Description
Hearty sausage and bean casserole brings robust flavors from traditional French countryside cooking. Rustic ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a comforting meal you’ll savor with each satisfying spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 6 – 8 sausages (pork, beef, chicken, or vegetarian)
Beans and Vegetables:
- 2 cans (15 ounces / 425 grams) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 400 grams) chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) to prepare for baking the hearty casserole.
- Select a large skillet and drizzle olive oil, heating over medium flame.
- Carefully sear sausages, rotating to achieve a golden-brown exterior on all sides, then transfer to a holding plate.
- Without cleaning the skillet, sauté diced onions, minced garlic, sliced carrots, chopped celery, and bell peppers until vegetables soften and release their aromatic qualities.
- Introduce tomato paste, sprinkle paprika, and crumble dried thyme into the vegetable mixture, stirring continuously for approximately 2 minutes to enhance flavor development.
- Pour chopped tomatoes and chicken broth into the skillet, adding bay leaves to infuse depth. Allow the liquid to gently simmer and integrate flavors.
- Gently fold cannellini beans and previously browned sausages into the simmering mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Carefully transfer the entire skillet contents to a casserole dish, ensuring an even spread of ingredients.
- Cover the dish and slide into the preheated oven, allowing the casserole to bake for 30-35 minutes until sausages reach complete doneness.
- Extract bay leaves from the finished casserole and garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Swap traditional pork sausages with chicken or turkey sausages for a leaner protein option that reduces overall fat content.
- Drain and rinse canned beans thoroughly to lower sodium levels and remove excess starch for a cleaner texture.
- Add a splash of red wine during sautéing vegetables to enhance depth of flavor and create a more complex taste profile.
- Consider using gluten-free sausages and checking broth ingredients if preparing for gluten-sensitive individuals to make the dish celiac-friendly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 315 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg