Spicy Sausage and Butter Bean Stew

26 July 2026

Spicy Sausage and Butter Bean Stew

This stew is proof that sausages are not just for bangers and mash. By slicing them into a rich tomato and butter bean sauce, you get a Spanish-style stew that feels like a proper dinner rather than a budget compromise. The smoked paprika does the heavy lifting here – it adds a depth of flavour that makes the whole dish taste far more expensive than it actually is.

Total cost: £3.60 (£0.90 per portion) – Serves 4 people. Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 35 mins

Spicy Sausage and Butter Bean Stew

Smoky, spicy and deeply comforting, this stew pairs budget sausages with butter beans in a rich tomato sauce. Costs under £1 per portion and freezes brilliantly.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course, Stew
Cuisine: british, Spanish

Ingredients
  

  • 6 budget pork sausages (approx 350g)
  • 1 tin (400g) butter beans, drained
  • 1 tin (400g) chopped tomatoes
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 200ml hot water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large casserole dish over medium heat. Add the sausages and brown on all sides for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
  2. Add the sliced red onion to the same pan and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in the garlic, smoked paprika and chilli flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and hot water. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
  5. Return the sausages to the pan along with the drained butter beans. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes until the sauce is thick and the sausages are cooked through.
  6. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls with crusty bread or over rice.

Tips and Variations

Use chorizo-style sausages if you can find them on offer for an even richer flavour. This stew freezes perfectly – make a double batch and save half for a no-effort dinner next week. Serve with rice to stretch it further or with bread to soak up every drop of sauce.

Is it cheaper to make this from scratch? Use our Cook vs Buy Calculator to compare the real cost of homemade vs shop-bought.

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