Slow Cooker Sausage Stew is a cozy meal with Italian sausage, lots of veggies, and pasta. It's a hearty meal the whole family will love.

You'll also love our delicious Italian-style chicken sausage soup.
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When it comes to slow cooker recipes, it's hard to choose a favorite. There are so many delicious dishes that I love to make - and eat!
This Slow Cooker Sausage Stew is the perfect dinner for a cold night, especially when it's been snowing all day.

🧂 Ingredients
Here is what you'll need to make our Slow Cooker Sausage Stew recipe:
- mild Italian sausage
- olive oil
- water
- diced tomatoes with green chilies
- red kidney beans
- zucchini
- cabbage
- carrots
- fresh garlic or garlic powder
- beef broth or beef stock
- small shell pasta
- kosher salt and black pepper
This is meant to be a brief overview of this great recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.
🔪 Instructions
- Sear the sausage.
- Add all the ingredients to the crock pot, except for the pasta.
- Cover and cook 4-6 hours on low.
- 30 minutes prior to cooking, stir in the pasta. Cover and cook until the pasta is al dente.

🥄Equipment
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Here is what you will need to make this easy recipe:
- Crockpot or Slow Cooker
- Skillet
- Cutting Board and Santoku Knife
- Measuring Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cup and Dry Measuring Cups
For a list of some of my favorite items to use when cooking, and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.
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🍲 Storage
To Store: Leftover Slow Cooker Sausage Stew in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)
To Reheat: Microwave individual portions in 30 second intervals until heated throughout.
📖 Variations
The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how our crock pot sausage stew recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:
- For a thicker stew, add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.
- You can add all sorts of veggies to this recipe like green beans, minced red onion or white onions, diced green peppers, etc.
- Instead of red kidney beans, use cannellini beans, pinto beans, or black beans.
- For a leaner protein, try this with chicken or turkey sausage.
- There are many versions of Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies. I use milk, but you can choose any variety you like.
- Instead of pasta, use potatoes or sweet potatoes as a starch.
This stew is such a good recipe because it's versatile!
Out of something you need? Check out our free ingredient substitutions printable!
🍴 Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this hearty stew with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese or a dollop of sour cream on top. Add a light side salad or some crusty bread and you have dinner all wrapped up!
😋 Similar Recipes
Slow cooking saves so much time in the kitchen! Next time you need another quick and easy meal, try one of these delicious recipes:
- slow cooker shredded beef
- crockpot angel chicken
- slow cooker chicken chili
- crockpot teriyaki chicken
This Italian sausage stew is one of my favorite ways to eat sausage. Whether you're a fan of sweet sausage or hot sausage, you'll also want to try our Italian sausage pasta, spicy sausage sheet pan dinner, or chicken apple sausage dinner.
Not ready to make this sausage stew yet?
When you do make it, please come back and comment and leave me a 5-star rating below! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Slow Cooker Sausage Stew
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds mild Italian sausage links
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup water
- 1 29-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 2 15-ounce cans red kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 2 zucchini halved and sliced in 1 inch pieces
- 2 cups coarsely chopped cabbage
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 16-ounce box small shell pasta
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, sear the sausage.
- Add the water to the skillet. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid and cook until all the water has evaporated.
- Transfer the sausage to the crockpot along with all of the other ingredients, except for the pasta.
- Cover and cook 4-6 hours on low.
- 30 minutes prior to cooking, stir in the pasta. Cover and cook until the pasta is al dente.
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Meal Planning
Want to add this recipe to your meal plan? Download our free printable meal plan here.

This recipe is included in Meal Plan 11 along with:
- southwest chopped salad with creamy southwest dressing
- cowboy burger
- sesame chicken
- carrot smoothie
- strawberry shortcake ice cream
... and more!
Be sure to check out all our meal plan ideas here.
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