Overwhelmingly, when I asked readers at the start of this year what types of recipes they would like to see more of, they said slow cooker dinners. This Crockpot Sausage and Peppers recipe is for all of you. It is about fifteen minutes of prep work, and then you can come home to a delicious cooked dinner everyone will love. This recipe is a spin on my Sausages and Peppers, and I dare say it might be even better in the slow cooker. While the sausages and peppers are perfect in this, it is truly the sauce, cooked low and slow, that sets this recipe apart. Made with simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry, this easy sauce will win over even your pickiest eater.
How to Make Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Browning Sausages
As mentioned above, the sausages in this recipe do not have to be browned. In general when we brown meat before the rest of the cooking, it isn’t to help the meat cook. The point of browning meat is to add a depth of flavor to the dish. I have a great section about this in my Pot Roast recipe that really explains the benefits of browning. That being said, if you are short on time, skip the browning, you will still enjoy the recipe.
What Sausages to Use
For this recipe, I’m suggesting that you use Italian pork sausages. They typically come in both mild and hot. I really love the Johnsonville mild Italian sausages. If you are looking to make this meal a little leaner, you could use Italian turkey sausages. Jennie-O makes sweet Italian sausages that are delicious and would work great in this.
How to Eat Crockpot Sausages and Peppers
This recipe would be great served multiple different ways. It would be delicious on hoagie rolls or over noodles. You could also just eat it with the vegetables for a great low carb dinner.
Adding Sugar to Sauce
Whenever I post my spaghetti sauce or my meat sauce on social media, I inevitably get the question asking why I add sugar to my sauce. The simple answer is that tomatoes are bitter and adding sugar balances that flavor out. Tomatoes, while they contain sugar, have quite a bit of acidity to them. Think of a two sided scale. On one side you have the bitterness of the cooked tomatoes weighing down the scale. When you add sugar to the other side of the scale it just makes the scale level. Too little sugar, and the bitterness is still weighing the sauce down and can be tasted. Too much sugar and the sauce is sweet. When you add just a small amount, both flavors are neutralized and the flavor of the sauce can shine through.
What goes with Sausages and Peppers
This recipe really works as a meal on it’s own. But if you are skipping the noodles and hoagie rolls and looking to keep this this low carb, here are a few suggestions:
Tomato Bisque SoupMediterranean SaladCaesar Salad
If you make this Slow Cooker Sausage and Pepper recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
