Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes for an Easy Weeknight Dinner Step-by-step instructions

Before you start

Before starting, prepare your ingredients to make assembly quick and easy. Wash and dice the potatoes into uniform chunks so they cook evenly. Slice the smoked sausage into even rounds. Measure out the broth so it is ready to pour. Having everything prepped beforehand ensures a smooth process and lets you get the slow cooker started in just a few minutes.

Instructions

Ingredient Assembly

1. 1Assemble the Potatoes and Sausage
   Place the seasoned diced potatoes and sliced smoked sausage into the slow cooker bowl, spreading them out evenly.
   Look for The ingredients should be evenly mixed in the bowl.
   Tip Cut the potatoes to a uniform size so they cook at the same rate.

At the end of this initial assembly phase, the seasoned diced potatoes and sliced smoked sausage should be fully combined inside the slow cooker bowl. The ingredients should be evenly distributed throughout the pot rather than piled in separate sections.

You will see a vibrant mix of colors from the seasoned potatoes and the savory sausage, and the ingredients should look fresh and ready for the liquid to be added.

Adding Liquid and Stirring

2. 2Add the Broth and Stir
   Pour the broth gently over the sausage and potatoes in the slow cooker bowl. Stir the mixture smoothly to combine all the ingredients.
   Look for The broth should pool at the bottom of the bowl.
   Tip Stir gently to avoid breaking the potato pieces.

After pouring in the broth and stirring the mixture, the ingredients should be lightly coated and glistening. The broth will pool gently at the bottom of the slow cooker bowl, partially surrounding the sausage and potatoes without completely submerging them.

The mixture should look well-combined, with the seasonings from the potatoes beginning to mingle with the liquid, creating a fragrant base before the cooking begins.

Slow Cooking and Simmering

3. 3Slow Cook and Simmer
   Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the potatoes are tender and the broth is bubbling.
   Look for A fork should easily pierce the potato chunks.
   Tip Keep the lid closed during cooking to retain heat.

At the end of the slow cooking cycle, the potatoes must be completely tender when pierced with a fork, and the smoked sausage slices should appear plump and glistening.

The broth at the bottom of the slow cooker will be bubbling gently, rich with the rendered flavors of the sausage. A warm, savory, and smoky aroma will fill your kitchen, signaling that the dish is fully cooked and ready.

Common mistakes

A common mistake is cutting the potatoes into uneven sizes, which results in some pieces being mushy while others remain hard.

Another error is lifting the slow cooker lid frequently during cooking, which releases trapped steam and significantly increases the cooking time. Lastly, adding too much liquid can dilute the rich flavors, so stick to the recommended amount of broth.

How to tell it’s done

The dish is perfectly done when the potatoes are fork-tender and slide easily off a fork when pierced. The smoked sausage slices should be plump, hot, and glistening from simmering in the broth. The broth itself should be bubbling gently and slightly thickened from the potato starches, creating a rich, savory sauce that coats the ingredients.