An easy slow cooker sausage casserole recipe with sweet potato, sliced red onion, in a rich tomato sauce!
This simple slow cooker sausage casserole is made without browning the sausages first, making it a truly 'dump and go' slow cooker recipe! You might also like my sausage hotpot recipe too!
There's something really comforting about a slow cooker sausage casserole, cooked in your crockpot or slow cooker, particularly on cold, dark winter nights when you crave something warming and filling!
My family loves this easy recipe made with chipolata sausages (which the children prefer to normal thick pork sausages!), cubed sweet potato (for a bit of added nutrition), and a really easy tomato-based sauce.
It's an incredibly versatile recipe, so feel free to add mushrooms, white potatoes, peppers, or even baked beans! Whatever needs using up!
👩🍳 Love sausage casserole but don't have a slow cooker? Try my easy sausage casserole made on the hob!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
Here's why this is the best slow cooker sausage casserole recipe!
- No browning required.
- Hearty and comforting.
- Freezer-friendly.
- Easily customised.
Don't forget to check out all of my easy slow cooker recipes!
🛒 Ingredients
Sausages - my kids prefer chipolata sausages, but feel free to swap for normal thick pork sausages or even veggie sausages! If using pork sausages, make sure they have a high pork content (97% or above), for the best flavour.
Red Onion - sliced, or substitute for white onion.
Sweet Potato - peeled and cut into 2cm cubes. Other veggies can be added too and I give suggestions below!
Stock - I make a rich beef stock using a knorr stock pot, but an ordinary oxo cube is fine too. If you're making a veggie sausage casserole, use vegetable stock!
Chopped Tomatoes - or swap for passata if you prefer your sauce less chunky.
Red Pesto - instantly adds loads of flavour! You can use sun-dried tomato paste as a substitute.
Dried Thyme - you can use fresh herbs if you prefer, and rosemary also works very well in this slow cooker sausage stew.
You'll also need salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar for seasoning.
Thickening granules (or a cornflour slurry) can be used to thicken the sausage casserole at the end of cooking.
🥄 Equipment
Which slow cooker? I use a Morphy Richards Sear and Stew 6.5 litre slow cooker, which means I can brown and slow cook in the same pot as the slow cooker pot is safe to use on the hob! The 6.5 litre capacity serves 6-8 main portions, so it’s ideal for families and those that like batch cooking. There is also a 3.5 litre version for smaller households!
You'll also need a vegetable peeler and chopping board!
🔪 How to make sausage casserole in a slow cooker
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Place the sliced red onion, cubed sweet potato and chipolata sausages in your slow cooker.
Two: In a bowl or jug, mix together chopped tomatoes, red pesto, beef stock, sugar, thyme, salt and pepper, and pour it over the sausages (there's no need to brown them first).
Three: Cook the casserole on low for 7 hours or high for 4. You may want to stir through some thickening granules (or whisk in a cornflour slurry) at the end of cooking, to thicken the sauce.
💡 Pro Tip - if you can, cook the sausage casserole with the lid removed for the last hour of cooking. This will help thicken up the sauce and mean it is unlikely you will need to use thickening granules or a cornflour slurry at the end of cooking!
💭 Top tips
- There's no need to brown your sausages before cooking them in the slow cooker, but you can if you like (I don't like the extra washing up!).
- If you don't have red pesto to hand, use sun-dried tomato paste with a teaspoon of garlic granules mixed in!
- Use fresh woody herbs to flavour the casserole if you have them in your garden. Thyme, rosemary and oregano work well.
💡 Pro Tip - if you're using a cornflour slurry to thicken the sauce, it's important to first mix the cornflour (1 tablespoon) with an equal amount of water (1 tablespoon) to prevent lumps from forming.
🍴 Serving suggestions
I like to serve this crockpot sausage casserole with cheesy mashed potato, air fryer roast potatoes, Parmentier potatoes, or rice, for a tasty and filling dinner!
A side portion of green vegetables is nice to serve alongside it too. Roasted Tenderstem broccoli, air fryer asparagus, or pan-fried Brussels sprouts with bacon are my personal favourites!
