There is something mighty comforting about a slow cooker meal that asks so little and gives back so much. This recipe takes fully cooked smoked pork sausage links and turns them into a hearty, flavorful supper with just four other simple ingredients, making it just the sort of dish busy families and country cooks have leaned on for generations. The sausage warms low and slow in a sweet and savory sauce until every bite is tender, glossy, and full of that deep smoked flavor folks around the Midwest have always loved.
Serve these sausage links with creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or a scoop of fluffy rice to catch every bit of sauce. If you want to round out the plate, green beans, sweet corn, braised cabbage, or a simple pan of baked beans all fit right in, and a basket of warm rolls on the table never hurt a thing.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Smoked Pork Sausage Links
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds fully cooked smoked pork sausage links
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup grape jelly
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 small onion, thinly sliced
Directions
1. Lightly grease the slow cooker insert if desired, then arrange the fully cooked smoked pork sausage links in the bottom of the slow cooker and scatter the sliced onion over the top.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, grape jelly, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
3. Pour the sauce over the sausage links, turning them gently to coat as evenly as you can.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or on HIGH for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the sausage is heated through and the onions are tender.
5. Stir gently, spoon some of the sauce over the top, and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
Make it sweeter: If your family enjoys that old-fashioned sweet-and-smoky combination, use a honey barbecue sauce or add an extra spoonful of grape jelly for a stickier glaze.
Add a little heat: A pinch of red pepper flakes or a spoonful of spicy brown mustard will wake up the sauce without changing the easy nature of the dish.
Slice before serving: You can serve the sausage links whole, but cutting them into bite-size pieces after cooking makes them especially nice for potlucks, game day suppers, or spooning over rice.
Watch the cooking time: Since the sausage is already fully cooked, the slow cooker is really just warming it through and blending the flavors. Try not to overcook, or the sauce may thicken too much.
Round out the meal: For a fuller one-pot supper, stir in chunks of bell pepper during the last hour of cooking, or serve the sausage over potatoes or noodles to stretch it a little farther for hungry folks.