Today is the perfect day for a hearty sausage casserole in the slow cooker. The constant rain and wind have made me crave the warmth of a comfort meal. Also, on a school day it’s great to have a meal ready for when kids come home super hungry (which is most days!)
How to make a sausage casserole in a slow cooker
1. I
don’t usually brown my meat before putting it in the slow cooker
(but I know many people who do, it’s just a matter of personal preference), but in my opinion, with sausages, it’s a must
.
I’ve tried just throwing them straight into the slow cooker, and they don’t really taste good at all. The texture is too soft and they look anemic. Plus, it means I can drain any fat from the sausages before putting them in the slow cooker. If I know I’m going to be in a hurry in the morning, I’ll brown them the night before and keep them in the fridge until morning.
If you have a slow cooker that you can put on the countertop, then you can do everything directly on that. If not, simply grill or lightly fry them in a pan.
Once they are golden brown, add them to the slow cooker.
2. Add your choice of dried vegetables and herbs
You can add the fresh vegetables you prefer, just use what you have available. Such is the beauty of a sausage casserole! For this recipe I used 3 chopped carrots, 1 sliced red onion, 2 crushed garlic cloves and 1 chopped red pepper. I also used 1 teaspoon of mixed dried herbs. You can add some extra herbs and spices if you wish.
Other plant ideas: parsnips, zucchini, pumpkin, leeks, etc
.
3. Add
chopped tomatoes
Cans of chopped tomatoes are always a useful ingredient to have in the cupboard. I use them in many of my recipes and often stock up on them when the supermarket offers them. Simply add them with the rest of the ingredients.
4
. Add meat broth
Add 400ml of beef broth and give everything a good stir to mix well
.
5. Simmer for 7 to 9 hours or stop for 4 hours
How long you leave it on is up to you. If you are going to be out of the house for a long time, do not worry if it is left on for more than 9 hours (at low level).
With this slow-cooked sausage casserole, you may want to thicken the sauce a bit at the end, depending on how you like your sauce. If you like it thicker, you can leave the lid closed for the last 30 minutes, or add some granules of sauce or cornmeal.
It tastes great served with mashed potatoes!
Good to
know: Can you put
raw sausages in a slow cooker? Yes, you can put raw sausages,
but they won’t taste so good. Not only will they remain the same color they entered, but they will also have the same texture, that is, soft, squid and not so pleasant. So, do your taste buds a favor and quickly brown the sausages before putting them in the slow cooker.
How long do you cook sausages in a slow cooker
?
How long you cook sausages in a slow cooker will depend on how long you have. I like to put mine on early in the day so I don’t have to think about it anymore, so I usually put it on low temperature for 7 to 9 hours. But, there are always those days when I forget or am just falling behind in life, so if I need to put the sausages up in the slow cooker, I will leave them for about 4 hours.
Can you put frozen sausages
in a slow cooker?
People have different opinions about cooking frozen foods in a slow cooker. Personally, I would never cook something frozen in a slow cooker, so I can’t recommend putting frozen sausages in a slow cooker.
Can you freeze the sausage casserole? Yes, you can
freeze the sausage casserole
. Let it cool completely and then transfer it to an airtight container and put it in the freezer. It can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to use it, simply remove it from the freezer and let it thaw completely. Then reheat it in a suitable container, making sure it is fully heated. Tip: Date and label the container in your freezer so you don’t forget what it is!
Did you like this recipe? Let me know in the comments!
