Vegan Cowboy Pie or Baked Bean, Sausage, and Cheesy Potato Pie is adapted from the classic cowboy pie and features barbecue flavoured baked beans mixed with meat-free sausages and topped with a cheesy mashed potato topping. This pie is a quick and easy fuss-free easy meat-free midweek meal.
Other names for this Cowboy Pie, which is kind of like a pie crossed with a hotpot, are Cheesy Baked Bean Pie, Sausage and Bean Pie, Veggie Sausage and Bean Pie, Cowboy Casserole, Cowboy Hotpot, and Cowboy Bean Pie!
Jump to:
Origins of cowboy pie
Cowboy pie, is a hearty fun family meal that usually consists of sausages, baked beans in a barbecue sauce, and a mashed potato topping. While there isn't an exact origin for cowboy pie, it can be traced back to traditional Western and Southwestern cooking in the United States. In modern times, it's quite a popular family favourite meal.
Chuckwagon cooking
Cowboy Pie was inspired from cowboy or chuckwagon cooking, which originated in the late 19th century during the era of cattle drives in the American West. Cowboys on long journeys would often cook meals over an open fire. The combination of sausages, beans, and potatoes in a cowboy pie reflects the ingredients commonly found in the chuckwagon pantries.
Chuckwagons were typically wooden wagons that were equipped with various compartments and storage areas for food, cooking utensils, and other supplies.
The chuckwagon was an important part of cowboy culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the American West. It was a mobile kitchen on wheels that accompanied cattle drives and provided meals for the cowboys. The chuckwagon got its name from the term "chuck," which was a slang word used to refer to food.
The food prepared on chuckwagons was typically simple and hearty, as cowboys had limited resources available during cattle drives. Common ingredients included beans, salted or cured meats (such as bacon or salt pork), flour, cornmeal, coffee, and dried fruits. Fresh ingredients were scarce and often not feasible to carry for long distances.
The cook, often referred to as the "cookie," would be responsible for preparing meals for the cowboys and they would wake up early to start the fire and get breakfast going. Dutch ovens and cast-iron pots with a flat bottom and a lid, were commonly used for cooking on the chuckwagon as they could be placed directly over the fire.
Meals prepared on the chuckwagon would typically include dishes like beans (such as baked beans or frijoles), stews, biscuits, cornbread, with plenty of coffee to drink.
The chuckwagon has become an iconic symbol of cowboy culture and is often associated with the romanticized image of the American West. Today, chuckwagon-style cooking and chuckwagon competitions are still celebrated at events and festivals as a means of preserving this historical tradition. Also, many vegan adaptations of chuckwagon style meals are becoming increasingly popular.
If interested we do have a vegan chuckwagon stew recipe that is one of our family favourites especially enjoyed with our home-made old-fashioned cornbread muffins.
Old school pies and wartime pies
Cowboy Pie is similar to the British old-school classic Cheesy Baked Bean Pie that had its hey day during the 70s and 80s, as well as this Lentil and Bean Mashed Potato Pie which was a popular British wartime meal during the 1940s. Pies made with mashed potato and a few simple staples, such as sausages and cans of baked beans, are frugal and easy, so they are always popular during lean times.
Preparing this vegan cowboy pie, or another name that was provided by my daughter is Jazzy Bean Pie!, couldn't be easier. There are a few steps to carry out before assembling the pie but these are pretty simple.
Ingredients
The ingredients required for the mashed potatoes are: potatoes, plant-based milk, vegan margarine [or replace with hummus or white miso paste], vegan cheese or nutritional yeast flakes, and for the filling: vegan sausages, cans of baked beans, onions, garlic, BBQ seasoning, paprika, red wine vinegar, vegetable broth or oil, and a little sugar.
How to prepare
This cowboy pie can be assembled in advance and stored within the refrigerator for a day or so. When required bake until everything is bubbling and the mashed potato topping is melted, crisp, and with golden bits.
Step 1: Cook the vegan sausages according to the packet instructions.
Step 2: Meanwhile cook the onions and garlic in either vegetable broth or a little oil.
Step 3: Stir the BBQ seasoning through the onions and cook for a further few minutes.
Step 4: Add the canned baked beans to the onions and give it all a good mix.
Step 5: Pour the bean mixture into a casserole dish.
Step 6: Slice the cooked sausages in half and stir these through the beans.
Step 7: Prepare the mashed potatoes by boiling until soft, draining, and then adding vegan margarine or butter and plant-based milk, and mashing until creamy.
Step 8:Alternatively the margarine can be replaced with hummus or a tablespoon of white miso paste.
Step 9: Spread the mashed potatoes over the sausages and beans.
Step 10: Bake for 30 minutes, before removing from the oven and adding a sprinkle of grated vegan cheese, and then bake for a further 10-15 minutes until the cheese has melted and the pie is crispy and tinged with brown bits.
Step 11: Alternatively replace the cheese with nutritional yeast flakes.
Enjoy with sides of vegetables, salad, bread, pickles, etc., or just serve the pie on its own.
