Sausage and Bean Casserole

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Create an easy, filling, and cheap family meal with this yummy One-Pot Sausage and Bean Casserole. Delightfully warming and full of flavour.

Nothing beats a big casserole on a cold night when you need comfort. Or when you’ve had a busy day and you need a big hearty meal to restore your energy. 

When it comes to Midweek Family Meals, any kind of casserole is right up there for me. They are easy, tasty, and super filling.

A Sausage Casserole with Beans is perhaps extra special because it’s so cheap and the perfect sausage casserole for kids. Yes, you can use expensive sausages, but budget options will absolutely do, and filling a budget-friendly meal up with a cheap and nutritious tin of beans is always a win!

Finding Cheap Midweek Meals can be hard, and this Sausage and Butter Bean Casserole ticks all of my boxes. 

The kids love it too, which is always a plus when it comes to Family Food!

What is the Difference Between a Stew and a Casserole?

…I don’t know. 

I’ve always thought that a stew is cooked on the hob and a casserole in the oven. But then I cook this Sausage Casserole on the hob so who knows. 

I think it might largely depend on where you grew up and who did the cooking. 

If it makes you feel better, feel free to cook this Easy Sausage and Bean Casserole in the oven. However, it will need to simmer for longer to thicken up. 

What Kind of Sausages Should You Use in Casserole?

A higher-quality sausage is always going to taste better. There’s more meat, less fat, and less whatever else they put into a sausage!

But, higher quality sausages with a high meat content don’t have to be expensive. We use a pack from Aldi, called “The Meaty One” which are great. They are around £2 for 6, so not the cheapest, but not crazy expensive either. 

That said, this recipe will work with a super basic sausage so don’t worry too much if you are on a tight budget. 

I use plain pork sausages, but feel free to experiment with what you use. If your family has a favourite, throw them in. The most important thing about Midweek Meal Recipes is that your family enjoy them, after all!

Can You Make a Vegetarian Sausage Casserole?

Yes, you can make this recipe with vegetarian sausages. Just use your favourites and follow the recipe as it is.

What Beans Should You Use in a Bean Casserole?

I use white butter beans when I make my Bean and Sausage Casserole.

I love butter beans. They have such a cool velvety texture and buttery taste, and they bulk out a Rich sausage casserole perfectly. 

But, again feel free to experiment. If you’ve got a favourite bean, go ahead, it’s your Recipe for sausage and bean casserole! You could even throw in a tin of baked beans if you wanted to, my sausage and baked bean hotpot is always a hit, especially with kids!

Do You Have to Brown Sausages Before Cooking?

So you don’t need to brown the sausages to make them edible. 

Sausage meat will cook in the One-pot sausage and bean casserole. It won’t kill you.

But, if you don’t brown the sausages before adding the liquid, the skin won’t brown or firm up. Your sausages will stay pale, and the casing might feel a little…off. It might even split badly and fall off. 

I’d always recommend lightly browning your sausages for a casserole. You might find this easier in two batches of six, to stop them sticking to the pan. Then set them to one side, and return them to the pan later.

What Herbs Go Well with Sausages?

I put bay, thyme, and smoked paprika in my Sausage and Bean Casserole Recipe. They work really well with the sausages, beans, and tomatoey sauce.

Sausages also go well with sage and rosemary. If you haven’t got any of these, throw in 2tsps of mixed herbs for some flavour. 

How Do You Make a Sausage and Bean Casserole Thicker?

This Simple Sausage and Bean Casserole has quite a lot of liquid with stock, wine, and chopped tomatoes. 

This is great, gives you plenty of gravy to enjoy with your meal, and means that the sausages cook really well. 

If after 30 minutes your Easy Sausage Casserole is too watery, there are a few things that you can do to thicken it up a little. 

The easiest thing to do is simply simmer your Sausage and bean stew for a little longer. If you’ve got time, you can leave it simmering, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened as much as you want. 

If you are in a rush, add 2 more tbsp of tomato puree, or mix 1tbsp of cornflower with 1tbsp of water and stir through. Then, leave your Butter Bean and Sausage Casserole to simmer for 5 more minutes.

How to Serve Sausage and Bean Casserole

I love Sausage Casserole and Mash. 

Mashed potato is the perfect side order for any Sausage casserole recipe in my option! 

If you prefer, you could serve your Slow Cooked Sausage and Bean Casserole with crusty bread to soak up all that lovely tomatoey sauce. 

Can You Freeze Sausage and Bean Casserole?

Yes! Sausage Casserole with Butter Beans leftovers are perfect for freezing for another day. 

Remove from the cooking pan to cool as quickly as possible, then freeze in a sealed tub for up to two months. 

Reheating Sausage Casserole

When you are ready to enjoy your Sausage Bean Casserole, thaw slowly in the fridge before reheating carefully on the hob.

Heat in a large pan or cast-iron dish on the hob, stirring frequently, for 30 minutes until the sausages are piping hot. If at any point it is a little dry, add some water or stock and stir. 

This is a great Sausage Casserole for Kids and adults alike, the perfect family food, sure to become a firm favourite on your meal plans.

Sausage and Bean Casserole

Author NameAuthor: Donna

Create an easy, filling and cheap family meal with this yummy One-Pot Sausage and Bean Casserole. Delightfully warming and full of flavour.

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Dinner

Cuisine British

Servings 6 People

Calories 631 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon Cooking Oil
• 12 Sausages (Carefully pricked with a fork or sharp knife)
• 6 Rashers of Bacon (Roughly Chopped)
• 1 Onion (Finely diced)
• 2 Cloves Garlic (Crushed)
• 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
• 400 g Chopped tomatoes
• 300 ml Chicken Stock
• 2 tablespoons Tomato Puree
• Splash Henderson’s Relish
• 1 tablespoon Dark Brown Sugar
• 2 Bay Leaves
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 150 ml Red Wine
• 1 Tin Butter Beans (Drained)
• Pinch Salt and pepper

Instructions

 

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, or cast iron dish on the hob.
• Gently fry the sausages for 5-10 minutes until browned, you might find it easier to do this in two batches.
• Remove the sausages from the dish and set them to one side.
• Fry the onions and garlic for 5 minutes until soft.
• Add the bacon and fry until lightly browned.
• Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, wine, paprika, tomato puree, Henderson’s, sugar, thyme, and bay leaves, and stir.
• Return the sausages to the dish.
• Bring to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the beans and a pinch of salt and pepper, stir and simmer for a further 10 minutes.

Notes

• We use plain pork sausages and butter beans, but change these for your favourites .
• If making without wine, add extra chicken stock.
• I serve my Sausage and Bean casserole with Mashed potatoes, but other potatoes or bread would work well too.
• I use a large cast-iron dish like this one. (affiliate link)
• Simmer for longer if your sauce is still too watery.

Any nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate. The information is provided using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please make your own calculations if you want precise information.

Keyword easy recipes, sausage recipes

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