This delicious slow cooker sausages in onion gravy is such an easy recipe! With minimal effort, you'll come home to sausages in a thick, rich brown onion gravy that is perfect with creamy mashed potato.
Comfort foods like slow cooker sausages in this bangers and mash recipe don't get any easier for the whole family! So much so, it's one of our go-to recipes each week.
What inspired me to make it was the simple ingredients in my slow cooker braised steak and onion. Its crockpot sausage gravy uses oats to thicken for a healthy alternative.
And it's versatile to adapt it into a sausage and onion casserole by adding your favourite veggies like green beans, green peas, etc as a complete main meal.
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✔️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
- No pot watching
- Minimal prep time
- Easy sausage recipe for batch cooking
- Healthy rich onion gravy with no extra fat
- Higher in protein as it uses oat flour, not plain flour
🛒 Ingredient Notes
Please see the printable recipe card with exact ingredient quantities and preparation instructions at the bottom of this post.
Cooking oil spray - for a low calorie weight loss plan, or use olive oil, or rapeseed oil if not required
Pork sausages - use good quality sausages like Cumberland sausage with 97% meat content, or use any sausages you wish, such as beef sausages, veggie sausages, etc
Sliced onions - green or red onion, halved & very finely sliced
Herbs and spices - dried rosemary, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper
Mushrooms - (optional) if you like a subtle taste of a mushroom gravy
Beef stock cubes - made up with water for beef broth
Oats - these are put in the crock pot at the start to thicken slowly into a rich glossy sauce while it cooks and does not result in a lumpy gravy.
📋 Cooking Instructions
Add oil to a large sauté pan and sear the sausages over medium-high heat until golden brown.
Alternatively: you can cook them in the oven in a roasting tray or air fry sausages.
Now transfer the browned sausages to a slow cooker.
Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and give it a good stir.
Note: you might want to add other vegetables for a sausage stew if desired.
Place the lid on top and choose one of the following cooking times:
- Low heat = 6-7 hours
- High heat = 3-4 hours
Then serve with mashed potatoes once cooked.
Tips: No need to stir while cooking.
If you want to thicken it more at the end, you could stir in some gravy granules for the quickest results. Or next time, increase your oats.
Towards the last half hour of cooking, boil some potatoes in salted water over medium heat until tender. Then drain, mash and add butter and enough milk to loosen.
👩🍳 Substitutions
There are a few simple ways to adjust this easy slow cooker recipe for any special dietary needs:
- Oil - Use Fry Light for low fat, or olive oil, etc if not required
- Oats - make a flour or corn starch slurry with a 50/50 mix with cold water, then stir in at the end to thicken. Or xanthan gum for keto
- Stock - use Gluten Free stock and sausages if needed (and check the oat manufacturer's guarantees)
- Meat - use low fat sausages if preferred, or swap for vegetarian or vegan sausages and pick vegetable stock or vegan bouillon
⚖️ Variations
Here are a few different ways you can take this dish to the next level:
- Spicy - infuse with star anise, add some Worcestershire sauce and a pinch of chilli flakes if you like a hot gravy
- Deluxe - replace some stock for some reduced down red wine, or beer. And heat onions at the same time as a sausages for a richer, more caramelised taste
- Kid-friendly - try using hot dogs for a fun and familiar taste, and serve with homemade oven chips
I also have sausages in red wine gravy version of this recipe on my website.
🔪 Equipment
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- large frying pan
- Kitchen tongs
- Slow cooker or crockpot
- Chopping board
- Chopping knife
- Weighing scales
- Salt and pepper grinder
- Measuring jug
- Measuring spoons
❄️ Storage
Storing - we prefer eating {recipe} fresh, but it can be stored in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Freezing - cool to room temperature and again, store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheating - If you want to eat the next day, defrost in the fridge if required and microwave until piping hot, or on the hob or stove.
💡Pro Tips
- If you prefer a darker gravy, then you could add some gravy browning or an OXO cube
- For extra flavour, use the stock to deglaze the pan or roasting tin you used to cook the sausages
- Avoid avoid skipping the sausage searing step for a richer, tastier and sausage that is less likely to fall apart in the slow cooker
- To thicken the gravy more at the end, you could stir in some gravy granules for the quickest results. Or next time, increase your oats.
- Try to avoid cheap sausages with a high water content. High protein sausages with 97% meat will keep you fuller for longer
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Roast dinner: serve on a roast dinner with additional roast chicken, sirloin beef, gammon or pork chops
Potatoes: sausage in homemade gravy is perfect with this cheesy mash recipe for the ultimate comfort food
Steamed vegetables: serving with a side of peas, buttery cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower florets are perfect
❓ FAQ
Yes, absolutely. In fact, you can save a lot of pot washing by making it a one pot sausage hotpot recipe. I would sear the sausages in a cast iron dish that can cope with direct heat on the hob as well as the oven.
