Entrees, Features, Recipes

Old South Sausage Pie

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This Old South Sausage Pie is a comforting casserole featuring a hearty pork sausage and kidney bean filling topped with a tender cornbread crust. While it may have a long list of ingredients, it’s quite easy to make even on a weeknight and the combination of flavors makes this dish truly worth it. Inspired by one of my mom’s recipes and a viral TikTok recipe, I came up with this perfect version!

For more delicious casseroles, try my Party Potato Casserole, this family-favorite Cheesy Potato Cabbage Casserole, or my Salsa Breakfast Casserole.

Such a simple casserole – tomato-y pork and kidney bean filling topped with a tender cornbread crust – but I will admit there are a lot of ingredients in this. That’s because there are so many delicious flavors in this hearty dish. The original recipe was one of my mom’s that I enjoyed, but I never liked the biscuit topping she used.  Recently I saw a TikTok video of an appetizer dish that used a delicious cornbread topping, and I immediately thought of this pie.  A few tweaks and it came out perfect! 

a serving of Old South Sausage Pie with cornbread topping on a white plate with a fork on the side.

Why You’ll Love This Sausage Pie

  • Hearty and Satisfying: This casserole is packed with sausage, beans, and vegetables, making it a complete meal packed with protein and fiber.
  • Perfect Cold Weather Food: The warm cornbread crust paired with the flavorful filling is ideal for cold nights or family gatherings during the holiday season.
  • Southern Flavors: The mix of tomato, sausage, and cornbread brings on real Southern-inspired flavors in every bite.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s the list of ingredients, grouped with potential substitutions:

Filling Ingredients

  • Pork sausage – Substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based sausage.
  • Onion & green pepper – You can substitute with shallots or any color of bell pepper.
  • Celery – Substitute with carrots for a slightly sweeter taste.
  • Tomato paste – Use tomato sauce if you cannot find paste but it will make for a less concentrated flavor.
  • Kidney beans – Substitute with your favorite beans like black beans or pinto beans.
  • Water – Can be replaced with vegetable or chicken broth.

Topping Ingredients

  • Yellow cornmeal & flour – For gluten-free, substitute the flour with your favorite gluten-free blend.
  • Sugar & baking powder – Can use honey or maple syrup for sugar; baking powder is essential so don’t skip.
  • Mexicorn canned corn & creamed corn – Substitute canned corn with fresh or frozen corn. I don’t recommend skipping the creamed corn.
  • Chopped green chiles – use jalapeños or omit the chiles if you want less heat.
  • Whipped cream cheese – Regular cream cheese can be used or light cream cheese.
  • Large egg – fresh organic eggs are always the best.

How to Make Old South Sausage Pie

This Old South Sausage Pie combines a savory sausage and kidney bean filling with a golden cornbread topping, creating a flavorful crowd-pleasing casserole that’s perfect for any family dinner. For the full printable recipe, check out the recipe card at the end of this post.

  1. Preheat oven to 425F. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork sausage, onion, green pepper, and celery. Cook until meat is browned and vegetables are tender.
  3. Stir tomato paste into the meat mixture and cook for 5 minutes. Add water and stir until absorbed. Add kidney beans. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Continue to cook for 10 minutes.
  1. Spread the meat mixture into the casserole dish.
  2. In a medium bowl, add all of the topping ingredients. Mix gently until completely combined. Spread evenly over the meat in the casserole dish.
  3. Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the cornbread topping comes out clean. The cornbread will be golden brown.
  4. Remove from oven and let it sit for 10 minutes. Serve warm

Helpful Tips

  • Don’t skip the browning & simmering: Allowing for the meat to brown properly. This will add a lot of flavor to the filling and allow for the filling to simmer a bit as this helps the flavors meld together.
  • Substitute the beans: Feel free to swap out kidney beans for black or pinto beans if that’s what you’re having.
  • Customize the topping: Add a handful of shredded cheddar cheese or maybe even some more diced canned jalapeños to the cornbread mixture for some extra cheesy flavor and some added heat.

Storage Information

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezer: You can also freeze this casserole for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving.

Make Ahead: You could prepare the filling a day ahead and refrigerate it overnight. Then simply add the topping and bake when ready to serve.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve this sausage pie with a fresh green salad, a tossed salad or maybe a side of coleslaw.
  • Roasted veggies pair wonderfully with this hearty dish. For extra Southern flair, serve with some BBQ Green Beans
a half eaten piece of Old South Sausage Pie on a white plate.

Variations

  • Up the veggies: Include some sliced or chopped zucchini, bell pepper or carrots in the filling for more nutrition.
  • Spicy kick: If you like it spicy, add some more chopped jalapeños or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the filling.
  • Get Cheesy: Got some leftover cheese shreds? Mix some shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese into the cornbread topping. You can never have enough cheese, right?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes, simply use gluten-free flour and cornmeal for the topping.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Yes, substitute the sausage with a plant-based alternative, and use vegetable broth instead of meat.

More Southern Recipes To Try

Old South Sausage Pie

Recipe by Pennie Saadallah
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Calories

357

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

This Old South Sausage Pie is a comforting casserole featuring a hearty pork and kidney bean filling topped with a tender cornbread crust.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

  • Filling
  • 1 pound pork sausage

  • 1/4 cup onion, chopped

  • 1/4 cup green pepper chopped

  • 1 cup celery, chopped

  • 6 ounces tomato paste

  • 15 ounces kidney beans, drained

  • 3/4 cup water

  • Topping
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

  • 1/2 cup flour

  • 1 tbsp sugar

  • 1 tbsp baking powder

  • 1 cup Mexicorn canned corn

  • 1 cup creamed corn

  • 3 ounces chopped green chiles

  • 8 ounces whipped cream cheese

  • 1 large egg, slightly beaten

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 425F. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork sausage, onion, green pepper and celery. Cook until meat is browned and vegetables are tender.
  • Stir tomato paste into meat mixture and cook for 5 minutes. Add water and stir until absorbed. Add kidney beans. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Continue to cook for 10 minutes.
  • Spread meat mixture into the casserole dish.
  • In a medium bowl, add all of the topping ingredients. Mix gently until completely combined. Spread evenly over meat in casserole dish.
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into cornbread topping comes out clean. Cornbread will be golden brown.
  • Remove from oven and let it sit for 10 minutes. Serve warm

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