This Meaty Addition To Baked Beans Is A Spin On A Nostalgic Favorite

For many of us foodies who are approaching middle age or are smack-dab in its clutches, beanie weenies, a.k.a. "franks and beans," is a nostalgic meal that brings us back to childhood. When our parents were trying to save time or money, they might have sliced up and fried some hot dog medallions before heating them up with a can of baked beans. Beanie weenies aren't a glamorous meal, but they are a protein-rich plate that satisfies picky eaters and provides a way to cook hot dogs other than grilling. If you long for the comforting savor of this childhood favorite but want to bulk it up and make it a little more impressive, may we suggest kielbasa as a substitute?

Kielbasa, like a hot dog, is a form of sausage, but that's about where the comparisons end. Kielbasa is thicker than a hot dog and richer in flavor thanks to the (traditional) addition of garlic and pimentos in the casing, along with spices like marjoram and cloves. All you have to do to savor your grown-up take on franks and beans is heat up your kielbasa 'til it's nice and crispy on the edges — we like sautéing the slices in a frying pan, but you can broil or air fry as long as you regard our best sausage cooking tips — and then stir the meat into a pan of heated canned baked beans. Some folks will enhance the beans themselves (more on that in a minute) or round out the meal with some beanie weenie VIPs, but the combination of beans and kielbasa by itself is already long on flavor and very filling. It can also provide no small amount of nourishment, as kielbasa is relatively high in vitamin C and iron.

Any hack that you already use to upgrade your baked beans is bound to make your pot shine when you're also incorporating cooked kielbasa. If you like to add Dr Pepper to your beans for sweetness, for example, go ahead and do so — your dinner will be all the better for the improvements. Old-school beanie weenies sometimes add a small amount of bacon to the pan before frying the hot dogs so that the hot dogs crisp up in the fat and the bacon provides a little extra flavor. Did you actually think we'd say no to bacon in our baked beans? Other saucy additions to your kielbasa and beans that come from beanie weenie tradition include mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar in the mix. A generous pinch of garlic will also do wonders towards giving your beans more body and nuance.

Let's talk about serving your beans. Consider that kielbasa is Polish in origin. For a meal that hearkens back to babcia's table while also absolutely delighting families, how about serving your kielbasa and baked beans with some cooked frozen pierogies? You can fry them in the same bacon fat you used for your sausage or bake or air fry them to crisp deliciousness while assembling your beans. Dish everything up with sour cream, caramelized onions, and sauerkraut on the side, and you have a meal that transcends weeknight ease and might even be fit for a holiday eve repast.