Slow Cooker Cabbage and Sausage

📝Shopping list

To make this amazing cabbage and sausage recipe you will need these simple ingredients:

• head of cabbage - sliced
• sausage links - sliced
• barley
• diced tomatoes - with green chilies
• old bay seasoning
• garlic - minced
• chicken broth
• salt and black pepper - to taste, if needed

🔪Instructions

This great recipe just involves a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it in a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check the your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

This comfort food cabbage recipe is full of flavor and super easy to make.  The ultimate one-pot complete meal!

• 🍲Slice cabbage and sausage.  You will only be using ½ of a head of cabbage.
• 🍲Add all ingredients other than cabbage to your slow cooker and stir to combine. 
• 🍲Fill crock pot to top with sliced cabbage.   Your slow cooker will be too full to stir at this point.  That is ok - the cabbage will shrink tremendously as it cooks
• 🍲Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
• 🍲Serve and enjoy!

🍽Serving suggestions

This dish is a full meal on its own!  It is great served with a loaf of crusty bread.

For the cheese lovers out there, topping your dish with some grated parmesan cheese is delicious. Or - try melting some shredded mozzarella on top!  

Macaroni and cheese and baked feta pasta are wonderful side dishes for this crockpot sausage meal.  

🔁Substitution ideas

1. I use either chicken or turkey sausage when I make this recipe.  The sausage shown in the pictures is a smoked chicken and apple sausage. This was not my favorite option for this dish.  Traditional smoked sausage, Italian sausage and kielbasa sausage are good choices.  Next time, I plan to try andouille sausage with it  
2. If you are a fan of spice, stir in some red pepper flakes.
3.  This recipe calls for jarred, minced garlic.  Fresh garlic or garlic powder can both be used in its place.  
4. If you want to add additional veggies, sliced red peppers and chopped onion are good options.  They will both add a little extra flavor.
5. If you don't have old bay seasoning, use smoked or sweet paprika.  The end result will have a slightly different flavor, but it will still be delicious.  
6. Fresh cabbage is my first choice for this recipe.  However, bagged cabbage is a real time saver and a perfect substitute on busy weeknights.

Storing

Store leftovers of this super easy recipe in an airtight container.  It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.   Alternatively, this dish can be frozen for 3-4 months.  

😉Hints & hacks

1. Feeling too lazy to cut up a whole cabbage? Use a large bag of pre-cut coleslaw mix instead. This is a great way to save time on super busy days.
2. This crock pot cabbage & ground beef recipe is a great one to assemble in advance. Store all ingredients other than the barley together in a large food storage bag overnight in the refrigerator. In the morning, just add it all to your crock pot together with barley and you are set.
3. This slow cooker sausage dish is a great one-pot meal if your people will be eating at different times. Once cooking time is done, turn your slow cooker to the warm setting (or switch it automatically if you have this feature). Everyone will have a hot and filling meal, no matter what time of the evening they are ready to eat. 
4. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
5. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!