Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole Recipe

This hearty thick Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole Recipe uses premium pork sausages and rich tomatoes, ready in 6 hours. Lifting the lid reveals a bubbling, dark red sauce coating the perfectly tender sausages. I always look forward to coming home to the smell of this slow-cooked dinner.

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Why This Classic Works

I used to just throw raw sausages straight into the slow cooker and hope for the best. The result was often pale, mushy meat in a thin, watery broth that lacked any real depth.

Taking the extra ten minutes to brown the sausages and onions first builds an incredible base flavour. The beans soak up all those rich pan juices while cooking slowly over several hours.

Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole Recipe Ingredients

• 8 thick pork sausages (good quality)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 carrots, thickly sliced
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
• 400g tinned butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 300ml beef stock
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and black pepper to taste

How To Make Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole Recipe

1. Brown The Sausages: Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and fry the sausages for 8 minutes until golden all over, then transfer them to the slow cooker.
2. Soften The Vegetables: In the same pan, fry the onion, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until just softening, then stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Deglaze And Combine: Pour the beef stock into the pan to scrape up any browned bits, then transfer everything into the slow cooker along with the tomatoes, puree, thyme, and bay leaf.
4. Cook Slowly: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours until the sauce has thickened.
5. Add The Beans: Stir in the drained butter beans 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time to heat through, then season with salt and pepper before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Brown the sausages properly: Frying the sausages first stops them from looking pale and seals in their juices.
• Thicken the sauce: If the casserole looks too liquid at the end, leave the lid off for the final 30 minutes.
• Choose quality sausages: Buy sausages with a high meat content so they do not fall apart during the long cook.
• Do not add beans too early: Stirring the butter beans in at the very end stops them from turning into mush.

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole

A huge dollop of creamy mashed potato is essential for soaking up the rich tomato gravy. You can also serve it with crusty bread to wipe your bowl completely clean.

How To Store

Keep any leftover casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It freezes beautifully for up to three months, just defrost overnight before reheating thoroughly on the hob.

FAQs

Can I use vegetarian sausages? Yes, but you should only add them for the final hour of cooking so they keep their shape.

Do I have to brown the sausages? Browning is highly recommended for the best texture and flavour, but you can skip it if you are truly short on time.

Can I cook this in the oven instead? Yes, you can bake it in a covered ovenproof dish at 160C (140C fan) for about two hours.

What other beans can I use? Cannellini beans or haricot beans work just as well if you do not have butter beans in the cupboard.

Nutrition

• Calories: 450 kcal
• Total Fat: 28g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Cholesterol: 65mg
• Sodium: 850mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 25g
• Protein: 22g

Try More Recipes:

• Hairy Bikers Chicken Paprika Recipe
• Hairy Bikers Chicken Cacciatore Recipe