Have you tried making a slow cooker sausage casserole yet?
Sausage casserole in a slow cooker is the perfect weeknight dinner; simply add the ingredients in the morning and come home to a deliciously tasty and filling meal.
Read on to discover how to make sausage casserole in a slow cooker, step by step.
How To Make Sausage Casserole In A Slow Cooker
Sausage casserole can be a flexible recipe, adding in your favourite vegetables and seasonings.
What You Need For Sausage Casserole
- 12 sausages (adjust depending on how many you are serving)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
- 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
- 3 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1tsp dried mixed herbs
- 400ml beef stock
Add any extra vegetables you have available, such as celery, sweet potato, leeks, etc.
Making A Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Brown the sausages
I don’t usually brown off my meat before putting it in the slow cooker (but I know plenty of people who do; it’s just a matter of personal preference), but in my opinion, with sausages, it’s a must.
I have tried chucking them straight in the slow cooker, and they don’t taste good. The texture is too soft. If I know I’m going to be in a rush in the morning, I will brown them off the night before and just keep them in the fridge until the morning.
If you have a slow cooker with a built-in sauté function, you can use that, or you can grill or lightly fry them in a pan.
Once they are browned, add them to the slow cooker.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker.
As mentioned, you can add whatever fresh vegetables you prefer; just use what you have available. Such is the beauty of a sausage casserole! You can add some additional herbs and spices if you wish.
Step 3: Stir everything together before putting the lid on.
Step 4: Cook on low for 7 to 9 hours or high for 4 hours
How long you leave it on is up to you. If you will be out of the house for a long time, don’t worry if it is left on for longer than 9 hours (on low). Just know that the sausages will be very soft after this length of time.
With this slow cooker sausage casserole, you might want to thicken up the sauce a little at the end, depending on how you like your gravy. If you like it thicker, you can leave the lid off for the last 30 minutes or stir in some gravy granules or corn flour.
It tastes great served with mashed potatoes!
Can You Put Raw Sausages in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, you can put sausages in raw, but they’re not going to taste that great. Not only will they remain the same colour as they went in, but they’ll also have the same texture: soft, squidgy, and not really that pleasant! So, do your taste buds a favour and quickly brown the sausages before you put 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 much time you have. I like to put mine on early in the day so that I don’t need to think about it anymore, so I’ll usually put it on low for 7 to 9 hours. But there are always those days where I forget, or I’m just generally running behind, so if I need to put the sausages on high in the slow cooker, I’ll leave them in for around 4 hours.
Can You Put Frozen Sausages in a Slow Cooker?
People have differing opinions on cooking food from frozen 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 Sausage Casserole?
Yes, you can freeze sausage casserole. Allow it to cool completely, transfer it into an airtight container, and pop it in the freezer. It can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use it, just remove it from the freezer and let it defrost completely. Then reheat it in a suitable container, ensuring it is heated all through.
Top Tip: Date and label the container in your freezer so you don’t forget what it is!
More Slow Cooker Recipes
I hope you enjoy this slow cooker sausage casserole recipe! Let me know in the comments if you end up making it.
Sausage Casserole Slow Cooker
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Ingredients
- 12 thick pork sausages
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 red pepper deseeded and chopped
- 400 g tin of chopped tomatoes
- 3 medium carrots chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
- 400 ml beef stock
Instructions
- Brown off the sausages under a grill or in a little oil in a pan.
- Drain off any fat and add to the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir to mix together.
- Cook on low for 7 to 9 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Serving suggestion: Serve with mashed potato and green veg.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an estimate.
Slow Cooker Recipe Book: 100 Slow Cooker Recipes
100 easy to make, tried and tested UK recipes including;
- Chilli Peanut Coconut Chicken
- Beef & Sweet Potato Stew
- Chocolate Lava Cake - and many more!
Merryll Mitchell
Saturday 2nd of November 2024
Lovely recipes but they all are. I started by using the air fryer ones when I got an air fryer and didn’t know what to cook or how to cook it. Everything I’ve tried has been great. Thank you
Mo
Saturday 18th of May 2024
Well I decided this morning to have a 'use up session' found some cheapo frozen sausages at the back of the freezer, through the whole packet in the slow cooker on saute along with an onion to brown off. Then added a pinch of 'savoury' , tomato puree, tins of tomatoes, cannelloni beans, pinto beans, an odd sweet potato (chopped small) frozen mushrooms , a packet of Beef Stew mix, salt and pepper, popped the lid on and it was lovely. Have frozen some of it for a rainy day.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Keith
Sunday 22nd of October 2023
Prior to cooking the sausage recipe in the slow cooker can you brown them off in an air fryer? If so, for how long and at what temperature?
Liana Green
Wednesday 20th of December 2023
Hi Keith - yes you could brown them off in the air fryer, good idea! I'd suggest cooking them at 200°C for about 3 to 5 minutes, just enough to brown them and get rid of the soft skin.
Nichola
Tuesday 25th of April 2023
I did this recipe and fully reccomend! I used beef and black pudding sausages, carrots, onion, cherry tomatoes, celery and red peppers. It turned out lovely!!
Ryan
Monday 25th of October 2021
Hi I haven’t tried a casserole with chopped tomatoes before, what does this do for the casserole in terms of taste wise, I’m a rookie slow cooker chef!
Liana Green
Saturday 13th of November 2021
Hi Ryan - I find it add some extra tomato flavour as well as bulks out the meal - they can be left out if preferred :)