Discover the ultimate comfort food with this recipe for Crock-Pot Sausage Stew. Italian sausage, beans, pasta, and flavorful seasonings come together for a frugal and delicious meal.
Why You Should Make Slow Cooker Sausage Stew
Several years ago I found a recipe for a sausage stew on the back of a can of beans I picked up at the grocery store. The stew sounded amazing because it featured Italian sausage, beans, tomatoes, zucchini, onion and garlic all simmered away in a perfectly seasoned broth.
I have since lost that recipe but I have been making it by memory on the stove-top for years because it is one of my families favorite cold weather recipes.
And then, I had the brilliant idea that this recipe could easily be adapted into a slow cooker recipe! When I tried it, the flavor was fantastic. I think that the low and slow cooking method that happens in your crockpot really allowed the Italian flavors to develop and deepen.
As a mom and full-time grandma to 4 teens and young adult boys I absolutely love this slow cooked Italian sausage stew! Not only is this hearty stew super tasty but it is also belly filling. The Italian sausage brings a ton of flavor and the beans and pasta provide a lot of filler making this recipe the perfect dinner to make when you need to fill up hungry bellies on a chilly fall or winter evening!
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe calls for links of Italian sausage, however if you would prefer to use bulk Italian sausage and cook and crumble it instead you can do that. I used sweet Italian sausage for my family. However, if you like you can use hot Italian sausage instead to add a little spice to your stew.
For the best results I prefer to cook the pasta separately and on the stove-top, and then add to the stew right before serving. Cooking the pasta in the slow cooker can often result is mushy pasta which has absorbed up a lot of the cooking liquid.
You can substitute the shell pasta for any of the following pasta shapes which are great in soups and stews: Elbow Macaroni, Mini Farfalle, Orzo, Ditalini, Campanelle, Casarecce, Cellentani, Gemelli, Mini Penne, Mini Wheels or Orecchiette.
Special Diets
More Great Crockpot Recipes!
Crock-Pot Sausage Stew Recipe
Equipment
- 6 Quart Crock-Pot or larger
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Italian Sausage Links
- 29 Ounces Low Sodium Beef Broth
- 29 Ounces Canned Diced Tomatoes With Green Chilies (Such As RoTel Brand)
- 19 Ounces Canned Red Kidney Beans (Drained And Rinsed)
- 15 Ounces Canned Garbanzo Beans (Drained And Rinsed)
- 2 Medium Zucchini (Halved And Then Sliced)
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion (Diced)
- 2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
- 1 Tablespoon Dried Italian Seasoning
- ½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Pound Small Shell Pasta
Instructions
- Add all ingredients, except the pasta, to a 6 quart or larger slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours or until the zucchini is tender.
- During the final 30 minutes of cooking, cook the pasta on the stove-top according to the directions on the pasta. Drain and add cooked pasta to the stew.
- Ladle stew into bowls and serve with a side of crusty Italian bread for dipping into the stew and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Enjoy!
That is a Crock Pot full of goodness. Now who wouldn’t want to come home to this at the end of the day, awesome! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great week end and come back soon!
Miz Helen