Yes, it is perfectly fine to make a slow cooker sausage casserole without pan-frying the sausages first. While pan-frying can add some additional flavor and color to the sausages, it is not a mandatory step for cooking them in a slow cooker.
Here's how you can make a delicious slow cooker sausage casserole without pan-frying the sausages:
Ingredients:
- 8-10 sausages of your choice (pork, beef, chicken, etc.)
- 1 onion, diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2-3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2-3 potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: other vegetables like bell peppers, celery, or peas for added variety
Instructions:
If you prefer, you can prick the sausages with a fork to prevent them from bursting while cooking. This step is optional.
Place the sausages, diced onions, minced garlic, sliced carrots, and diced potatoes in the slow cooker.
In a separate bowl, mix the diced tomatoes or tomato sauce with the chicken or vegetable broth, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper.
Pour the tomato mixture over the sausages and vegetables in the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine everything evenly.
Set the slow cooker to low heat and cook for about 6-8 hours or high heat for about 3-4 hours. Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker and the thickness of the sausages.
Once the sausages and vegetables are cooked through and tender, the sausage casserole is ready to serve. You can garnish it with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme, if desired.
By slow cooking the sausages with the vegetables and seasonings, they will infuse each other with flavor, and you'll end up with a tasty and hearty sausage casserole without the need for pan-frying.