📖 Variations
There are so many ways to change this easy sausage casserole up!
- Add a tin of baked beans for slow cooker sausage and baked bean casserole.
- Add a sliced red pepper or chopped mushrooms.
- Add a tin of cannellini beans for slow cooker sausage and bean casserole.
- Make a veggie sausage casserole in your slow cooker - I really like Linda McCartney veggie sausages.
- Use a schwartz or Colemans sausage casserole seasoning mix for ease. Just mix it in with the chopped tomatoes first.
🥡 Storage
Store. The sausage casserole can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat. Reheat in the microwave until piping hot.
Freeze. Once cooled, place the casserole in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge, before reheating in the microwave.
❓ FAQs
Yes, you sure can!
You can, but you don't have to. It's mainly done for aesthetic reasons.
Yes! Just add an extra 1-2 hours onto the cooking time.
For ease, I use thickening granules (usually found in the baking section of supermarkets), but you can also use a cornflour slurry (equal parts cornflour and water mixed together and whisked into the sauce). I find that if I remove the slow cooker lid for the last hour of cooking, the sauce naturally thickens up on its own!
😋 More slow cooker recipes to try!
- Slow Cooker Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
- Slow Cooker Roast Beef
- Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
- Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole
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Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 Red onions peeled and sliced
- 1 Sweet Potato peeled and cut into 2cm cubes
- 12 Chipolatas or 8 thick pork sausages
- 400 g Tin Chopped Tomatoes or use passata
- 1 tablespoon Red Pesto
- 250 ml Beef Stock
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme or 1 tablespoon of fresh
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Black Pepper
- 1-2 tablespoon Thickening Granules or make a cornflour slurry
Instructions
- Place the sliced red onion, cubed sweet potato and chipolata sausages in your slow cooker.2 Red onions, 1 Sweet Potato, 12 Chipolatas
- In a bowl or jug, mix together chopped tomatoes, red pesto, beef stock, sugar, thyme, salt and pepper, and pour it over the sausages (there's no need to brown them first).400 g Tin Chopped Tomatoes, 1 tablespoon Red Pesto, 250 ml Beef Stock, 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme, 1 teaspoon Sugar, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ Black Pepper
- Cook the casserole on low for 7 hours or high for 4. You may want to stir through some thickening granules (or whisk in a cornflour slurry) at the end of cooking, to thicken the sauce.1-2 tablespoon Thickening Granules
Notes
- There's no need to brown your sausages before cooking them in the slow cooker, but you can if you like (I don't like the extra washing up!).
- If you don't have red pesto to hand, use sun-dried tomato paste with a teaspoon of garlic granules mixed in!
- Use fresh woody herbs to flavour the casserole if you have them in your garden. Thyme, rosemary, and oregano work well.
- Add a tin of baked beans for slow cooker sausage and baked bean casserole.
- Add a sliced red pepper or chopped mushrooms.
- Add a tin of cannellini beans for slow cooker sausage and bean casserole.
- Make a veggie sausage casserole in your slow cooker - I really like Linda McCartney veggie sausages.
- Use a Schwartz or Colemans sausage casserole seasoning mix for ease. Just mix it in with the chopped tomatoes first
- To Store. The sausage casserole can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat. Reheat in the microwave until piping hot.
- To Freeze. Once cooled, place the casserole in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge, before reheating in the microwave.
Shadi Hasanzade
So comforting! This sausage casserole would be perfect for these cold evenings with some warm bread to soak up all that delicious gravy!
Toni
This was really a huge hit at my house!! I love how satisfying it is!!
Heather Perine
Love that there was no browning required..used the sundried tomato pesto and regular potatoes. Still so good!!
Anjali
This casserole was so satisfying and delicious!! My family loved it and I'm sure we'll be making it again soon!
Sonia
Just me so four healthy, easy meals. Thank you so much.
Will give the chilli a try next. Cheap to cook in the slow cooker, especially when you are only cooking for one.