Is there anything better than a warm, hearty meal on a cold winter night? I don’t think so. When the wind is howling outside, all I want is something comforting and delicious to tuck into. But let’s be honest, I don’t always want to spend hours in the kitchen.
That’s where this amazing sausage and butter bean recipe comes in. It has quickly become one of my favorite easy winter meals. It’s a simple one pan wonder that delivers so much flavor with very little fuss. It’s exactly the kind of food that makes you feel good from the inside out.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, it’s incredibly straightforward. If you’re looking for quick winter dinner ideas, this is it. Everything comes together in a single pan, which means less time cooking and, more importantly, less time cleaning up. That’s a huge win in my book.
The flavors are just so good. You get the savory richness from the sausages, a lovely aromatic touch from the garlic and rosemary, and a creamy texture from the butter beans. The fresh parsley and lemon zest at the end brighten everything up beautifully.
It’s also very flexible. You can use whatever sausages you like best. You could even add some leafy greens like spinach or kale toward the end of cooking for an extra bit of goodness. This recipe is a great starting point for your own creations.
Plus, this is one of those fantastic cheap dinners for a family. Sausages and tinned beans are budget friendly staples, making this a meal that tastes luxurious without a big price tag. It’s a truly satisfying dish that everyone at the table will enjoy.
Ingredients
Here is what you will need to gather for these wonderfully warm winter meals. The list is simple, and you might already have most of these things on hand. Feel free to leave out the optional items if you don’t have them.
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 12 chicken sausages (or any nice sausages you can find)
- 2 onions, sliced
- 1 leek, chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp chilli flakes (optional)
- 8 garlic cloves, sliced or minced
- 1 rosemary sprig
- 600 ml chicken stock
- 2 x 400g tinned butter beans, drained
- 75 g butter, cubed
- handful of parsley, chopped
- 2 lemons, zested
Step By Step Instructions
Ready to get cooking? Let’s walk through the steps together. This is one of the most easy winter dinner ideas you will find, so relax and have fun with it.
Step 1: Brown The Sausages
Start by heating the sunflower oil in a large pan over a medium high heat. Once it’s hot, add your sausages. You want to fry them until they are nicely browned on all sides. This step builds a ton of flavor. Once they look golden, take them out of the pan and set them aside for later.
Step 2: Sauté The Aromatics
Add the sliced onions to the same pan. There will be delicious bits left from the sausages, and the onions will soak all that up. Cook them for about five to ten minutes until they are soft and golden. Then, add the chopped leek and chilli flakes if you are using them. Stir in the garlic and the rosemary sprig and cook for another two minutes. Your kitchen will start to smell amazing right about now.
Step 3: Simmer The Base
Pour the chicken stock into the pan and bring it to a boil. Scrape the bottom of the pan to get any flavorful bits unstuck. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for about twenty minutes. This allows all the flavors to meld together and create a really tasty base for your dish.
Step 4: Combine Everything
Now it’s time to bring it all together. Add the browned sausages back into the pan along with the drained butter beans. Let everything simmer together for about eight more minutes. The sausages will finish cooking through, and the beans will become tender and absorb the flavorful broth.
Step 5: Finish And Serve
For the final touch, stir in the cubed butter, chopped parsley, and lemon zest. The butter adds a wonderful richness and creamy texture, while the parsley and lemon zest add a fresh, vibrant kick that cuts through the richness. Give it a final stir and serve it up hot in big bowls. This is what easy winter meals are all about.
How To Store Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers, storing them is simple. First, let the dish cool down completely to room temperature. This is important for food safety. Once cooled, transfer everything to an airtight container.
You can store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. When you are ready to eat it again, you can reheat it gently on the stovetop over low heat until it’s warmed through. You can also pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. It tastes just as good the next day.
Tips
Want to make this dish even better? Here are a few simple tips. First, serve it with some crusty bread for dipping into that delicious sauce. It’s the best way to make sure not a single drop goes to waste. A side of mashed potatoes or creamy polenta would also be wonderful.
Don’t be afraid to switch things up. This recipe works well with different kinds of sausages. Pork, beef, or even a spicy Italian sausage would be great. You could also swap the butter beans for cannellini beans or chickpeas if that’s what you have in your pantry.
For some extra greens, stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of simmering. The leaves will wilt down into the sauce and add extra nutrients. It’s a great way to make this one of your go to easy winter meals.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a fantastic recipe for one of the best warm winter meals you can make. It is hearty, flavorful, and incredibly simple to prepare. It’s the kind of dish that brings warmth and comfort to any chilly evening.
I really hope you give this recipe a try. It’s a testament to how wonderful and satisfying easy winter meals can be. Enjoy every single spoonful!
FAQ
Can I Make This Recipe Vegetarian?
Absolutely! To make a vegetarian version, simply swap the chicken sausages for your favorite plant based sausages. You will also want to use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. The rest of the recipe stays the same. It’s a very easy swap for a delicious vegetarian meal.
What Other Beans Can I Use?
Butter beans are great because they are so creamy, but other beans work well too. Cannellini beans are a fantastic substitute as they have a similar creamy texture. You could also try Great Northern beans or even chickpeas for a slightly different texture.
Is This Recipe Freezer Friendly?
Yes, this is one of those easy winter meals that freezes quite well. Allow the dish to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer safe container. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. To reheat, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then warm it gently on the stovetop.
Can I Add Other Vegetables?
For sure. This is a great recipe for adding extra veggies. Chopped carrots or celery can be added with the onions for more flavor. You could also stir in some chopped bell peppers or mushrooms. As mentioned in the tips, leafy greens like spinach or kale are a wonderful addition at the end.
Easy Sausage and Butter Beans
This easy one-pan sausage and butter bean recipe is a comforting and flavorful meal perfect for chilly evenings. With savory sausages, aromatic garlic and rosemary, and creamy butter beans, it’s a simple dish that’s big on taste and light on effort.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat the sunflower oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry the sausages until nicely browned on all sides. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add the sliced onions to the same pan. Cook for 5-10 minutes until soft and golden. Add chopped leek and chilli flakes (if using). Stir in garlic and the rosemary sprig and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Pour chicken stock into the pan and bring to a boil, scraping up any flavorful bits. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 20 minutes.
- Return browned sausages to the pan along with the drained butter beans. Simmer for 8 more minutes until sausages are cooked through and beans are tender.
- Stir in the cubed butter, chopped parsley, and lemon zest. Serve hot in big bowls.
Notes
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Serve with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or creamy polenta to soak up the delicious sauce.
Experiment with different types of sausages (pork, beef, or spicy Italian) or substitute cannellini beans or chickpeas for the butter beans.
For extra greens, stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of simmering. The leaves will wilt down into the sauce and add extra nutrients.
Nutrition
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