Sausage and Potatoes with Peppers (Slow-Cooker)

slowcookersausagespotatoespeppers This is such an easy dump and go dinner full of tender potatoes, the rich flavour of Polish sausage, wholesome bell peppers, tomatoes and onions.

1 (14 oz) pkg kielbasa, sliced into rounds
1.5 lbs baby potatoes, halved
2 large green bell peppers, sliced
½ large sweet onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup beef broth or 1 cup water and 1 beef bouillon cube
1 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground

Add the sliced kielbasa, baby potatoes, sliced green peppers, chopped onions, canned diced tomatoes, minced garlic, beef broth and seasonings to the slow cooker. Stir, pushing the ingredients into the liquid as much as possible.

Set to LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. Mix the sausage and potato casserole, taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve warm.

Makes 4 servings.

Cook's Notes:

For crispy peppers, add them during the last 30 minutes of cooking time. Bell peppers cook quickly, so if you put them in at the start they will be very soft (which is how my entire family likes them).
Use your favourite type of sausage to give it your own flair. Both mild and spicy sausages work well.
To make this recipe more of a potato casserole, double up on the baby potatoes.
Storing: Store slow cooker sausage and potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Freeze for 2-3 months in freezer storage bags. To defrost, thaw in the fridge overnight.

Variations:

Add cheese to make cheesy slow cooker kielbasa and potatoes. Cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese are good choices.
Add more veggies: green beans, asparagus, carrots and peas will all give sausage and potatoes an extra dose of veggies and flavour.
Make a creamy sauce: add a can of cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup to make a creamy sausage and potatoes recipe.
Make it spicy: use andouille sausage or add a few tsp. of red pepper flakes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Type Of Sausage Can I Use? I love this recipe with kielbasa sausage, particularly turkey kielbasa. But any other type of sausage works, including beef kielbasa, smoked sausage, Italian sausage (beef, chicken, or turkey sausage variations) and andouille sausage.
Should I Brown The Sausage Before Adding To The Slow Cooker? Browning meat before adding to the crockpot is optional. I skip this step in most of my recipes to keep them one-pot meals and as simple as possible.
What To Serve With Crockpot Sausage and Potatoes? This easy meal is great served with a side salad or fresh bread, like Italian bread, cheesy bread, garlic bread or toasted white bread.