This Hairy Biker Sausage Casserole is a hearty, filling meal that is perfect for a cold night. The dish features juicy sausage and white beans that are simmered in a rich tomato sauce. This one-pot meal makes a delicious busy weeknight dinner.
Jump to:
Sausage and Bean Cassoulet
This is a great a one-pot meal that requires minimal effort. And one of my favorite things is it tastes even better on day two! Leftovers are perfect for lunch or any easy dinner.
Sausage and beans are packed with protein and fiber, making this casserole a nutritious option.
Ingredients for Hairy Biker Sausage Casserole
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- olive oil
- pork sausages
- bacon
- onion
- garlic cloves
- diced tomatoes
- chicken stock
- cream of tomato
- Worcestershire sauce
- brown sugar
- Italian seasoning
- salt
- black pepper
- bay leaves
- white beans
Instructions
This is a phot overview of the instructions. For the complete directions, just scroll down to the bottom. They are in the recipe card.
Equipment
- large frying pan or dutch oven with a lid - The color of this pot is gorgeous!
- large casserole dish - I'm totally in love with the mudpie brand. So pretty and perfect for oven to table!
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite soup making products! 🛍️
FAQ's
It got its name because it's a spin-off of a recipe that aired on the Hairy Biker's TV Show that starred Dave Myers.
Hairy Biker Casserole is a hearty one-pot meal that originated in the United Kingdom. It's made with sausage, and beans, simmered in a rich tomato sauce. It is also often called a sausage cassoulet.
Yes! You can use beef or turkey sausages instead of pork. Just make sure that you have good-quality sausage for this casserole. Italian Sausage is also terrific!
Instead of using bacon pieces, you can use diced ham or pork belly for a similar flavor.
The recipe calls for white beans and so you can use cannellini beans or navy beans. The recipe uses canned beans, but you can certainly cook dried beans and add those to the casserole. Brown beans or pinto beans will work too.
Things to know
This is best made ahead! You can make it up to three days ahead and as it sits the flavors come together and it will be even yummier!
- If you are out of olive oil, you can vegetable oil or even butter to saute the onions and garlic.
- I highly recommend that you use good quality pork sausages for this recipe as you really want the flavors of the sausage to stand out.
- Don't forget to remove the bay leaves before serving.
- I like to top this bean casserole with a dollop of sour cream for a little creamy, tangy goodness.
- If your sauce is thinner than you would like it to be, you can add a tablespoon of tomato paste to thicken it up.
- You could also garnish this recipe with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
- I like to use fresh cloves of garlic, but if you don't have fresh on hand you can use jarred garlic instead.
Variations
- If you want to change up the beans in this recipe, you can use butter beans, kidney beans, or any other bean variety instead of white beans.
- Add more flavor to the sauce by adding a splash of red wine or white wine to the tomato mixture.
- Add a ⅛ teaspoon of hot chili powder or crushed red pepper flakes if you prefer a little heat with your beans.
- You can add the vegetable content by adding celery, carrots, or a diced bell pepper.
- Substitute the meat sausages with chicken thighs.
- Another variation is building this more like a casserole. Start with the base of the casserole adding a layer of cooked sausage patties, then thinly sliced potatoes, the saucy beans and repeat. Finish with the last layer of potatoes, remaining sausage and bean mixture. Cover tightly and place in oven for about an hour and 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Storage
Refrigerate - Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer - You can also freeze this dish for up to 3 months. Just make sure that you use a freezer-safe container. Thaw completely before reheating.
Reheat - Reheat on the stovetop in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until warm and bubbly.
Related recipes
- Are you looking for another easy recipe that can be ready in minutes instead of hours? If so, then this Bean with Bacon Soup is the recipe for you!
- Ham and Potato Soup - hearty and delicious, this is an easy recipe!
- If you love slow cooker comforting dishes on chilly days, then you don't want to miss this tasty yet simple Navy Bean Soup recipe!
- This time of year there are so many great recipes that it's hard to pick the one to make for dinner, so let me recommend that next time you try this Brown Bean Soup! It's extremely easy to make, you won't regret it!
Serve with
- Turn this simple comfort food into a hearty meal by serving it with a side of these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes. They are creamy, flavorful, and really easy to make!
- If you are looking for some vegetables to serve with this hairy bikers sausage casserole then these Pan Roasted Vegetables are just what you are looking for!
- You could also pair this simple meal with slices of rustic bread or a few of these Rolls From Frozen Bread Dough.
Whether you love or hate the name, we can BOTH agree this recipe is excellent right? Leave a comment below with your feedback!
Hairy Bikers Sausage Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 pork sausages
- 6 slices of bacon diced
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 can 28 oz diced tomatoes
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 can 14 oz cream of tomato
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 15 ounces white beans that's one can, drained and rinsed
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium-high heat add the olive oil, once hot add the sausage and brown it on each side. About 3 minutes on each side.
- Remove the sausage from the saucepan, and set aside.
- In the same saucepan add the bacon and cook until crispy. About 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, and garlic and continue cooking for about 5 minutes until the onion is softened.
- Add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, cream of tomato, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine all the ingredients. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and place sausage on top, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes add the white bean to the casserole, gently stir and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Serve hot with mashed potatoes if desired.
ColleenB.~Tx. says
Looks really good and hardy.
Was wondering what kind of pork sausage you used.
Debra Clark says
I've used both mild and spicy Italian sausage and also Hillshire Farm smoked sausage. Enjoy the recipe Colleen!