Can I make Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Bean Stew less spicy?

Yes. The easiest way to reduce the heat is to use less habanero hot sauce when assembling the stew. You can start with a small amount, allow the ingredients to slow cook together, and then adjust the seasoning before serving. Using a mild smoked sausage instead of a spicy variety will also keep the overall heat level lower. Serve additional hot sauce on the side so anyone who prefers a spicier bowl can add it individually.

Do I need to brown the sausage before adding it to the slow cooker?

Browning the sausage is highly recommended because it improves both flavor and texture. Cooking the sliced sausage briefly in a skillet creates lightly caramelized edges and adds deeper savory notes to the finished Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Bean Stew . However, if you are short on time, you can add fully cooked smoked sausage directly to the slow cooker. The stew will still cook successfully, although the sausage may have a softer texture and slightly less developed flavor.

What beans work best in spicy sausage and bean stew?

Great Northern beans work particularly well because they have a mild flavor and creamy texture that pair nicely with smoked sausage and tomato broth. They also absorb the flavors of the spicy sauce and vegetables without becoming too dominant. Cannellini beans and navy beans are good substitutes. Cannellini beans are slightly larger and especially creamy, while navy beans are smaller and become very tender during slow cooking. Any of these varieties can produce a satisfying sausage and white bean stew.

Easy Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Bean Stew

Name: Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Bean Stew
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced; 2 bell peppers, chopped; 1 small onion, chopped; 1 small zucchini, chopped; 1 cup carrots, chopped; 3 (15 oz) cans Great Northern white beans, drained but not rinsed; 1 (28 oz) jar crushed tomatoes; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 2 tablespoons El Yucateco Black Label Reserve Hot Sauce, or another smoky habanero hot sauce

Description

Slow Cooker Spicy Sausage and Bean Stew is a hearty, smoky slow cooker dinner made with browned smoked sausage, Great Northern beans, tomatoes, colorful vegetables, chicken broth, and habanero hot sauce. It is an easy, warming meal with bold flavor and adjustable heat.

Ingredients

Scale

12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 small zucchini, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
3 (15 oz) cans Great Northern white beans, drained but not rinsed
1 (28 oz) jar crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons El Yucateco Black Label Reserve Hot Sauce, or another smoky habanero hot sauce

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Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook until lightly browned, stirring frequently.
Transfer the browned sausage to the slow cooker.
Add the chopped bell peppers, onion, zucchini, carrots, drained Great Northern beans, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and hot sauce.
Stir well to evenly combine the sausage, beans, vegetables, tomato base, broth, and hot sauce.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 8 hours, until the vegetables are tender.
Stir the stew before serving and taste carefully. Add extra hot sauce if a spicier flavor is desired.
Serve hot with crusty bread, cornbread, or a fresh green salad.

Notes

Drain the canned Great Northern beans before adding them to the slow cooker, but rinsing is not necessary.
Browning the sausage first gives the stew deeper savory flavor and better texture.
For a milder stew, reduce the amount of habanero hot sauce and serve additional hot sauce on the side.
Cannellini beans or navy beans can be substituted for Great Northern beans.
If the stew becomes too thick, stir in a small amount of additional chicken broth before serving.
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container and reheated until steaming hot throughout.
Nutrition information is an approximate estimate and will vary depending on the brands of sausage, beans, broth, tomatoes, and hot sauce used.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Category: Dinner
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Calories: 400 kcal
Sugar: 10 g
Sodium: 1500 mg
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 47 g
Fiber: 11 g
Protein: 21 g
Cholesterol: 35 mg