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Easy Slow Cooker Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Stew

slow cooker tuscan white bean and sausage stew - featured image
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A warm, hearty, and rustic slow cooker stew combining smoky sausage, creamy white beans, and aromatic herbs for perfect comfort meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) white beans, drained and rinsed (cannellini or great northern beans)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes with juice
  • 4 cups (32 fl oz / 960 ml) low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth for vegetarian option
  • 1 lb (450 g) smoked sausage, sliced into ½-inch (1.3 cm) rounds (Kielbasa or Andouille recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (crushed) or 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: 2 cups (about 2 oz / 60 g) chopped kale or spinach
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sautéing onion and sausage)

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion finely, mince the garlic, and slice the sausage into ½-inch rounds. Wash and chop greens if using. Prep time about 10 minutes.
  2. Optional: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown sausage slices about 5 minutes until edges caramelize. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, sauté onions until translucent (3-4 minutes), add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add browned sausage and onions (or raw if skipping browning) into the slow cooker. Pour in drained white beans, diced tomatoes with juice, and chicken broth.
  4. Sprinkle in dried thyme, rosemary, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until beans are soft and flavors meld.
  6. About 15 minutes before serving, stir in chopped kale or spinach if using. Cover and let greens wilt.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as needed. If stew is too thick, add a splash of broth or water.
  8. Ladle into bowls and serve warm with crusty bread or creamy polenta.

Notes

[‘Browning the sausage before slow cooking adds smoky depth and caramelized flavor but can be skipped for convenience.’, ‘Add salt gradually and taste at the end to avoid over-seasoning due to broth and sausage salt content.’, ‘Use dried herbs for slow cooking; fresh herbs can be added at the end to brighten flavor.’, ‘Add delicate greens last to preserve texture and color.’, ‘Rinse canned beans to keep broth smooth and prevent starchiness.’, ‘Stir stew once or twice during cooking if possible to prevent sticking.’, ‘For vegetarian version, omit sausage and add smoked paprika or mushrooms for smoky umami flavor.’, ‘Can be cooked on stovetop simmering 45-60 minutes as an alternative method.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker stew, Tuscan stew, white bean stew, sausage stew, comfort food, easy dinner, slow cooker recipe

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/easy-slow-cooker-tuscan-white-bean-and-sausage-stew-recipe-for-perfect-comfort-meals/