Easy Sausage and Bean Casserole Recipe

This delicious sausage and bean casserole combines hearty, pantry-friendly ingredients for a comforting, nutritious dinner. It’s the perfect solution for busy nights when you need an easy midweek meal that satisfies the whole family. Whether you’re juggling a busy week or prepping for leftovers, this casserole will quickly become a staple in your home.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This dish is the perfect example of healthy recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor. It’s simple, adaptable, and features basic ingredients you likely already have on hand. Plus, it’s an easy meal to customize based on your family’s tastes, diet types, and more!

This sausage and bean casserole is perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep. Using simple pantry ingredients like rice, beans, sausage, salsa, and cheese, it’s easy to whip up and incredibly satisfying. Here’s why it’s a keeper:

• Quick and easy to make: Perfect for busy families.
• Highly customizable: Use what you have on hand.
• Leftovers for days: Great for lunches or reheating on a hectic evening.

If you love easy, family-friendly casseroles, check out these: Mexican Chicken Casserole, Easy Mexican Noodle Casserole, Southwestern Chicken and Rice Casserole, or this Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole. 

Ingredient Notes

• Protein: I used chicken sausage for this recipe, but any type of sausage—pork sausages, turkey, or even vegetarian sausage—works well. Ground beef, turkey, or shredded chicken works well too.
• Rice: Brown rice or Spanish rice adds a seasoned flavor, but white rice or even quinoa are great options.
• Beans: Black beans add protein and fiber to this dish. Swap with pinto beans, cannellini beans, or even great northern beans.
• Salsa: The salsa adds a zesty punch! I used a mild chunky salsa but you can use any you have on hand. Try making this Easy Homemade Salsa Verde or this Homemade Salsa if you want to make it from scratch. 
• Cheese: Cheddar and Monterey Jack were my go-to choices, but feel free to try mozzarella or pepper jack for extra heat.
• Spices: I used Chili powder and cumin, but oregano, cayenne, or Italian seasoning can mix things up. A pinch of black pepper and a dash of red pepper flakes also go a long way here. Adjust spices to taste.
• Vegetables: Adding chopped onion or bell pepper is a great way to boost flavor and veggies.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Expert Tips

• Protein options: Try ground beef, shredded chicken, Sweet Italian sausage, or even vegetarian sausages all work beautifully. For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and double the beans.
• Cooking tip: If using raw sausage, cook it first in a large frying pan over medium heat with a splash of water or olive oil before combining the browned sausage with other ingredients.
• Broth boost: Adding a small amount of chicken stock to the mixture can enhance flavor and keep the dish moist.
• Grains: You can swap out the rice for quinoa, farro, or even a wild rice blend.
• Vegetables: Add sauteed bell peppers, onions, or jalapeños if desired
• Beans: Kidney beans, red beans, pinto beans, butter beans, or a mix of beans will work.

Serving Tips

Serve this sausage and bean casserole with a green side salad or some roasted vegetables. You can also top each serving with sour cream, avocado slices, or hot sauce.

Storage Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm in the oven at 350°F for 15–20 minutes or heat in the microwave for a couple of minutes until fully warmed.

Freezer

• Unbaked casserole: Assemble the casserole without the cheese topping, cover tightly, and freeze. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge, top with the cheese, and bake at 350°F until heated through.
• Baked casserole: Let it cool completely, then freeze in a freezer-safe container, freezer bag, or wrapped tightly in foil. It will last up to 4 months.

Recipe FAQs

More Casserole Recipes

• Mexican Chicken Casserole
• Doritos Taco Casserole
• Curried Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Beef Enchilada Casserole

This sausage and bean casserole is a delicious, hearty dish that’s perfect for easy meals or meal prep. Whether you’re trying to use up pantry staples or make a new family favorite, it’s a winner. Be sure to leave a star rating if you make it, and let me know your favorite variations in the comments below!

Follow me on Instagram @acedarspoon for more delicious recipes!

Sausage and Bean Casserole

This delicious sausage and bean casserole combines hearty, pantry-friendly ingredients for a comforting, nutritious dinner. It's the perfect solution for busy nights when you need an easy midweek meal that satisfies the whole family. Whether you're juggling a busy week or prepping for leftovers, this casserole will quickly become a staple in your home.

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Sausage

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beans, casserole, dinner, dinner recipe, rice, sausage

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

6

Author: julia

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup brown rice {or rice of your choice}
• ▢ 12 ounces of pre-cooked sausage
• ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ 1 cup of salsa of your choice
• ▢ 1 – 15 ounce can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• ▢ 1 – 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes with green chiles {or just plain diced tomatoes}
• ▢ 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• ▢ Fresh cilantro for garnish

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Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 derees F.
• Cook the rice according to the package and set aside.
  In a large mixing bowl combine the sausage, salsa, spices, rice, beans, diced tomatoes and the rice and mix well. Add 1 cup of cheese and combine.
• In a 9 x 13 casserole dish spray with non-stick spray. Spread the rice casserole in the dish and even it out. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese on the casserole.
• Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sausage is heated through.
• Serve warm and garnish with cilantro.

Notes

• • Protein options: Try ground beef, shredded chicken, Sweet Italian sausage, or even vegetarian sausages all work beautifully. For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and double the beans.

• • Cooking tip: If using raw sausage, cook it first in a large frying pan over medium heat with a splash of water or olive oil before combining the browned sausage with other ingredients.

• • Broth boost: Adding a small amount of chicken stock to the mixture can enhance flavor and keep the dish moist.

• • Grains: You can swap out the rice for quinoa, farro, or even a wild rice blend.

• • Vegetables: Add sauteed bell peppers, onions, or jalapeños if desired

• • Beans: Kidney beans, red beans, pinto beans, butter beans, or a mix of beans will work.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm in the oven at 350°F for 15–20 minutes or heat in the microwave for a couple of minutes until fully warmed.
  • Freeze Unbaked casserole: Assemble the casserole without the cheese topping, cover tightly, and freeze. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge, top with the cheese, and bake at 350°F until heated through.
  • Freeze Baked casserole: Let it cool completely, then freeze in a freezer-safe container, freezer bag, or wrapped tightly in foil. It will last up to 4 months.