Camper’s Casserole–a slow cooker (or dutch oven) dish loaded with sausage, beans, and peppers simmered in a tangy barbecue and tomato sauce. It’s perfect for pairing with garlic bread.
Camper’s Casserole
This easy sausage and beans meal is hearty and delicious! The original recipe was made in a dutch oven over hot coals (see the camping version of the recipe below the recipe card). My version today is made in the slow cooker and is ultra satisfying. The sausage flavors everything nicely. Even my non-bean-loving-husband loved this meal!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Olive oil–or canola, vegetable
- Beef smoked sausage
- Onion–yellow, white
- Green pepper
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Diced tomatoes–or crushed tomatoes
- Ranch style beans–or chili beans
- Barbecue sauce
- Quick cooking tapioca–I use the Kraft brand. This is used as a thickener and is optional.
Steps
Heat a pan over medium high heat add in the oil and swirl around (I do this step right in my slow cooker because it has a “stovetop” setting). Add in the sausage, onion and green pepper. Saute for 5 minutes.
Stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, tomatoes, ranch style beans, barbecue sauce and tapioca.
Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours. Stir and serve with garlic bread.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with garlic bread or cornbread muffins.
- This recipe can be gluten free if you use gluten-free ranch style beans and barbecue sauce.
- Double for a crowd. This scales easily and holds well on warm in a slow cooker, making it ideal for potlucks or camping groups.
- Ranch style beans are canned pinto beans simmered in a mildly spicy chili and tomato sauce, commonly found in the canned bean aisle at most grocery stores.
- I used my 6 quart slow cooker. I use a Ninja slow cooker that has a stovetop (saute) setting which makes it perfect for recipes like this one.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with green bell peppers are Love Your Neighbor Casserole and Instant Pot Southwestern Spaghetti.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Camper’s Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
A slow cooker (or dutch oven) dish loaded with sausage, beans, and peppers simmered in a tangy barbecue and tomato sauce. It’s perfect for pairing with garlic bread.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 (12 oz) package beef smoked sausage
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced green pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (15 oz) can ranch style beans
- 1 Tbsp barbecue sauce
- 1 Tbsp quick cooking tapioca (optional)
Instructions
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat add in the oil and swirl around (I do this step right in my slow cooker because it has a “stovetop” setting). Add in the sausage, onion and green pepper. Saute for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, tomatoes, ranch style beans, barbecue sauce and tapioca.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 3-4 hours.
- Stir and serve with garlic bread.
Dutch Oven Instructions:
- Heat a dutch oven over medium high heat add in the oil and swirl around. Add in the sausage, onion and green pepper. Saute for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, tomatoes, ranch style beans, barbecue sauce and tapioca.
- Cover and bake in the oven at 250° F for 1 ½ hours.
- Stir and serve with garlic bread.
- Category: Sausage
- Method: Slow Cooker or Dutch Oven
To make a campfire-friendly version of Camper’s Casserole, follow these adaptations:
Equipment: Large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven with a lid, long-handled spoon, heat-resistant gloves, and a campfire grate or hot coals.
Instructions:
Preheat your fire and let it burn down to hot coals or place a grate over medium flames. Add 1–2 Tbsp oil to a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. Sauté sausage, onion, and green pepper over the fire, stirring often for about 5 minutes. Stir in spices (chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika) and cook 30 seconds. Add in diced tomatoes, ranch-style beans (or chili beans), barbecue sauce and tapioca. Cover and let simmer over coals or low flames for about 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Serve hot with campfire garlic bread, tortillas, or cornbread cooked in foil.
More smoked sausage recipes…
Instant Pot Smoked Sausage with Parmesan and Orzo
Smoked sausage, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, orzo and parmesan cheese cooked quickly in your pressure cooker. This meal is loaded with flavor and is a dump and go one pot meal.
Instant Pot Smoked Sausage, Green Beans and Potatoes
The easiest meal with the most amazing results. Smoked sausage, fresh green beans, cubed potatoes and a couple of seasonings are cooked together quickly in your electric pressure cooker for an easy one pot, dump and press start meal.
Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage and Cabbage
An easy all in one pot meal of smoked sausage, potatoes, onion and cabbage. Dump everything into the crock and walk away!
Instant Pot Smoked Sausage Country Boil
A one pot meal with tender red potatoes, sweet corn, fresh green beans and smoked sausage. A perfect summer meal with tons of flavor.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
If your going to be cooking the beans for that long then use dried beans instead of canned beans, because by the time your finished cooking. The beans are going to be overcooked, and that is never good.
Hi David, since I used the slow cooker on low my beans were not overcooked.