This sausage and beans bake dish is definitely part of the category “The Best Comforting Dish of All Times,” and it is a winner in my book. The combination of beans with sausages, cherry tomatoes, crusty bread, and garlic makes this dish perfect for the cold season.
Sausage and baked bean casserole
I am not ashamed to tell you that this recipe is an inspired one and not mine. I usually try to give you original recipes that have been made in my house or by my family members.
This time, though, I was absolutely in awe with Jamie Oliver’s recipe from his book 5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food and had to try it.
It is indeed an easy dinner to make and so good that you will want to make it over and over again.
What goes into this sausage and beans bake dish:
The main ingredients are:
- Beans– use already cooked white beans- I love white beans, like Italian white beans, Cannelini, or navy beans. I always have canned beans in the house for emergency meals, and this meal definitely fits in the category of fast and comforting.
- Sausages– My recipe is almost the same as Jamie’s, but I had to adjust the ingredients as I could not find in my area the type of sausages he was using. American sausages are very different from English sausages or any European sausages in general. It also depends on where you live and how big the European communities are in that area.
America is definitely not a monocultural country, so you might get lucky and find in some stores the chipolatas sausages Jamie uses in his recipe. I live in Minnesota and had a hard time finding anything besides mild Italian sausages, bratwurst, or Kielbasa.
I would say, even if the dish will not taste the same every time you make it, try it with the sausages you like the most. Many milder sausages go really well with beans, so feel free to adjust the recipe with the available ingredients.
- Crusty bread- artisan bread or rustic bread are the best- You need a hearty type of bread with a thicker crust because we will bake it together with the beans and sausages, and the juices from the tomatoes and beans will soak into the bread.
- Cherry tomatoes– get the sweet, juicy ones for this recipe
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Vinegar– I would go with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper
How to make this sausage and beans bake dish:
Before you do anything else, preheat the oven to 350F/180C.
Prepare the ingredients: Halve the cherry tomatoes and put them in a little bowl. Tear the bread into bite-size chunks and set them aside. Chop the sausages into bite size and also set them aside. Peel and slice the garlic thinly.
In a baking pan about 11inch x 13inch, or anything close to this size, place the beans together with their own juice, add the sausages, and add the cherry tomatoes and the chunks of bread.
To these ingredients, add olive oil, a splash of vinegar, and a little bit of water, then mix it all to combine.
It will look like a little salad but do not stop here. We have to bake it to obtain the most comforting recipe ever.
Bake until everything is golden and delicious.
I have made this recipe a few times now, and it always comes out perfect. There is food, and then there is culinary perfection.
If you love a good, rustic, comforting meal that can be put together in no time, this recipe is for you.
Serving this recipe with a glass of white wine will elevate the experience to the next level.
It would be a great casual dinner for any occasion and perfect for these days in the winter when you end up shoveling snow or working outside in the cold.
If you lower the amount of carbs in this recipe, you can skip the bread and make the recipe without, but I can tell you that the recipe is an absolute success if you use all the ingredients and also follow the instructions.
Can I put this sausage and beans bake dish together in advance?
Yes, you can put the recipe together the day before and bake it before you serve it. Cover the dish and keep it in the refrigerator until you bake it.
Can I freeze it?
While I never tried to freeze this dish, I do not see why it would not work. However, I would bake it first, then freeze it.
Can I use some different types of beans?
This recipe is made originally with white beans, as they have a creamy and buttery texture.
While I don’t see the harm in using red beans, black beans, or pinto beans in this recipe, I would stick with white beans at least the first time you make it, so that you can see the difference.
More recipes to love:
Easy Sausage, Cranberries and Walnuts Stuffing
Sausage Pumpkin Pinwheels Appetizers
Check out the web story for this recipe: How to make Beans And Sausage Casserole
Beans And Sausage Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb cooked white beans with juice
- 1 ½ lb cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 lb sausage kielbasa, Italian mild sausage, bratwurst sliced in bite size pieces or chopped
- ½ lb crusty bread like rustic, artisan bread
- 4 cloves of garlic sliced thinly
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red or white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or oregano optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Prepare the ingredients: slice the garlic thinly, halve the cherry tomatoes and tear or chop the bread into bite-sized chunks
- In a 11×13 inch baking or roasting pan, place the cooked beans with their juice.
- Add the tomatoes, sausages, bread and garlic.
- Drizzle the olive oil, vinegar and a little bit of water and mix it together.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
AMY
Wednesday 25th of March 2020
This was so easy and Super Good!! I will be making this on a regular basis. My husband loved it and again SO EASY! Thank you