White Beans and Sausage Skillet

ByJennifer Osterholt UpdatedApril 23, 2026

This post contains affiliate links.

Simple ingredients of white beans, kale and red onions mix together with flavorful Smoked Sausage to make a one skillet dinner that turns out great every time!

Close up bowl of browned slices of smoked sausage and white beans in a flavorful broth with bits of kale and red onion cooked in.

This post is sponsored by Utah Pork, but all opinions are my own!

White Bean and Smoked Sausage Skillet Recipe

Meat, vegetables, and beans come together with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top to add a subtle Tuscan-style touch. Adjust the amount of garlic or season with your favorite spices to make this easy Smoked Sausage skillet recipe your own.

With canned white beans, a bag of chopped kale, and pre-cooked smoked sausage, all you need to do is sauté the onions until tender, then let everything simmer for a few minutes so the seasonings infuse the broth and beans with flavor.

Close up view of tender navy beans cooked in a little broth with kale and sausage in a black pan.

Just like our Sausage, Potato and Broccoli Skillet and Kielbasa and Rice recipe we love how simple ingredients make a great meal.

Why I Love this Recipe

A balanced mix of protein and fiber makes this meal filling, satisfying, and a great value.
Delivers bold, restaurant worthy flavor while coming together quickly and easily at home.
This smoked sausage is a versatile recipe that easily turns into a cozy soup, just add 4 extra cups of broth.
Navy beans, Kielbasa and kale all reheat well. I always add a fresh sprinkle of cheese when reheating.

Bowl of sausage, kale and white bean recipe with a sprinkling of Parmesan and a spoon ready to scoop up a serving next to the skillet full.

Ingredients Needed:

Smoked Sausage – can easily substitute Kielbasa, Andouille or Italian sausage to change the flavor profile.
White Beans – Cannellini and navy have a slight different shape, but are interchangeable. Canned and jarred white beans are both already cooked and just need warmed through. White beans in a jar are typically a bit firmer and hold their shape better.
Kale – 5 ounces of Kale is roughly equal to 4 cups pressed or 5 cups loose when measured. We tested using a bag of chopped kale versus using a fresh bunch that we stripped and chopped in our kitchen – no one was able to distinguish the difference in flavor or texture.
Red Onion – is the most eye appealing, but yellow, white and sweet also work fine.
Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated or shredded are our favorite.
Chicken Broth – we use a little for a skillet meal
Oil – to brown the sausage and saute the onion.
Seasonings – mined garlic, salt and pepper.

Ingredients to make a white bean and sausage skillet meal are navy beans, chopped kale, red onion, grated Parmesan cheese, Kielbasa sausage, vegetable oil, chicken broth, minced garlic, salt and pepper on a wooden counter top.

Easy Recipe Instructions

Slice precooked sausage into coins. Heat oil in a skillet and brown the coins on each side. Set aside.

If using Italian sausage cook fully and set aside.

We use a food chopper to chop the red onion evenly. There should be some oil remaining in the skillet. Turn to medium heat, add onion and garlic. Cook until translucent.

Brown slices of smoked sausage in a non-stick skillet with hot oil.

Minced garlic added to chopped red onion in a skillet.

Add broth. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until simmering.

The recipe is almost finished.

Red onion cooked until tender and infused with garlic flavor in a skillet.

Onion simmering in broth and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Add chopped kale, cover and cook for about 3 minutes.

Drain beans, add to the skillet and cook for an additional 3 minutes.

Chopped kale cooking in a frying pan with onions and broth for 3 minutes.

Browned slices of sausage added to white beans and kale in an easy skillet meal.

Once the kale is tender and beans are heated through add the Smoked Sausage back to the skillet and stir gently.

Side view of a twenty minute skillet meal with tender red onions nestled in a flavorful mixture of white beans, sausage and kale resting on a yellow and white napkin.

Once all ingredients are warm sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Jennifer’s Recipe Tips and Tricks

Gently stirring the beans keeps a round shape. Aggressively stirring, cooking longer or mashing with a firm spoon will thicken the mixture as the beans become more of a paste.
A bag of white beans soaked in water over night will still take 45 minutes to cook on the stove, thus they work better in a Ham and Bean Soup or by adding more broth to this recipe to make a soup.
We tested browning the beans in the skillet with a little oil. It takes more time and we did not notice a difference in flavor.

Overhead view of Parmesan cheese sprinkled on an easy smoked sausage and beans skillet meal on a yellow and white napkin.

More Easy Recipes with Smoked Sausage and Kielbasa

Categories:

Kielbasa, Main Dish, Recipes,

Jennifer Osterholt

I share how to make life easier while raising a busy family! From delicious desserts to easy dinners and simple breakfast recipes. I’m here to make your time in the kitchen more efficient while building confidence!