Main dish or side course?

[JTHunter]

Let me know what you think of this dish.

Calico Beans
1 lb. Bacon  1 lb. Ground Beef  2 Tbs. Vinegar  1 large onion, chopped  ¾ cup brown sugar  1 tsp. dry mustard (or ¼ cup regular mustard)
1 can Pork & Beans (do NOT drain)   1 can EA. (drain ALL) Light & Dark Red Kidney beans (one can each), Black beans, Pinto beans, & Lima beans
¼ cup Ketchup        1 can tomato paste       Cumin, chili powder, & pepper to taste

Cook bacon until crisp, then use grease to sauté onion until almost translucent.  Drain off all fat.  Crumble bacon when cooled.  Brown ground beef and drain as well. 
Put all the other ingredients in a crockpot, mix, then add the meat and onion and mix again.  Start on High until very warm, stirring occasionally, then turn to Low and heat for at least 1 hour.

[MillCreek]

We have made this many times over the years and live it. We don't use cumin or chili powder, though.

[K Frame]

One of my coworkers used to make that for pot lucks. VERY popular, very good.

It could very well be either a main or a side. I've not made it in some time, but I'm always inclined to pair it with meatloaf or sausage.

[MillCreek]

We have also been known to substitute BBQ sauce for the ketchup.

[JTHunter]

Hhmm - I'll have to remember that about the BBQ sauce and try it sometime.  It may be that the combination of the brown sugar, ketchup, tomato paste, mustard, cumin, and chili powder serves much the same function as the BBQ sauce.

[Fly320s]

Sounds a lot like chili with substitutions.  I vote main dish.  Sounds hearty.