Growing up I always liked my mom’s Hot Dog Bean Casserole—except for the lima beans! It’s a little bit reminiscent of a chili, loaded with beans, chunks of hot dogs, and a sweet sauce that tastes a bit like barbeque. She would make this at home, over the fire while my family was camping, and even for my Girl Scout troop when we did camp outs. When I saw that Field Roast started making frankfurters I knew I would need to use them for a remake of my mom’s classic. I love Field Roast because they are soy free, and have a very simple ingredient list—all of which I recognize and can pronounce!
This dish comes from a Betty Crocker Cookbook called Dinner for Two, and was published in 1974. My mom received it as a wedding present, and passed it on to me when I moved out on my own. I’m pretty sure the only recipe either my mom or I used was this one—every other page is spotlessly clean, and the page with the “Chili Bean Skillet” is covered with splatters. It suggests pairing this with ham and cheese supper bread, but I think it’s best with cornbread. I use Bob’s Red Mill cornmeal (non-GMO) and follow the recipe on the back of the package, using Ener-G egg replacer. I also add a bunch of frozen corn—yum!
Hope you enjoy this classic dish as much as my family does. David gobbled it up the other night—anything with “sauce” is a hit with him!
Hot Dog Bean Casserole
3 Field Roast hot dog links, sliced in rounds, or diced if serving to small children)
2 stalks of celery, diced small
½ onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
¼ c of diced Anaheim pepper (you could go spicy if you want, or swap out for a bell pepper)
1-2 T olive oil
1 c black beans
1 c frozen lima beans
1 c frozen black eyed peas
-OR- 3 cups of your favorite beans
1/3 c chili sauce*
1 T maple syrup*
3 T bbq sauce*
water added to chili sauce, maple syrup, bbq sauce to make 1 c total liquid*
dash garlic powder
*You can play with these ingredients and the proportions to make the sauce to your liking. Sweet, spicy, whatever you like! I used a great chili sauce called “sweet orange chile” that had pretty wholesome ingredients. I’ve also used Heinz Chili Sauce which is delicious (although I haven’t checked recently for ingredients like HFCS which I now avoid). Pick what you like!
Heat olive oil in a pan and add onions. Brown onions, then add carrots, pepper and celery. Brown a few minutes more and add hot dogs. Once all ingredients have a good head start for softening, add the beans. Mix well, and then pour sauce over, and add a few shakes of garlic powder. Mix well again. Reduce heat to let simmer and put a lid on. It won’t be too “saucy” but will be wet enough to allow it to simmer a bit. Let it simmer until carrots are fork tender. Ready to serve!
