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This Sausage Casserole is Made Entirely with Premade Ingredients from Trader Joe’s

Kristina Vänni
Kristina Vänni
Internationally recognized culinary authority Kristina Vänni is a well-known food writer, engaging TV host, award-winning recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer. In addition to writing for industry-leading websites including Better Homes and Gardens, The Spruce Eats,…read more
published May 25, 2022
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Credit: Kristina Vanni

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When you are pinched for time and the family is chomping at the bit for dinner, even the time it takes to preheat the oven can seem like an added chore. What I love most about this formula meal with ingredients from Trader Joe’s is that the entire casserole can be prepared and assembled in the time it takes to preheat the oven. That comes down to only about 10 minutes of hands-on time to put together dinner.

For this meal, you will need to swing by Trader Joe’s to pick up a few ingredients: a pound of ground pork, a box of cornbread mix, two 15-ounce cans of black beans, one 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes, and their Cuban-style citrusy garlic seasoning blend. 

Credit: Kristina Vanni

How to Make This Easy TJ’s Sausage Casserole

Step 1: Start by preheating the oven to 400℉. While the oven comes to temperature, brown the ground pork in a large skillet with 3 teaspoons of the Cuban-style seasoning and 1 teaspoon of salt. Once the meat is no longer pink, add 2 cans of black beans that have been drained and rinsed as well as 1 can of diced tomatoes and another teaspoon of the seasoning blend. Allow the mixture to simmer while you make the cornbread topping.

Credit: Kristina Vanni

Step 2: Now all you have to do is prepare the cornbread mix according to the package directions. The box calls for 1/2 cup oil, 3/4 cup milk, and 1 egg, so if you don’t have these ingredients on hand already, be sure to pick them up at Trader Joe’s while you are there. Their mix is unique because once prepared, you discover that it has whole corn kernels scattered throughout the batter. This adds a nice texture to the topping and makes their cornbread mix a standout from other brands.

Credit: Kristina Vanni

Step 3: Next, transfer the pork mixture to a casserole pan. By this time, the oven should have come to temperature.

Credit: Kristina Vanni

Step 4: Spoon the cornbread batter over the entire surface of the casserole dish, spreading it all the way to the edges covering the pork mixture. Bake the casserole for 25 minutes or until the cornbread is cooked through and the top is nicely browned.

Why I Love This Recipe

I love this recipe because by combining the Trader Joe’s ground pork with their Cuban-style seasoning blend, you are essentially creating your own seasoned pork sausage. The blend is not spicy, but rather quite bright and citrusy, so don’t worry if you have picky eaters in the house who can’t handle a lot of heat. Plus, the Trader Joe’s cornbread mix has a pleasant hint of sweetness that kids love as well. In the end you have a complete meal in a casserole dish that everyone will be excited to dive into!

Credit: Kristina Vanni