Nothing will take you back to childhood faster than whipping up a batch of Easy Skillet Beanie Weenies; it's like tasting memories.
If you're old enough to remember TV dinners on flimsy metal stand-trays with a remote that was actually attached to your television, then you'll remember this dish. And if you're not, you're in for a tasty treat.
Need more nostalgic recipes? Or want elevated school lunch recipes? Try our Ground Beef Stew or giant Snickerdoodle Cookie.
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Ahh Beanie Weenies are one of those great recipes straight out of childhood; something the whole family will love.
Plus they're as easy to make as pouring a bowl of cereal or a making PB&J.
What are Beanie Weenies?
Well, the name is pretty easy to deduce, beans and weenies, aka hot dogs, aka frankfurters.
They were originally known as franks and beans but someone, somewhere along the way, got cutesy with the name and beanie weenies was coined.
What type of beans are used in frank and beans?
There are as many version of this dish as there are ways to make macaroni and cheese. Classical speaking, beanie weenies are made with baked beans.
However, a simple can of pork and beans in tomato sauce will work too. Navy beans are most often used in making canned beans
You can use homemade baked beans like my skillet baked beans or a canned/pre-made baked beans. Bush's baked beans is popular brand of canned baked beans. (Their brown sugar baked beans are pretty tasty.)
Add some sliced hot dogs and game on.
Recipe Ingredients
- Hot dogs — we used our favorite brand of hot dogs, so use your favorite.
- Baked beans — we went with our homemade baked beans, which had the extra deliciousness of having bacon and diced onions.
How to make homemade beanie weenies
Step 1 — Heat the large skillet (at least 10-inches) over medium high heat. Slice a package of your favorite hot dogs and sear them in the hot skillet for just a minute or two. Just enough get a a little color. They can render some serious fat, so drain that off.
Step 2 — Reduce to medium heat and gently stir in the baked beans. (I used my leftover baked beans which are cooked with strips of bacon atop. I chopped up the bacon and mixed it right in to this dish, but it's not required.)
Step 3 — Heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally, about 2-4 minutes.
Step 4 — If you're feeling fancy, garnish with some chopped parsley, then serve hot and enjoy.
Tips and adaptations for making skillet beanie weenies.
There's literally countless ways for making what's probably the-easiest-recipe-that-really-shouldn't-be-a-recipe-recipe. It's a delicious, versatile recipe that kids love.
Here's a few tips, tricks, and adaptations for making this retro comfort food.
- Homemade baked beans may be a bit drier than you like, especially once reheating. To thin, add some ketchup, tomato sauce, tomato juice, tomato water, chicken broth, or water. For a little extra sweetness you can add a little apple or pineapple juice.
- Canned pork and beans like VanCamps can be used without doctoring. Just as tasty, and is probably closer to the childhood taste.
- Canned baked beans are generally thinner than homemade, so draining some of the liquid may be necessary, but that depends on your personal taste preferences.
- Swap out the hot dogs for smoked sausage or use little smokies for bolder flavor.
Add-in ideas
Tossing a few other ingredients is pretty common. But tossing in too many things makes it a completely different recipe.
For example, adding in a little diced onion is still beanie weenies. But swapping out the hot dogs for ground beef, adding onions and bell peppers, well that becomes cowboy beans.
Here's a few common mix-ins for this skillet meal:
- Brown sugar
- Add ketchup, bbq sauce, Dijon or yellow mustard.
- Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce to deepen the flavor
- Onions and garlic or onion powder and garlic powder
- Salt, pepper and even a pinch of cayenne pepper for some additional heat.
That's really it. Beanie Weenies really is a humble and simple recipe making for a classic favorite meal.
Our favorite tools to make Easy Skillet Beanie Weenies!
Lodge 10.25" Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet
Buy Now →BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning
Buy Now →Other Side Dish Recipes
If you tried these Easy Skillet Beanie Weenies or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Get the Recipe
Easy Skillet Beanie Weenies
Equipment
- 10-inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 8 hot dogs sliced (see notes)
- 6 cups baked beans (~48 oz of canned beans)
Instructions
- Heat the large skillet (at least 10-inches) over medium high heat.
- Slice the hot dogs and sear them in the hot skillet for just a minute or two, drain any renderings.
- Reduce to medium heat and gently stir in the baked beans.
- Heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally, about 2-4 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Brown sugar
- Add ketchup, bbq sauce, Dijon or yellow mustard.
- Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce to deepen the flavor
- Onions and garlic or onion powder and garlic powder
- Salt, pepper and even a pinch of cayenne for some additional heat.
Nutrition
Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Lauren
This recipe took me back to my childhood. My dad didn't cook much but could make a mean "hot dogs and beans." This was a happy, comfort meal for me!
dana
Such a great recipe! So nostalgic, but this is a totally elevated version from what I grew up on lol.
Michaela
These beanie weenies look and sound better than any I've ever had. I can't wait to make this recipe for my family. Yummy!
Dina and Bruce
Loved this growing up. Haven't had it for years! Making this this week! Yum!
Andrea
These skillet beanie weenies look and sound amazing. They remind me of the ones I had at my Aunts when I was a child. I can't wait to make them for my family.
Nathan
I've never heard this recipe referred to as beanie weenies before, how cute! Just reading this post has me craving this, the ingredients are all going on my shopping list immediately!
Elisa
Love this Easy Skillet Beanie Weenies recipe, so easy and so flavorful. Will make it soon for dinner. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Donalyn
This is a really fun recipe - any family would enjoy it for a weeknight meal!
Beth
This is the best recipe ever! When I was a kid, I lived on hot dogs and pork and beans. This is the grownup version of that, and I am absolutely in love. It's so good.
Sky
Made this for dinner last night and it was a huge hit! Thanks for sharing!
TAYLER ROSS
This recipe brought me back to my childhood! So nostalgic, and not to mention delicious!
Kathleen
What a quick, simple and hearty meal. I really like that you paired it with a salad and cornbread. Think I'll be serving it that way too.
Dina and Bruce
Okay, this meal was so quick and tasty!! Yum!