Recipe Notes
Storing
Leftover cowboy pie can be kept, covered, in the fridge for 3 days. Or freeze for 2-3 months.
Reheating
Leftover pie can be reheated at the cooking temperature. Add a layer of kitchen foil over the pie to prevent the pie over browning and heat for 25-30 minutes or until the pie is piping hot throughout. For faster reheating allow the pie to come to room temperature before reheating. This is especially important if the pie and casserole dish have been frozen, as if the dish is too cold it may crack during the reheating process.
This cowboy pie can be easily prepared as gluten-free. The main considerations are to ensure that your vegan sausages, baked beans, vegan margarine, vegetable stock, and any seasoning blends are free from gluten ingredients.
A few suggestions:
* Instead of mashed white potato prepare a sweet potato or turnip (swede/rutabaga), parsnip, carrot or celeriac mash. A mix of mashed veggies is tasty especially with some white potato also included. Try this classic British Champ which is a mashed potato, mashed turnip, and cabbage mix.
* Any variety of beans in a sauce can be used such as mixed beans in tomato sauce and canned beans in a chilli or curry sauce.
* Instead of BBQ powdered seasoning use BBQ sauce or paste
* Replace the BBQ flavour altogether with different spices such as chilli powder, cumin, paprika, taco seasoning, curry powder, etc.
* Or simply omit the seasoning and just have the beans in the tomato sauce for a cheesy bean pie.
* Grated vegan cheese can be replaced with nutritional yeast flakes or omitted.
* Instead of a grated vegan cheese or nutritional yeast topping, your favourite seasoning can be sprinkled over the potato's before baking. Such as a garlic and onion mix or a lemon pepper seasoning mix.
* The fresh onion and garlic can be replaced with fried onion powder and dried garlic powder or granules, go for 1-2 teaspoons of each.
* For the mashed potatoes the plant-based milk can be replaced with the potato cooking liquid, or use half cooking liquid and half plant-based milk.
* Instead of using vegan margarine or butter use a few tablespoons of hummus or a tablespoon of white miso paste, or a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast flakes.
Cowboy pie is a filling complete meal on its own but for extra hungry eaters offer one or a few of the following ideas:
* vegan garlic bread or crusty bread
* 3 ingredient quick dinner rolls
* Slow cooker cornbread
* Boston brown bread
* crispy green salad
* peas and sweetcorn
* corn-on-the-cobs, baby corn
* home-made Traditional British Mushy Peas
* mangetout, green beans, field beans, yard beans, asparagus
* steamed or roast veggies
* vegan coleslaw
* pickled onions, beetroot, cabbage, etc
Here are a few ideas:
* Cheesy bean sausage pasties: Use the cowboy pie as a pastry filling, simply chop the sausages into smaller pieces, mix everything together including the mashed potato, and use puff pastry to create. Bake until the pastry is puffed up, crisp and golden.
* Use the mixed together filling to stuff tortilla wraps, fold the tortilla wrap up, and pan fry or heat each side on a panini hot-plate until the outside is tinged with golden and crisp. Enjoy with some salsa, of ketchup.
* Cheesy bean toasted sandwich: mix the cowboy pie together, chop the sausages smaller, and use the filling along with extra vegan cheese, and perhaps spread the bread with tomato ketchup, and toast the sandwich until brown and crisp.
Yes, cowboy pie can be easily prepped in advance for an even quicker meal. Here are a few ideas:
* Prepare the mashed potato in advance, and store in the fridge for up to 1-2 days.
* Use a couple of packets of vegan-friendly instant mashed potatoes.
* Cook the meat-free sausages in advance and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
* Prepare the bean and BBQ mix in advance and store in the fridge for up to 1-2 days.
Do keep in mind that if any ingredients are prepped a few days in advance that any leftovers will have a shorter shelf-life so if leftovers are not consumed within a day, consider freezing them.
More traditional American recipes - made vegan
A slice of our Boston Brown Bread which is easily prepared in a slow cooker or crock-pot or one of these tasty Old Fashioned Cornbread Muffins are great sides for Vegan Cowboy Pie.
Also if you can't find canned baked beans in tomato sauce, for the cowboy pie recipe, then you can easily prepare a batch a home with this simple recipe for classic British Baked Beans or go for these Quick Boston Baked Beans which would give your pie a different flavour but it will still be very tasty.
Finally, for another another traditional American family meal idea try this One-Pot American Goulash which is budget-friendly, really easy and a crowd pleaser! For more vegan dinner ideas check out our collection of Vegan Dinner Recipes.
