SLOW COOKER ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND PEPPER STEW

Slow Cooker Italian Sausage and Pepper Stew image

Provided by C.J. Sharpless

Time 5h

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 lb italian sausage, hot
3 medium sweet peppers
1 large vidalia onion
4 clove garlic
5 medium potatoes
14 oz can(s) tomatoes, canned italian-style and diced
32 oz chicken broth
2 Tbsp crushed tapioca
2 tsp oregano, dried
salt and pepper
2 Tbsp cornstarch, heaping

Steps:

1. Coarsley chop veggies - potatoes cut to about 1 and a half inch pieces. Line the bottom of a 5 - 6 qt. slow cooker with the potatoes. Brown sausages whole (I use hot, but mild or sweet will taste just as good!) in pan, and place in single layer on top of potatoes. Saute peppers, onions, and garlic in a little oil in pan about 2 minutes to just soften edges. Deglaze pan with some of the broth to get all that good flavor, and pour evenly over top of the sausages. Sprinkle the tapioca over the pepper mix. Next layer, pour tomatoes with juice evenly on top of peppers. Oregano, salt, and pepper sprinkled, then finish by pouring chicken broth over everything. DO NOT MIX! Leave in layers.
2. Cook on LOW for 4 hours. Remove sausages and let rest. Turn heat to HIGH, add 2 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with a little water to pot and stir in. Slice up the sausages, return to pot - stir in. Cover and continue cooking on high for 20 minutes or until sauce has thickened slightly. Serve with grated parmesan and garlic bread.