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These Ain’t Your Mama’s Beanie Weenies

Made with pork and beans, browned sausage, and a sweet and smoky sauce, this easy comfort-food favorite gives old-fashioned hot dogs and beans a flavorful upgrade. Ingredients
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Servings8
Calories: 550kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons bacon fat
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 pound smoked or spicy sausage brats, andouille, kielbasa, or hot links, sliced
  • 1 53-ounce can pork and beans, or 4 (14-ounce) cans
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Dash of hot sauce optional
  • 1-2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional garnish: Crumbled cooked bacon

Instructions

  • Brown the sausage. Add the sausage and cook until lightly browned around the edges. Remove and set aside.
  • Heat the fats. Melt the bacon fat and butter in the same pan that you browned the sausage.
  • Sauté the vegetables. Add the onion and bell pepper to the same pan. Cook for 5–6 minutes, until softened.
  • Add the garlic. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  • Combine the ingredients. Return the slicked sausage to the pan. Add the pork and beans, brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, hot sauce if using, and apple cider vinegar. Stir gently.
  • Simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring gently every few minutes, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy. If using raw bratwurst or raw sausage, cook until it reaches a safe internal temperature of 160°F for pork or beef sausage, or 165°F for poultry sausage.
  • Adjust the flavor. Taste and add more brown sugar or maple syrup for sweetness, vinegar or mustard for tang, or hot sauce for heat. Season with salt and black pepper as needed.
  • Rest and serve. Remove from the heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with crumbled cooked bacon, if desired.

Notes

  • Stir gently to keep the beans from breaking apart.
  • If the sauce becomes too thick, add a small splash of water or broth to loosen it.
  • Pork and bean brands vary in sweetness, saltiness, and thickness, so adjust the seasoning to taste.