Saddle up for the coziest, most comforting dinner you’ll make all season! This Cowboy Pie is the ultimate stick to your ribs casserole that the whole family will go wild for. Imagine a savory, smoky filling of browned sausages and baked beans, topped with a fluffy layer of creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes and baked until golden and bubbly. It’s like a cross between shepherd’s pie and your favorite campfire beans, and it’s guaranteed to become a new weeknight legend in your kitchen. Yeehaw, dinner is served!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Comfort Food Supreme: This dish is the edible equivalent of a warm hug; hearty, satisfying, and utterly delicious.
- Easy & Customizable: Use your favorite sausages (pork, beef, or veggie) and baked beans to make it your own.
- Feeds a Crowd: Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or meal prepping for the week ahead.
- Kid Approved Winner: The combination of savory sausage, sweet beans, and cheesy potatoes is a guaranteed hit with picky eaters.
Ingredients for Cowboy Pie
For the Sausage & Bean Filling:
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 8 pork sausages (or beef/vegetarian sausages), cut into 1 inch pieces
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (hot or sweet)
- 2 (15 oz) cans baked beans (like Bush’s Original)
- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
For the Cheesy Mashed Potato Topping:
- 2 pounds potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold), peeled and cubed
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter
- ¼ cup milk
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or green onions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions for Making Cowboy Pie
1Make the Creamy Mashed Potatoes: Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold, salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Drain the potatoes well and return them to the hot pot. Let them sit for 1-2 minutes to evaporate any excess moisture; this is the secret to fluffy mash!
Add the butter and milk, and mash until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside while you make the filling.
2Cook the Savory Filling: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
While the potatoes cook, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 6-8 minutes, until soft and translucent.
Add the sausage pieces to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes, until browned on all sides.
Stir in the minced garlic and smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in both cans of baked beans and the barbecue sauce. Stir well and let the mixture heat through until just beginning to bubble. Remove from heat.
3Assemble and Bake: Transfer the hot sausage and bean mixture to a 9×13 inch (or similar 3 quart) baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
Carefully spoon the mashed potatoes over the filling, spreading them to the edges to seal in the filling. Use a fork to create rustic peaks on the surface; they’ll get extra crispy and golden!
Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the mashed potatoes.
4Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the cheesy potato topping is beautifully golden brown.
Let the pie cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly for cleaner slices.
Garnish with chopped chives or green onions if desired, and dig in!
Cowboy Pie
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 8 pork sausages cut into pieces
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 15 oz cans baked beans
- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 2 pounds potatoes peeled and cubed
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup milk
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Chopped chives for garnish optional
Instructions
- Potatoes: Boil potatoes in salted water until tender (15-20 mins). Drain, return to pot. Mash with butter and milk. Season.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Filling: Heat oil in skillet. Cook onion 6-8 mins until soft. Add sausage; brown for 4-5 mins.
- Add garlic and paprika; cook 1 min. Stir in beans and barbecue sauce. Heat until bubbling. Remove from heat.
- Assemble: Pour filling into a 9x13 baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes over top. Sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake 25-30 mins until golden and bubbling. Garnish with chives. Let rest 5-10 mins before serving.
Notes
- Vegetarian Option: Easily make this vegetarian by using plant based sausages.
- Bean Choice: Use your favorite variety of canned baked beans (original, maple, or vegetarian).
- Make Ahead: Assemble the pie up to a day ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
