The name “beanie weenies” may make everyone giggle, but this dish is seriously homey, economical and flavorful when it comes to family dinner. The satisfying meal warms the belly on cold evenings and also makes an easy weeknight dinner. Plus, it tastes even better as leftovers—whether eaten cold or warmed up for lunch or a midnight snack.
What are beanie weenies?
Of the many traditions in New Hampshire and New England, one that’s fondly remembered by many is the Saturday night supper of beanies and weenies. Also known as franks and beans (or beans ‘n’ franks), the meal of sliced hot dogs and baked beans could be counted on to be flavorful, filling and—perhaps most importantly—inexpensive.
The dish is easy to customize by adding ingredients like mustard, brown sugar, ketchup or half a chopped onion to the simmering baked beans. Some families continue to make homemade baked beans the old-fashioned way—cooking them for hours over low heat—but many rely on canned baked beans for a fuss-free dinner.
The classic side to this weekend supper is a slice of brown bread, also known as Boston brown bread. The dense, dark brown loaf is sweetened with molasses, which works so well with the beans and hot dogs. While brown bread can be baked from scratch, many families choose the time-saving canned brown bread made by B&M, a baked beans company.
Ingredients for Beanie Weenies
- Baked beans: Our pick is maple and bacon-flavored canned beans, although brown sugar, onion or no-sugar-added varieties would also be tasty.
- Hot dogs: Slice up some weenies from your favorite hot dog brand and brown them before adding them to the beans.
- Brown bread: The molasses-sweetened canned bread in a can (you heard that right—bread in a can) is often stocked near the baked beans at the grocery store. B&M is the most well-known brand.
- Butter: Cooking the sliced hot dogs in a little butter makes them brown and flavorful.
Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let's Eat! 