Italian Sausage and Bean Casserole

Home-cooked meals in the evening just got easier. Meet Italian Sausage and Bean Casserole – your new favorite one-pot, one-pot dinner. Ready in just 30 minutes on the stove, this is a delicious dish your family will always ask for. All you need is some crusty bread to soak up every last bite of sauce. Slow cooker instructions are also included.

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• Italian Sausage (mild or spicy)
• Onion
• Garlic
• Rosemary
• Tomato paste (tomato puree in the UK)
• Italian red wine
• Crushed red chilies/chili flakes
• Canned chopped tomatoes
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cooked or good cannellini/white kidney beans

Think of this dish as casseruola in Italy or cassoulet in France – basically an Italian sausage soup made with simple, comforting ingredients.

You can make this casserole ahead of time and reheat it easily. It comes with my guarantee that the whole family will love it, and it’s even better the next day as leftovers.

The best Italian sausage to use

I like to use sweet Italian sausage, because it balances and offsets any spices in the sauce. If you prefer it spicy, spicy Italian sausage works too — just adjust the seasoning to your taste. Plain or mild Italian sausage is also a good choice.

Sweet Italian sausage is delicious on its own, as a pizza topping, or served in a bun with bell peppers and onions. They’re especially delicious when braised with cannellini beans in a tomato and rosemary sauce, where the flavor really shines.

Sauce spiciness level

The heat in this sauce is completely adjustable. Red pepper flakes allow you to add a little spice or change it to your liking. Using sweet Italian sausage helps balance the heat, while spicy Italian sausage will naturally add heat – just pay attention to how much seasoning you add to the sauce.

Classic Italian dish

I love cooking Italian dishes like this with beans, especially Tuscan-inspired recipes, where beans play a central role in everyday cooking. Foods like Tuscan bean soup or warm bean crostini are classic examples of how simple ingredients create great comfort food.

Lentils are another staple food in this region, as well as in Sicily. Some of my favorite lentil-based dishes include Lentil Soup with Winter Vegetables and Sicilian Lentil Pasta. Both are pictured below.

Chef tip

Since Italian sausage already has so much flavor, I like to brown it first in the same skillet. This adds extra depth and richness to the sauce.

Canned beans are perfect for this dish because they are added towards the end of cooking. No need to boil it for long, it keeps its shape while absorbing all the delicious flavors.

Wine substitute

This recipe includes wine, but it can easily be omitted if you are serving it to children or prefer not to use alcohol. Just replace with chicken stock or stock for the same taste.

Slow cooker Italian sausage and beans

This casserole is perfect for the slow cooker. Use dry beans, as canned beans will fall apart. Soak dried beans overnight and cook before placing in the slow cooker.

Brown the sausage according to the instructions in step 1, then add all the ingredients to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 7–8 hours or high for 4–5 hours. The result is a rich, delicious meal with minimal effort.