Slow Cooker Hot Italian Sausage Red Sauce

February 16, 2015 ·

Slow Cooker Hot Italian Sausage Red Sauce

Sometimes red sauce is missing something.
All to often people use plain ol’ ground beef as the source of protein for the Italian pasta dishes.
When you use ground beef, you have to rely on adding several other spices and ingredients to get a good flavor.
[rss-cut]
Well I totally have the cure for your boring red sauce pasta dish.
Johnsonville® Hot Italian Sausage basically saves the day. Swap it out for the ground beef! The sausage adds an amazing depth of flavor and because I used the “Hot” Variety, the sauce has a nice kick.
So next time you go to reach for the ground beef(or ground chicken), grab the sausage instead!

Slow Cooker Hot Italian Sausage Red Sauce

 

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

Slow Cooker Hot Italian Sausage Red Sauce
Author: Leslie Green – The Hungry Housewife
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 28oz. can Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 28oz. can Tomato Sauce
  • 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 package Johnsonville® Hot Italian Sausage Links, divided
  • Pasta, cooked to package directions
Instructions
  1. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, minced garlic,bay leaves,Italian seasoning and sugar to slow cooker, stir to incorporate.
  2. In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown 3 sausage links for 2 minutes per side.
  3. Remove from pan and add to slow cooker.
  4. Remove casing from 2 remaining sausage links and add sausgae to same pan.
  5. Cook sausage until no longer pink, breaking up the pieces with a spatula or wooden spoon.
  6. Drain and add to slow cooker.
  7. Make sure sausage links are completely covered with sauce.
  8. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
  9. Serve over your favorite pasta.

*As part of my partnership with Johnsonville®, I have been compensated to represent the brand. All opinions are 100% mine*

Filed Under: Main Dishes, Pork, Slow Cooker, Sponsored Posts

Comments

  1. Shelby says:
    February 16, 2015 at 7:01 am

    I couldn’t agree with you more about the sausage. I buy the Johnsonville Ground Hot Sausage all the time!

  2. Mike says:
    February 16, 2015 at 7:08 am

    I love making sauce in my Slow cooker. I will throw some sausage in there next time for sure.

  3. Jenny Flake says:
    February 16, 2015 at 8:44 am

    Now this is my kind of dinner recipe! Can’t wait to see you soon girl!! Let’s wear matching outfits again, haha!

  4. Cookbook Queen says:
    February 16, 2015 at 9:00 am

    It’s cold and icy here today…this sauce looks like the perfect dinner!

  5. Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons says:
    February 16, 2015 at 9:53 am

    Nice recipe! Yes, Italian sausage is the way to go for dishes like this. My mom’s lasagna calls for half ground beef and half Italian sausage. One time I messed up and did it with only beef, and it was just NOT the same. I could have cried, especially after all that work building the lasagna. Love that you did this in a slow cooker! Pinned!

  6. Cookin Canuck says:
    February 16, 2015 at 9:57 am

    We love use spicy sausages in our pasta dishes (and risotto and…). This sounds like the perfect cold weather meal.

  7. Rachel Cooks says:
    February 16, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    Love quick meals like this for during the week (and weekends too sometimes!). This looks delicious!

  8. Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says:
    February 16, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    Italian sausage does add a little something-something that you don’t get from ground beef. This looks wonderful!

  9. Jeanine says:
    February 16, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    Love being able to use the slow cooker for heart meals like this!

  10. Deborah says:
    February 16, 2015 at 10:50 pm

    Love this!! What a great way to spice up your sauce!

  11. Nicole says:
    February 18, 2015 at 11:57 am

    Looks like DINNER! Yum!