Betty's Minnesota-Style 3-Bean Hot Dish

Begin by placing the bacon strips in a large cooking vessel and cook over a moderate to high heat level, flipping them periodically, until they achieve an even golden brown color, approximately 10 minutes. Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet and place it on a layer of absorbent paper to drain excess moisture. Allow the bacon to cool before crumbling it into smaller pieces. Wipe out any remaining residue from the skillet using another paper towel.

Next, add the ground beef to the hot skillet and stir it constantly until it reaches a browned and crumbly state, taking around 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the cooked beef from the skillet and discard any excess grease that has accumulated. Add sliced onions to the skillet and continue cooking until they become transparent, approximately 5 minutes more.

In a separate container, combine the cooked bacon, ground beef, canned pork beans, kidney beans, butter beans, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard. Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined. Transfer this mixture to a slow cooker and cook on high heat until the contents have reached a heated through state, taking around 1 hour.