enjoy this.