This flavorful one-pot dish combines tender green beans, hearty baby potatoes, and rich smoked sausage. The baby potatoes turn meltingly tender, and the sausage is smoky and satisfying. You're going to love this easy one-pot dinner.

slow cooker sausage and potatoes with green beans in a grey bowl on the table

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Effortless comfort food: With tender potatoes that soak up the garlicky butter and slices of smoky sausage in every bite, this Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes recipe proves weeknight comfort food can be effortless!
One dish meal: Everything cooks together in the slow cooker, so it feeds the whole family on a budget with only one pot to wash.
Completely versatile: We love that it is completely versatile so you can easily swap sausages, add extra vegetables or change the spices.
Minimal prep: It's exactly the kind of simple weeknight dinner I love - minimal prep, big flavor, and a kitchen that smells incredible by the time dinner is ready.

Ingredients

sausage, baby dutch potatoes, fresh green beans, butter, olive oil and spices.

Sausage: Smoked sausage delivers so much flavor to the vegetables as they simmer together.
Baby potatoes: Feel free to use any potatoes you prefer.
Green beans: While the green beans might technically be considered optional, they are my favorite part of this recipe - they soften beautifully and absorb so much flavor from the sausage and potatoes as they cook.
Butter: Dotted over the top, butter adds richness to the finished dish.
Olive oil or cooking spray: Used to coat the bottom of the slow cooker before adding the other ingredients.
Sea salt: Seasons the potatoes as they cook; pink Himalayan or kosher salt works just as well.
Garlic powder: Sprinkle generously for the best flavor.
Onion powder: Adds savory depth to the seasoning blend.
Ground black pepper: Freshly ground is best - it adds a gentle kick.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
How to Make Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes
Tips and Variations
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes
Storing Leftovers
Frequently Asked Questions
More Delicious and Easy Recipes
Recipe
Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes

How to Make Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes

Coat the slow cooker. Lightly coat the bottom of the slow cooker with olive oil or cooking spray.
Season the potatoes. Add the potatoes and season with pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and sea salt, then toss to coat.
Add butter and sausage. Add butter and slices of smoked sausage, then cover and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, 3 to 4 hours on high or 6 to 8 hours on low.
Add the green beans. If cooking on high, add the green beans over the potatoes for the last hour; if cooking on low, add them two to three hours before serving.

Tips and Variations

Double the sausage: If you have a family of meat lovers, like I do, feel free to add a second package of smoked sausage.
Add cheese: If you want to try something new, add cheese - my kids love it when I top this dish with a handful of shredded cheddar.
Add extra veggies: Carrots or red bell peppers would be delicious in this recipe - add them for the last 2-3 hours so they don't get overcooked.
Add some spice: If you love spicy foods, add 1-2 teaspoon of Creole seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or red pepper flakes for a little kick.
Try asparagus: Asparagus typically cooks more quickly, so I would wait until the final hour or so of the cooking time to add it to the slow cooker.
Use different potatoes: Peeled and diced russet potatoes, red potatoes, or sweet potatoes would all be delicious in this crock pot recipe.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes

Serve with a salad: Serve it with a simple side salad - I always feel better with something green alongside this hearty meal.
Serve with a roasted veggie: You can also roast your favorite green vegetable and serve it with this simple crock pot meal - roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted green beans, or roasted asparagus would all be delicious with this meal.
Add some bread: Make some garlic bread and you are set for a delicious and wonderful meal everyone will love.

sausage, potatoes and butter in the slow cooker

Storing Leftovers

Any leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to five days in an airtight container. They freeze well too (see the FAQ below). When reheating, warm them gently so the potatoes don't turn mushy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of sausage works best in this recipe?

This recipe worked really well when I used smoked sausage. You can use your preferred type in this recipe, though. Turkey sausage is a good leaner option and still tastes great here. This simple slow cooker recipe would also work nicely with andouille sausage. Kielbasa is another great option if you'd like a classic kielbasa-and-potatoes version.

Do you have to pre-cook sausage?

No, the smoked sausage or kielbasa is already cooked. For extra flavor, sauté the sliced sausage in a pan over medium heat until browned on all sides before adding it to the slow cooker.

Can I add cubed chicken to appease my non-sausage family members?

That should work just fine, but to make sure the chicken is as flavorful as the sausage, I'd suggest tossing it in a little oil and seasoning first.

Can you freeze the leftovers?

Yes, these leftovers freeze beautifully. They will keep for two to three months in a freezer-safe container. When you're ready to eat, let the leftovers defrost in the fridge overnight.

How long does this take to cook?

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, covered, until the potatoes are fork-tender. Depending on the type of crock pot used for this dish, the cooking time will change.

sausage and potatoes with green beans in crockpot

If you tried this Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes or any other recipe on my website, please feel free to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. And remember to tag me on Instagram!

Slow Cooker Sausage and Potatoes