Finger Lakes Casserole–a potluck favorite with two kinds of beans, bacon and sausage. Make it in your slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Finger Lakes Casserole
This bean casserole is a perfect potluck dish for your summer picnics and gatherings. Unlike a lot of bean casseroles it is not sweet. Instead I opted for a savory sausage and bacon bean casserole. It does have a tiny bit of sweetness from the ketchup but nothing over the top.
I made this in the slow cooker but you can also make this in your Instant Pot using the slow cook setting. I love cooking in my Instant Pot when I have to travel with the food. The Instant Pot lid locks in place and it makes it so easy to travel with. Sometimes the slow cooker is a little less cooperative in the back of my car.
Recipe adapted from Home in the Finger Lakes.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Jimmy Dean sausage–or another brand you like
- Onion–yellow, white
- Bell pepper–green, red
- Bacon crumbles
- Pinto beans–or a can of baked beans
- Kidney beans
- Heinz ketchup
- Apple cider vinegar–or red wine vinegar
- Yellow mustard–or dijon, spicy brown
- Tomato sauce
Steps
Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions and peppers. Brown sausage for about 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Stir in the bacon, pinto beans, kidney beans, ketchup, vinegar, mustard and tomato sauce.
Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours. Stir. Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve as a side dish to a potluck meal. You can also make this as the main dish and serve alongside cornbread and greens.
- I used my 6 quart ninja slow cooker. I like this slow cooker because it has a stovetop function so I did the first step of browning the sausage inside the slow cooker. It helps so you don’t have so many dishes to do. You can also make this in an Instant Pot.
- You can use lima, butter, Cannellini, pinto, great northern, navy beans, black beans. Use any beans you have on hand…it doesn’t really matter much.
- Try adding in a cup of corn with this casserole.
- This recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with yellow mustard are Napoleon Dynamite Casserole and Instant Pot Sober Potato Salad.
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.
Finger Lakes Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Jimmy Dean sausage
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1/4 cup bacon crumbles
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup Heinz ketchup
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions and peppers. Brown sausage for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the bacon, pinto beans, kidney beans, ketchup, vinegar, mustard and tomato sauce.
- Cover Instant Pot. Set Instant Pot to the Slow Cooker setting on “more”. Cook for 1-2 hours.
- Stir. Serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions and peppers. Brown sausage for about 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the bacon, pinto beans, kidney beans, ketchup, vinegar, mustard and tomato sauce.
- Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours.
- Stir. Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Side
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
More Recipes with Beans…
Dallas Cowboys Soup
A flavorful navy bean, bacon and ham soup made in your Instant Pot or Crockpot.
Gina’s Casserole
A fun and delicious slow cooker recipe with meatballs, andouille sausage, corn, beans and melty cheddar on top.
Western Missouri Casserole
Well seasoned ground beef with beans, corn and salsa topped with a cheesy cornbread topping.
Michigan Casserole
Beans and smoked sausage in a sweet and savory sauce made in the Instant Pot, on the stove or in a slow cooker.
*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.
I made the Finger Lakes casserole but I added an extra ingredient – frozen cauliflower rice. It was absolutely delicious!!! 3 thumbs up…
GREAT idea! I love that, Rick! 🙂
I like this for a quick change of pace. it doesn’t make a massive amount, so I can have it for two or three meals & freeze some for another time. It reminds me of chili, but quicker. I added about 1/4 cup of molasses to it before I cooked it in the crockpot. It gave it just a little extra flavor, but it’s not necessary if you don’t like that flavor. I also added some hot sauce to my serving just cuz I like it spicier. I’d like to try it using hot Italian sausage for something a bit different.
Good ideas Sue! Thanks for the 5 stars 🙂
I wish I’d doubled this one, we’re gonna be fighting over the left overs again! Ha! Was so very good. I was so glad it was NOT sweet like some baked bean recipes are. Since hubster loves meat I put the whole lb of sausage in. Only had dill mustard and some green bell pepper in the freezer so that’s what I used. Also used Pinto & Great Northern beans. Served with garlic bread. A real winner & he told me “don’t you dare lose this recipe, I want to take it camping!” ;-}
ha! I love that Kim. It’s a good one for camping and like you said you can make it your own with what you have on hand!