Description
This delicious slow cooker cabbage and sausage recipe is a hearty and comforting meal, perfect for a hands-off cooking experience. Tender cabbage, flavorful smoked sausage, and a mix of aromatic vegetables and spices simmer together, creating a savory and satisfying dish with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium head green cabbage, chopped
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
Meat
- 14 oz smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into rounds
Spices & Condiments
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Liquids & Oils
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Begin by layering the chopped cabbage, sliced onions, minced garlic, and sliced carrot evenly in the large slow cooker, ensuring an even distribution of vegetables.
- Add the sausage: Place the sliced smoked sausage or kielbasa on top of the layered vegetables, allowing its flavors to infuse into the dish during cooking.
- Season the ingredients: Sprinkle paprika, black pepper, salt, and optional crushed red pepper flakes over the sausage and vegetables evenly to create depth and warmth in flavor.
- Add liquids and oil: Drizzle olive oil or melted butter over the mixture, then pour in the apple cider vinegar and chicken broth to add moisture and tang.
- Cook the dish: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the cabbage is tender and all flavors meld together.
- Final touches and serving: Before serving, gently stir the dish to combine the flavors thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper as needed for perfect balance.
Notes
- For a spicier version, increase the crushed red pepper flakes or add cayenne pepper.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a slightly different flavor or to keep it lighter.
- Use olive oil for a healthier fat option, or melted butter for richer flavor.
- This dish freezes well, so consider making a larger batch for meal prep.
- Serve this with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