***please note: for US measurements click the 'US customary button' within the recipe and the measurements will switch to tablespoons, cups, and ounces.***
📖 Recipe
Vegan Cowboy Pie
Equipment
- skillet/ sauté pan/ deep frying pan, for preparing filling
- large baking dish/casserole pan, for baking pie
- medium saucepan, for preparing mashed potatoes
- potato masher
- mixing spoon
Ingredients
For sautéing:
- 250 millilitres vegetable stock [or 1-2 tablespoons of oil]
For the filling:
- 8 meat-free sausages [about 2 sausages per person precooked according to package instructions]
- 4 cans baked beans [4 x 400 gram/14 oz cans]
- 2 medium onions [rough chopped]
- 4 cloves garlic [thin sliced or minced, use more if liked]
- 2 tablespoons BBQ seasoning mix [add more or less to taste, or use BBQ sauce, or omit]
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar [or balsamic vinegar]
Mashed potato topping:
- 900 grams potatoes [sliced into even-sized chunks]
- 2 tablespoons margarine [alternatively use 2 tablespoons of hummus or 1 tablespoon of white miso paste if your diet omits margarine]
- 6 tablespoons plant-based milk [potato cooking liquid or vegetable stock can be used instead. Use more milk or stock to achieve desired texture.]
Optional topping:
- 90 grams vegan cheese [grated, alternatively replace with 6 tablespoons of nutritional yeast flakes]
Instructions
Pre cook your sausages according to the packet instructions.
- Preheat oven to 180 Fan/ 200 Celsius/ 392 Fahrenheit/ Gas 6.
Prepare the mashed potatoes:
- Boil the potatoes in water until soft, about 10-15 minutes, depending on size.Once soft drain the potatoes but reserve some of the cooking liquid.900 grams potatoes
- Mash the potatoes with margarine and plant-based milk, Add extra tablespoons of potato liquid until the mash is the preferred texture.Season with salt and pepper to taste.2 tablespoons margarine, 6 tablespoons plant-based milk
Prepare the filling:
- Over a medium heat, cook the onions and garlic in the vegetable stock for about 6 minutes. If using oil instead of stock, cook the onions for 4 minutes over a medium heat and then add the garlic for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.2 medium onions, 4 cloves garlic, 250 millilitres vegetable stock
- Mix through the BBQ seasoning, paprika, and red wine vinegar. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.2 tablespoons BBQ seasoning mix, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Mix through the 4 cans of beans in tomato sauce. Taste and add a little salt and pepper if necessary.4 cans baked beans
- Scoop the mixture into a casserole dish.
- Pop the halved cooked meat-free sausages evenly over the mix.8 meat-free sausages
- Top with the mashed potato.
Bake:
- Place the casserole dish on middle shelf of the oven for 30 minutes until tinged with golden, crispy, bits and the bean filling is hot and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the grated cheese or nutritional yeast flakes over.90 grams vegan cheese
- Pop back into the oven for 10-15 minutes until melted, although the yeast flakes won't melt!
- Instead of adding cheese don't remove the pie from the oven, just cook for a total of 30-45 minutes or until the topping is at your desired crispness and colour.
Notes
- Nutritional information is provided for guidance only and is not a strict calculation as ingredients vary.
- Data includes the meat-free sausages [soya based] and vegan cheese.
- Meat-free sausages are optional. This cowboy pie is still delicious without the sausages as the beans are more than enough.
- The vegan cheese topping is also optional and can be simply omitted, or nutritional yeast flakes added instead. Or just sprinkle some of your favourite seasoning over the mashed potatoes before baking.
- Sliced tomatoes are delicious added to the mashed potato topping.
- Not keen on BBQ flavours? This can be switched for chilli powder, taco type seasoning, your favourite seasoning blend, or even curry powder.
- You can use 4 cans of baked beans in tomato sauce [these may be labelled vegetarian baked beans in the US], or replace some of the baked beans for mixed beans in tomato sauce, or cans of beans in a chilli sauce.
- Leftover cowboy pie can be stored in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days.
- Or frozen within the casserole dish, well wrapped, for 2-3 months.
- Allow chilled or frozen cowboy pie to come up to room temperature before reheating.
- Reheat at the cooking temperature, with a layer of kitchen foil over the pie, until piping hot.
Nutrition
Comments
Prepared our Vegan Cowboy Pie? We would love to know how you got on with the recipe so do drop us a comment and click the star ratings. All feedback is very much appreciated. Thanks so much! All the best, Jacq x
Natalie says
This pie looks so good. I bet my hubs will never notice this is completely vegan. I'm making this for sure. Thanks!
Jacq says
Absolutely your husband won't notice the difference! The flavours are just so good. This pie is perfect for those new to plant-based meals x
Beth Sachs says
A delicious mid-week meal the whole family loved!
Jacq says
So glad to hear! 🙂
Danielle Wolter says
What a great idea! The flavors sound amazing and I can't wait to give this a try!
Jacq says
So glad you like the recipe. Be sure and pop back and let me know how you get on 🙂
Helen says
Now that the weather is getting cooler this looks like a perfect family midweek meal - so warm and comforting! Thanks for the recipe.
Jacq says
Thanks your very welcome! Cowboy pie is perfect for the cooler weather 🙂
Lucy says
This vegan cowboy pie is such a hearty comforting meal, perfect for the colder months. It's a meal the whole family loves!
Jacq says
Great so glad your family loves the cowboy pie 🙂