Crockpot / Slow Cooker Dinner

Crockpot Sausage with Apple Chutney

5 browned sausage links in a white bowl with sliced onions and apples and topped with chopped parsley. Set on a wood surface with a raw sliced apple and parsley leaves on the table.
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Today, I have an absolutely mouthwatering dinner in store for you that combines the savory goodness of Italian sausage with the delightful sweetness of apples and onions. This recipe is perfect for those days when you want a hearty, flavorful meal without spending hours in the kitchen. With a salty-sweet sauce made from a blend of soy sauce and brown sugar, this dish will leave you wanting just one more bite.

One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare. Simply toss all the ingredients into your crockpot and let it work its magic while you go about your day. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld together beautifully, resulting in tender and incredibly flavorful sausages. And besides being a hands-off dinner, it also only has 7 ingredients. It really doesn’t get more simple than this.

The star of this dish is undoubtedly the sauce. The combination of salty soy sauce and the natural sweetness of brown sugar creates a balance of flavors that coat the sausages, apples, and onions perfectly. Each bite is a blend of tastes, with the richness of the sausage complemented by the slight tanginess of the apples and the caramelized sweetness of the onions.

So, if you’re looking for a hassle-free recipe that will wow your family and friends, this crockpot sausage dish is a winner. It’s a one-pot wonder that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor. Get ready to enjoy tender sausages drenched in a delicious Asian inspired sauce that will make your taste buds sing!

5 browned sausage links in a white bowl with sliced onions and apples and topped with chopped parsley. Set on a wood surface with a raw sliced apple and parsley leaves on the table.

About the Ingredients for Crockpot Sausage with Apple Chutney

Sausage – Sweet Italian sausage is great for this recipe. I will warn you that one per person is not enough, even for the kids, so throw a few extra in the pot.

Onion – a whole yellow onion, sliced thin. I like to use a mandoline to get the slices evenly sized.

Apples – use any apples you like to eat. I used Fuji apples this time around because that’s what I had. Leave the skin on for a little color and slice them in thin half moons so they are bite sized.

Soy sauce and brown sugar – the salty sweet combo will create a delicious sauce that will coat everything.

Minced garlic – have you ever heard the old saying about garlic? “Measure garlic with your heart.” Go ahead and add a healthy spoonful. The garlic will cook long enough to mellow out so don’t be afraid of over-doing it.

A crockpot with sausage links, and sliced apples and onions topped with brown sugar and minced garlic. The ingredients are raw.

How to Make Crockpot Sausage with Apples

Brown the Sausages

If you have a crockpot that has a stovetop safe insert you’re in luck! The first step to this recipe is to brown the sausage and you can do it right in the insert. (*See the notes in the recipe below about figuring out if your insert is safe for this and what to do if it isn’t.) Place the insert pot over medium-high heat on the stove and add a swirl of olive oil. Then add the sausage and cook them for about 1 minute on each side to give them a nice golden brown color.

Once the sausages are browned on all sides, remove the pot from the heat and return it to your slow cooker with the sausages still in the pot.

Add EVERYTHING to the Crockpot

Add the sliced onions and apples on top of the sausage. Pour over the soy sauce, brown sugar and minced garlic.

Cook on Low

Set the crockpot to cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. The sausage, onions and apples will get more tender the longer you cook it. About half way through cooking you can give the pot a stir but if you’re not home don’t worry about it, all will be fine.

To serve your crockpot sausage dinner simply serve a sausage and spoon over some of the chutney and sauce. I like to serve this with rice or mashed potatoes to soak up extra sauce.

Browned sausage links in a glistening sauce with sliced onions and apples and topped with chopped parsley in a slow cooker.

Recipe Substitutions & Variations

Sauce Substitues

If youโ€™re looking a substitute for the soy and brown sugar sauce try using rice wine vinegar and honey. Youโ€™ll still get that sweet Asian flavor but a little less salty. Be sure to add a little salt and pepper to this variation. The quantities for this sauce substitute are:

  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

FAQโ€™s and Recipe Tips

Can you put raw sausages in a slow cooker?

Yes. The slow cooker will completely cook the sausage without any other cooking needed. I do recommend browning the sausage first to lock in some of the juiciness and give your sausage a beautiful color and texture but that is completely optional.

How long does it take to cook sausages in a slow cooker?

It takes 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low to cook sausage in a slow cooker.

Does pork get softer the longer you cook it in a slow cooker?

Yes. Your sausages will be very tender after cooking them in the slow cooker.

5 browned sausage links in a white bowl with sliced onions and apples and topped with chopped parsley. Set on a wood surface with a raw sliced apple and parsley leaves on the table.

The Recipe for Crockpot Sausage with Onion and Apple Chutney

The recipe is attached below for easy downloading and printing.  If you test it out be sure to leave a note in the comments below. Iโ€™d love to hear what you thought. Serve your Crockpot Sausage with onions and apples with brown rice (to soak up the delicious sauce) and a green salad to complete your meal. Enjoy!

5 browned sausage links in a white bowl with sliced onions and apples and topped with chopped parsley. Set on a wood surface with a raw sliced apple and parsley leaves on the table.

Crockpot Sausage with Apple Chutney

The recipe combines the savory goodness of Italian sausage with the delightful sweetness of apples and onions. It's perfect for those days when you want a hearty, flavorful meal without spending hours in the kitchen. With a salty-sweet Asian inspired sauce made from a blend of soy sauce and brown sugar, this dish will leave you wanting just one more bite.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 7 servings

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs sweet Italian sausage 7 large links
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 2 apples
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic

Instructions
 

  • Place the crockpot insert on the stovetop over medium high heat. (**See notes below about whether this is safe for your crockpot insert.) Add a swirl of olive oil and then the 1.5 lbs sweet Italian sausage to the pot. Cook the sausage, turning often, until browned on all sides; about 1 minute per side.
  • While the sausage is browning, slice 1 yellow onion and 2 apples into thin half moon slices.
  • Return the crockpot insert to the cooker. Add in the onion and apple slices.
  • Pour 1/4 cup soy sauce over the top of the onions and apples and then add 1/3 cup light brown sugar and 1 tbsp minced garlic.
  • Cover the crockpot and set to cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Notes

Putting the crockpot insert on the stove: Not all crockpot inserts are safe for the stove so be sure to check yours against the manufacturer recommendations first. An easy indicator is the material your insert is made of. Ceramic cannot be placed on the stove. Cast iron or or heavy metal bottom inserts typically can. If you’re not sure if yours is safe, best to error on the side of caution. Use a skillet or heavy bottom pan to sear the sausage and then transfer the links to the crockpot once they’re browned.ย 
Keyword apple, crock pot, crockpot, sausage, slow cooker

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