sausages in a slow cooker - does it work?

[GeeandTee]

I have to feed 4 adults and 3 children as soon as I get back from a hospital appt so need a slow cooker recipe that will be ready as soon as I get in and that potentially fussy children will eat.

Would it work to put sausages in a slow cooker with fried onions, carrots, maybe peppers and passata? I could then serve with either microwave mash or fresh crusty bread. Would the sausages turn to mush or keep their shape? Any other recipe suggestions?

You'd need to grill them first or the skins will be rubbery (boak).

Agree you need to brown them first otherwise they are all slimy!

They won't go brown so lwill look awful although will probably taste ok

I used to do a recipe years ago with sausages. Agree brown them first. It was a Schwartz casserole packet and add apples and onions. It was quite tasty. But don't think they still do it. Only did half the time as I would have for beef stew.

DH used to cook sausage casserole for me when we first met. He never used to brown the sausages. They really need to be browned or they put you right off the food, whether you are a fussy child or an adult! I won't tell you what they look like, you can use your imagination. They don't fall apart though.

There are all sorts of sausage casserole mixes around still, Viviennemary. I am pretty sure that Swartz still do it.

The mixes do taste good but if you aren't doing any veg then adding the passata and peppers and maybe some herbs would certainly up the veg count from the casserole which the mix doesn't help with.

Did you eat them out of politeness BBB?!

Hating the sound of slimy sausages!

We do sausage casserole a lot in the slow cooker and they come out really well. I use high meat contents sausages and brown them. I often use frozen onions and peppers and just add them straight in. I also tend to use tinned tomates instead of passata, or half and half.

personally I don't mind slimy sausage, I used to love those all day breakfasts in a tin - but if you do, yy grill first
Slow cookers need less liquid than you expect
lentils are a nice addition to thicken, or pearl barley

Spotty - yes I did. I was young and still thought it was sweet that he actually wanted to cook for me. It didn't last forever - I did eventually tell him to brown them or I wasn't eating them! Between the pale slimy sausages and the fact that the carrot was still slightly too hard after 8 hours in the slow cooker, it wasn't the culinary delight he thought it was! At least he tried I suppose.

We don't have it now as the DSs don't like the sauce but the mention of sausage casserole still brings back memories.

Why can't any of the 4 adults present cook the sausages?.... Why is it your responsibility, fresh out of hospital?

yy, i'm with cogito! why are you cooking straight after a hospital appointment? Also, I am slummy, but if it was me, I'd be leaving £30 on the side and telling them to order a takeaway to arrive for when I get home They can muster the strength to do that, surely?

x

It will work but the sausages will be too pale. Can't you just put the sausages in the oven?

My DM always makes 'condom casserole' - we smile and eat it politely.

I would squeeze the sausages out of their skins and make sausage balls which will then be fine in slow cooker. Or tell someone else to cook for you

Speaking as someone who was fed sausage casserole almost daily mon-fri for 5 years by a father who unwillingly became a SAHD and was ill equipped for the role (especially in the cooking department). I can assure you it will taste fine though browned first is best for aesthetic reasons.

However if you find you have cooked little else for a number of months I would lay off the sausage casserole or you may scar your Dc's for life.

My fave sausage casserole is the Hairy Bikers one because its sweet and hot. Looks like it could be easily adapted for a slow cooker?

here

Yes, sausage casserole in sc is lovely. Agree they are better browned first but will be fine if not, just not as nice looking.