Broccoli Cauliflower Slow Cooker Casserole

Slow cooker casseroles are the ultimate easy dinner, and adding sausages makes them fuss-free. The meat is seasoned to perfection, and you don't need to do any chopping or prepping beyond a little frying.

Which sausages are best for a casserole?

Ones which are full of filler ingredients like rusk will go mushy in the casserole – the more meat, the better they will hold together. Choose sausages with a high percentage of meat – at least 75% or higher.

What's the best way to brown sausages?

Most sausages will release some fat as they cook, so you don't need to use a lot of oil – just heat a 1/2tbsp of oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the sausages and don't shake the pan or move the sausages for a few min. This will allow them to brown properly and release from the pan without tearing. Once you've given them a few minutes, use tongs to gently turn them over and brown on the other side in the same manner. Remember – if you keep moving the sausages, they won't get a chance to turn golden.

If you find the sausages roll too much and don't stay where you want them, arrange them in the pan so they touch together and keep each other in place.

Don't turn the heat too high or the pan will smoke unnecessarily – keep it on a medium heat.

How to make a slow cooker casserole more flavoursome

Slow cooker recipes need a fair amount of liquid to help everything cook evenly, so they often have a very diluted flavour. We've added some pickle into the recipe to give depth and round everything out. The pickle has the perfect balance of salt, sugar and acid – a little sprinkle of culinary magic – that will add more notes to an otherwise monotonous melody. Other sticky condiments would work too – anything that is sweet and sour, such as an onion marmalade, or even Chinese Plum sauce are worth experimenting with, or correspond it to whatever flavour of sausage you've picked. If you're using a chorizo style sausage, a blob of quince membrillo would pair beautifully.

Our sausage casserole is really hearty and best served with a good mash and green veggies.

If you're looking for other casserole recommendations we have chicken casserole recipes that would make the perfect dinner for colder months.

If you would prefer a sausage casserole you can make on the hob, try our sausage casserole recipe which can be made in under an hour.

Cal/Serv: 547

Makes: 4 servings

Prep Time: 0 hours 10 mins

Cook Time: 4 hours 20 mins

Total Time: 4 hours 30 mins

good quality pork sausages

1 tbsp.

olive oil

red onions, sliced

2 tbsp.

plain flour

parsnips, peeled and cut into batons

garlic cloves, crushed

400 ml

(14 fl oz) beef stock

3 tbsp.

Branston pickle

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Heat half the oil in a large pan on medium-high heat and brown the sausages, about 10 minutes. Tip into slow cooker.
Add the remaining oil, lower the heat to medium and cook the onion until soft, about 10 minutes, increasing the heat for the last 3 minutes to caramelise. Stir in the flour and cook for 1min more then pour in the stock and stir to mix. Add to slow cooker.
Add parsnip, garlic and pickle to the slow cooker and stir everything together to combine. Cover with lid and cook on high for 4 hours.
Season to taste and serve with mashed potato and steamed broccoli.

Using flavoured sausages can also be really beneficial and add extra interest – try pork and apple, Cumberland or a robust Toulouse.

slow cooker sausage casserole with onion gravy

Good Housekeeping UK

Per Serving:

Calories: 547
Fibre: 9 g
Total carbs: 34 g
Sugars: 15 g
Total fat: 32 g
Saturated fat: 11 g
Protein: 26 g

Best slow cookers - Tried and tested

Lift & Serve Digital Slow Cooker with Hinged Lid and Programmable Countdown Timer, 4.7 Litre

Crock-Pot amazon.co.uk

£39.99

Score: 91/100

The Fast Slow Cooker Pro, 6 Litre

Sage amazon.co.uk

£198.95

Score: 88/100

Digital Slow Cooker 4.5L with Timer Delay Function

Andrew James amazon.co.uk

Score: 88/100

Electric Family Slow Cooker, Brushed Chrome - 3.5 Litre

Lakeland amazon.co.uk

£32.99

Score:87/100

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