Homemade beanies and weenies from scratch with dry beans or with canned baked beans on stove top is here. 3 ways to make this including our Instant Pot beans and franks and homemade in a Crockpot! Fun easy hot dog meal.
Also known as beanie weenies is a classic dish that holds a special place in many households. With its simple yet satisfying combination of flavors, it’s no wonder why this family favorite has stood the test of time. Make with Great Northern beans, navy or white kidney! (affiliate links present)
in Crockpot
We will show you how to make a delicious batch of homemade Crockpot baked beans with dry beans and wieners infusing the dish with the rich flavors of brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and more. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to embark on this journey that will delight your taste buds and warm your heart.
with canned beans
If you want to use canned baked beans to make things easier and quicker you certainly can, I’ll explain using dry beans below too! There are several ways to doctor those up to transform them into something totally new with a bit more savory flavors to them. You will need;
Ingredient Notes
- 2 cans of beans or pork and beans works in a can works just as well
- 1 package of sliced hot dogs, about 8 whole will do it, or add more flavor with our hot dog burnt ends
- Ketchup or BBQ sauce for bold flavors, any type you prefer
- Brown sugar if you want sweet a kick to it
- Worcestershire sauce will give it a deep enhanced flavor to the sauce
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder or onion powder can be used too
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil or avocado oil is a substitute
Substitutions
Let’s talk about a few alternatives that can seamlessly replace them perfectly in your recipe, ensuring that your dishes maintain their delicious flavors and textures. One of the closest substitutes is Northern beans or white kidney beans have the same flavors and textures.
Navy beans are commonly used in baked bean recipes, franks and beans, and work well in slow cooker recipes like stews.
Optional: Sliced onions, diced bacon for extra flavor and texture and/or red pepper flakes or jalapeno powder for a bit of spicy. You can adjust the taste with more or less brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, or even some barbecue sauce.
Can you make beanies and weenies with frozen hot dogs?
This is how to cook frozen hot dogs if that is all you have on hand. They would need to be thawed at least enough to slice into bite size pieces ideally. That way the flavors can really soak in.
Now I like a bit of texture on my weenies so the outsides are a bit browned and have a bit of crisp on the outside before I submerge into the super soft rest of the meal. You could boil hot dogs until plump if you don’t care about that, and just slice when done.
in pressure cooker
If you wanted to use your pressure cooker, our NO soak Instant Pot baked beans is fabulous. Add slices of dogs that have been sauteed at the end and enjoy.
Tips
We share a cheat sheet on How Long Do Beans Take to Cook here. I would suggest using navy or northern beans since those are easy to find and most common. This style takes longer of course and you will need to start the process the night before since soaking dry beans is very important for the best success in your Crock pot or on the stovetop.
How to quick soak dry beans
You can speed up the process with quick soaking dry beans too if you bring to a boil by using a large saucepan or dutch oven on the stove over medium high heat. Rinse and add bag of beans with 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 8 cups water.
Bring this to a boil and then turn the heat off, cover the pot and let it sit for 1 hour, then proceed as though they had soaked all night! What we do with white or How to Cook Kidney Beans and everything in between.
Beanie and Weenies
Equipment
- 1 dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 4-6 hot dogs, sliced
- 2 cans Northern beans, not drained, 15 oz each
- 1/4 c ketchup, or bbq sauce
- 3 tbsp molasses
- 1 tsp salt
- 3-4 tbsp brown sugar, depending on how sweet you want, start with 3 tbsp
- 1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, only if you want some heat
Instructions
- Beans and weenies with canned beans – In your pot add your olive oil , diced bacon and diced onions. Saute until bacon is beginning to crisp but not crispy. Then add sliced hot dogs and lightly brown on the outsides too. Then pour in your cans of beans, seasonings, sauces and stir together. Set to low heat and cover for about 30 minutes so flavors meld together. Stir every 10 minutes so bottom doesn't burn and sugar can dissolve. Then serve.
- In a slow cooker you would saute oil, onions, bacon and hot dogs as stated in a pan and dump this into your pot with other ingredients. Stir together, cover and put on low for 3-4 hours stirring halfway if possible and serve when ready.
- Beans and weenies with dry beans – Rinse bag of dry Norhtern beans and soak in 6 cups of water for 12 hours. This is a must! Drain water from beans in bowl. Cook 6 slices of diced bacon on stovetop so fat renders down and it is somewhat crispy, add this into your crockpot on the bottom after draining oil out of pan. Pour soaked beans on top in an even layer, then sprinkle diced onions on top of beans. In a bowl whisk together 3 cups of water, 6 oz. tomato paste, 1/2 c brown sugar, and 1/2 c. molasses until smooth. Pour this in do not stir. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours stirring halfway thru until beans are as tender as you'd like. Check at 6 hours for tenderness.
- You can follow these same steps on the stove with dry beans over low heat after sauteeing bacon and onions together with a bit of oil. Cover and this will take closer to 2 hours stirring every 20 minutes or so until they are as tender as you'd like. Much more time consuming as you don't want sauce to start to burn in pot over the flames.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Side Dishes and Serving Suggestions; These are a fantastic standalone dish, but they also pair wonderfully with various side dishes. Here are a few ideas to complement your meal:
What do you serve with wieners and beans?
- The slightly sweet and crumbly texture of cornbread is the perfect accompaniment to the rich flavors of beans and weenies.
- A refreshing coleslaw provides a satisfying crunch and a touch of acidity that balances the dish’s richness.
- A light salad with a tangy vinaigrette adds a burst of freshness to your plate.
Below in this recipe card we will explain how to make this fun meal quickly or from scratch if you have the time homemade is always best for sure!
