Ground Turkey and Beans Recipe

Everyone goes crazy for a bowl of Ground Turkey and Beans, loaded with ground turkey, bacon, and mixed beans. This recipe is delish, loaded with beans, bacon, and ground turkey–a hit at every cookout, potluck, or just an easy meal! Some people call it “calico beans.”

These are also known as calico beans, or cowboy beans, and you can even eat them on a Sloppy Joe! It’s just the kind of thing to make when the weather takes a chilly turn and you’re hungry for something that really sticks to the ribs. And kids love these beans!

Grab a large skillet and cook the bacon and the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain off the fat and transfer the meat to the slow cooker. Then add the remaining ingredients.

Why you’ll love these beans

• This slow cooker recipe requires just 15 minutes of prep and lets your appliance do the rest.
• The hearty beans and meat make this the perfect filling meal for cold days.
• It feeds a crowd with minimal effort and budget-friendly ingredients.

Ingredients needed 

• Ground turkey: Lean ground turkey provides a healthy protein base that soaks up all the delicious flavors.
• Bacon: Finely chopped bacon adds smoky depth and richness to the dish.
• Cumin: This warm, earthy spice enhances the savory flavors and adds a subtle complexity.
• Salt and pepper: Essential seasonings that bring out the best in all the ingredients.
• Onion: A large diced onion adds savory sweetness and aromatic flavor to the base.
• Bell pepper: Red, yellow, or orange bell pepper adds color, sweetness, and a slight crunch.
• White kidney beans: Creamy and mild, these beans add great texture and protein.
• Black beans: Firm and earthy, black beans hold their shape well during cooking.
• Kidney beans: Classic red kidney beans add heartiness and a beautiful color contrast.
• Pinto beans: Soft and creamy, pinto beans round out the bean selection perfectly.
• Brown sugar: Adds sweetness that balances the savory and tangy flavors beautifully.
• Ketchup: Provides tanginess, sweetness, and helps create that signature BBQ-style sauce.
• White vinegar: Adds a bright acidity that cuts through the richness and balances the sweetness.
• Yellow mustard: Adds tang and depth, enhancing the overall flavor profile.

How do you make these ground turkey and beans? 

Cook the meat:

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground turkey and finely chopped bacon together.
2. Break the meat apart with a spatula as it cooks, ensuring even browning.
3. Once fully cooked, drain any excess fat from the skillet.
4. Add the cumin, salt, and pepper to taste, stirring to coat the meat evenly.

PRO TIP: Browning the meat before adding it to the slow cooker develops deeper, richer flavors. Don’t skip this step!

Combine in the slow cooker:

1. Transfer the seasoned meat mixture to the slow cooker.
2. Add the diced onion and chopped bell pepper.
3. Add all the drained beans – white kidney, black, kidney, and pinto beans.
4. Add the brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard.

PRO TIP: Make sure to drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the slow cooker to remove excess sodium and prevent a watery sauce.

Mix and cook:

1. Stir all the ingredients together until well combined and the sauce is evenly distributed.
2. Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
3. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
4. Stir occasionally if possible to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.

PRO TIP: Cooking on LOW for 8 hours allows the flavors to meld together more deeply, but the HIGH setting works beautifully when you’re short on time.

Season and serve:

1. Taste the dish before serving and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
2. Serve hot as a main dish or side.
3. Garnish with fresh parsley or green onions if desired.

PRO TIP: This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop. It makes fantastic leftovers!

Serving

These beans are divine all on their own in a bowl, as a main course. You can also serve a bowl like chili, loaded with all your favorite chili toppings:

• Sour cream
• Diced jalapeno
• Chopped raw onions or green onions 
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Corn chips
• Serve on a hot dog board
• Place in the center of a hamburger board

Use this hearty bean mixture as a topping for baked potatoes for a filling meal.

You can also serve this bean mixture over cooked rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for a complete meal.

Sandy’s tips and substitutions:

• Choose lean ground turkey: For the best results, use 93/7 lean ground turkey. You can also substitute ground beef, ground pork, or ground chicken.
• Drain the beans well: Properly draining and rinsing the beans prevents the dish from becoming too watery and helps control the sodium content.
• Bacon alternatives: If you prefer to skip the bacon, add a teaspoon of liquid smoke for that smoky flavor without the meat.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This dish also freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
• Thickening the sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow some liquid to evaporate.

Variations:

• Smokey version: A tiny bit of liquid smoke gives a nice smokiness to the beans. You could also add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika along with the cumin for extra smoky depth.
• BBQ style: Replace half the ketchup with your favorite BBQ sauce for a different flavor profile.
• Sweeter beans: You can add molasses for additional richness, but the recipe already includes brown sugar.
• Ground meat: Some cooks love using ground beef in Calico Beans in place of ground turkey.
• Sweet and spicy: Add 1-2 tablespoons of hot sauce or a diced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce for a sweet-heat combination.
• Add vegetables: Feel free to add corn, diced tomatoes, or mushrooms for extra texture and nutrition.

For more hearty slow cooker recipes, try my Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup, Pulled Beef Sandwiches, and Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Chili. 

More bean dishes you may want to try:

• Mexican Charro Beans with Ham
• Baked Beans with Ground Turkey
• Baked Cannelini Beans
• Homemade Refried Pinto Beans

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Ground Turkey and Beans

Sandy Coughlin

Smoky ground turkey and bacon simmered with four types of beans in a sweet and tangy sauce. This easy slow cooker recipe is the perfect hearty comfort food!

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 4 hours hrs

Total Time: 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Yield: 8

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Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 1 pound ground turkey
• ½ pound bacon, finely chopped
• 2 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 large bell pepper, red, yellow, or orange, diced (optional)
• 1 15 oz white kidney beans, drained
• 1 15 oz black beans, drained
• 1 15 oz kidney beans, drained
• 1 15 oz pinto beans, drained
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup ketchup
• 2 tsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp yellow mustard

Equipment

• Crock Pot

Instructions

 

•  In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and bacon; drain. Add the cumin and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to the slow cooker.
• To the meat mixture in the slow cooker, add the onion, chopped pepper, all of the beans, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and mustard.
• Mix well, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. If needed, season to taste more salt and pepper.

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish

Calories: 268kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.05g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 433mg, Potassium: 363mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 202IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1mg

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