This Slow Cooker Sausage Hotpot is easy to whip up and is a wonderfully warming, filling meal.
Before I had kids my slow cooker was always something that I use in spurts. Sometimes it was out and used constantly and then for months it was hidden away and forgotten about.
It then became a lifesaver when my youngest, Rory, was first born. I'd drop my eldest (Finn) off at pre-school, Rory would fall asleep in his stroller and I used the time to make something in the slow cooker. This was much easier than trying to cook something at 5 pm when Finn was often needy and Rory just seemed to constantly want to feed and be held.
Ingredients
- Sausages
Sausages are never going to win an award for a healthy food choice. However, there are a few things we can do to make sure we are picking good quality sausages. Always read the ingredient list and
- Choose a sausage with as high a percentage of meat as possible. Look for a sausage containing a minimum of 85% meat.
- Beware of sodium levels. Sausages are often high in sodium which is not good for young children.
- Look at the saturated fat content and try to choose sausages with 4g or less per 100g.
- Preferably buy from a local butcher, who knows where his meat comes from.
- Beans
I have added butter beans and kidney beans to this recipe but you can replace them with other bean varieties.
- Vegetables
The onion and celery add a lot of flavours and I do not recommend that you miss them out.
I added red capsicum (bell peppers). If you want to add more variety you can also add other colours of capsicum, carrots or some mushrooms at the start of the cooking process.
Frozen peas or spinach also work well but should be added in the last 30 mins of cooking.
Slow Cooker Sausage Hotpot Cooking Tips
I recommend sauteing the onion, garlic and celery before adding to the slow cooker. This accomplishes two things: One, it reduces the moisture and two, as the vegetables brown, they develop deep, sweet flavours.
Similarly, I brown the sausages before adding to the slow cooker. This not only makes the sausages visually more appealing the end meal will be more flavoursome and less greasy (as you have already released some of the fat.)
In my opinion, taking an extra 10 minutes to saute the vegetables/ aromatics and browning your sausages is worth it. However, if you prefer a "dump everything into the slow cooker" kind of recipe then you can skip these steps but the flavour and texture won't be at the same level.
Storing & Re-heating Slow Cooker Sausage Hotpot
Refrigerating
- Cool the hotpot quickly; store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Reheat on the stove top or microwave.
Freezing
- Cool the hotpot quickly, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 4 months.
- Thaw, overnight, in a refrigerator and reheat on the stove top or microwave.
Other Slow Cooker Recipes...
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Slow Cooker Sausage Hotpot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 Onion (finely chopped)
- 1 Celery stalk (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic (finely chopped)
- 12 Good quality sausages ( I used Pork)
- 3 Capsicum peppers (bell peppers) (you can use any colour)
- 1 400g (14oz) Can kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 400g (14oz) Can butter beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 400g (14oz) Can chopped tomatoes
- 3 tablespoon Tomato Puree (tomato paste)
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and fry for 5-10 mins (until softened) Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the sausages to the same pan and cook for 5-10min (until browned all over) Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Add all the other ingredients to the slow cooker, mix and cook on low for 6-8 hours
Kelly
Thanks for the ecipe Amy. I’ve got it in the slow cooker now. Can’t wait to taste it.
Amy
Hope you enjoyed it, Kelly 🙂
Amanda
Simple and easy to prepare, a few changes as I hadn't got all the ingredients listed but it was very tasty and I will be making it again.
Amy
Thanks Amanda, glad you liked it 🙂
Katy Lawson
Hi,
I made this yesterday, I did change a few things but it went down a storm with my fussy 3.5yr old and husband, as well as my none fussy 9 Yr old, 8 months old and myself enjoying it. I served it with homemade Cheesy Courgette bread.
I left out the onion and Celery due to allergies, I added 4 extra sausages and 2 cups of water and a concentrated stock pot.
Amy
Hi Katy, I'm glad that this was approved by your whole family! Loving the sound of the cheesy courgette bread 🙂
Jade
Hi. I’m just wondering whether you cut up the pepper and or put them in whole?
Thanks
Amy
Hi Jade, I'm so sorry for the late response. I have been travelling and have had limited wifi. I cut up the pepper before adding.
Renee Nikolovski
Hi there, is the purree the same as tomatoe paste?
Amy
HI Rennee, yes it is tomato paste 🙂
Georgina
This was lovely! I halved the amount of sausages but left the rest the same and served it with some crusty bread, will make this again for sure!
I did need a touch of sugar towards the end as the tomatoes must have been a little sharp but that was all
Amy
Hi Georgina,
Brilliant, thanks so much for the feedback it means a lot to get lovely comments like this.
Amy
Amy
Hi. Like the receipe. Have u ever made it and frozen it? I have twins and tend to batch cook?
Amy
Hi Amy, I haven't frozen it before (I'm not great at batch cooking and there is never a lot of this dish left when I make it!) I'm sure it would work great though. Glad you like the recipe 🙂
Emma
This is a delicious recipe thank you. I was wondering if you have any more slow cooker recipes? I live by my slow cooker and I really need some new ideas so I can have a variety of meals.
Thank you
Amy
HI Emma, thanks for your kind comment. I will get on the case and hopefully I'll get round to posting more slow cooker recipes soon!
Kylie
I love it that you've actually managed to take photos of a sausage hotpot that make it look appealing! Yum! thanks for linking up at #whatkidseatwednesday
Simone
This looks great. It's so important to find those meals that you know you can put together when it is convenient for you. As my oldest was dropping her nap (and needing full attention at 5pm) and I had a newborn I was not able to get into the kitchen easily so one-pot-wonders and slow cooker meals were essential! This looks really good - despite what you think about the pictures - it looks like what it should a satisfying mid-week family dinner. 🙂
Amy
Thanks Simone, my slow cooker really was a life saver in those newborn days 🙂
Alaina
Made this today for the first time. Was a hit with everyone. I'm especially surprised my fussy 3.5 year old ate it as she's a nightmare with beans and veg! Hurray! Thanks and please share any other slow cooker recipes, I'm combined it will transform my life ?
Amy
Fantastic that it passes the fussy eater test! Thanks for letting me know and for your kind comment. I'll get working on my slow cooker recipes 🙂
Katerina
Another great recipe for me to use my slow cooker! Very hearty and filling!
Amy
Thanks Katerina, enjoy! 🙂
Dawn
That looks great Amy. I've been looking for a good sausage hotpot recipe x
Amy
Thanks Dawn, hope you enjoy! x