Ah yes! That’s one of the easiest, hands-off ways to cook sausage in a slow cooker. You end up with juicy, flavorful sausage without frying or constant attention. Here’s a complete method:
Slow Cooker Sausage Links
Ingredients
- 1–2 lbs raw sausage links (any kind: pork, chicken, or turkey)
- 1 onion, sliced (optional)
- 1–2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 bell pepper, sliced (optional)
- ½ cup chicken broth, beer, or water (for moisture)
You can also toss in potatoes, carrots, or cabbage for a one-pot meal.
Instructions
- Prep the slow cooker
- Lightly spray the insert with cooking spray (optional) or just add your liquid.
- Add the sausage
- Place raw sausage links in a single layer if possible.
- Add onions, garlic, bell peppers, or other vegetables on top.
- Add liquid
- Pour in ½ cup of chicken broth, beer, or water—enough to create a little steam, but not fully submerge the sausage.
- Cook
- Low: 6–8 hours
- High: 3–4 hours
- The sausage will cook through, stay juicy, and absorb flavors from the add-ins.
- Optional step for crispy sausage
- If you like a browned exterior, quickly sear the sausages in a hot skillet for 2–3 minutes per side after slow cooking.
- Serve
- Serve with the cooked onions, peppers, or any sides you like.
Tips
- Use different sausages for variety—Italian, bratwurst, or breakfast links all work.
- Adding a little mustard, BBQ sauce, or apple slices can create amazing flavor combinations.
- Don’t worry if the sausages look pale—they’re fully cooked when the internal temp reaches 160°F (71°C) for pork or 165°F (74°C) for poultry.
If you want, I can make a super simple 1-pot slow cooker meal with sausage, potatoes, and veggies that cooks all afternoon with almost zero effort—it’s basically “set it and forget it.”
Do you want me to do that?