So I suggest preheating your oven at 180 degrees. And while it's heating up, sear your sausages. Then once they're browned on all sides, add everything to the pot, put the lid on and cook in the oven for 1 hour.
If you want to go an extra mile, then saute your onions too on a low heat for about 10 minutes.
Although my recipes state 574 calories per portion, this is to assume you've chosen indulgent sausages. If you are on a Slimming World or Weight Watchers plan, then you can bring this average down by buying low-fat sausages. And because there are so many on the market, this is why it will vary
This is the caramelise the sausages and help keep their integrity. Soggy, broken sausages aren't ideal, so it's worth doing. And your dish will be richer.
For a quick recipe, you can cook it all in the same pan on the hob.
I reccommend frying the sausages and onions for 8-10 minutes, then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer while covered for 15-20 mins until thick.
➕ More Sausage Recipes
Sausages are a staple food in our house, so I'm sure you'll find another tasty recipe to try:
🍽️More Slow Cooker Recipes
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
📖 Recipe
Sausages in Onion Gravy {Slow Cooker Recipe}
Equipment
Ingredients
- Cooking oil spray
- 8 Sausages Reduced fat if wanting to be healthy
- 2 large onions halved & finely sliced
- 15 g oats
- 160 g mushrooms sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 beef stock cubes *Use additional OXO or gravy browning if you prefer it darker
- 400 ml water
- ½ teaspoon rosemary dried
Instructions
- First, sear the sausages on high heat to caramelise in cooking oil spray in a frying pan. This will take about 8 minutes.
- Now place the sausages and everything else in the slow cooker. Note: I recommend not adding salt until the end to taste.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7.
- Serve with mash and veg and enjoy.
Disclaimer
*This is an unofficial page and has no affiliation or endorsement from Slimming World. Slimming World's website can be found at https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/. Any syn values are personal estimates and not verified by Slimming World.
Video
Notes
Is this Slow Cooker Sausages in Onion Gravy Recipe Healthy?
Although my recipes state 574 calories per portion, this is to assume you've chosen indulgent sausages. If you are on a slimming or diet club plan, then you can bring this average down by buying low-fat sausages. And because there are so many on the market, this is why it will vary.Can I Make This Recipe for Slow Cooker Sausages Vegetarian?
To make this a vegetarian slow cooker sausages in onion gravy recipe, it’s so simple. Simply opt for vegetarian sausages and vegetable stock. When searing, it's best to fry thawed ones.Can I Slow Cook Sausages in the Oven Instead?
Yes! First, preheat your oven at 180 degrees and when searing sausages, try to use a cast iron dish. Then add everything, cover and cook in the oven for 1 hour.Why Do I Need to Sear the Sausages First?
This is to caramelise the sausages and help keep their integrity. Soggy, broken sausages aren't ideal, so it's worth doing. And your dish will be richer.Extra Cooking Tips
- If you prefer a darker gravy, then you could add some gravy browning or an OXO cube
- If you don't like much salt, then don't add it in until the end
- And as mentioned above, avoid skipping the sausage searing step for a richer, more structured sausage.
Phil
Loved it. Slow cooked on high 3 hrs. The mushrooms were a good extra.
Carole
Hi Vikkie
I'm really looking forward to trying this recipe but can i make it and freeze half or batch cook to freeze as there are only 2 to eat it?
Thank you😊
Vikkie Lee
Hi Carole,
Yes, absolutely! It's a great freezer meal! I freezr all of my meals for up to 3 months, the defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat in a hob, oven or microwave. Hope that helps 🙂
Vikkie
Sue J
Can you use smoked sausage instead of regular sausage?
Sharon
This is an easy and delicious meal, great for coming home to the smell and taste of a homely meal
Joan Hoban
I used this recipe for two last week it was lovely and I'm not a lover of sausages. I am doing it again for when my son and girlfriend come for tea, this one goes in my recipe book. Fabulous.
Chris
Do I have to use oats or can I use flour. If so what flour and how much would I use? Thank you
Valeriel
Tried this yesterday and it was fab! Popped the sausages under the grill at the end for colour. Lovely recipe, looking forward to the pork casserole tomorrow
x
patricia macivor
i dont like mushrooms can i use carrot instead
vikkie
I can't see why not x
Vicky Fox
Could I do this in the oven or frying pan? rather than a slow cooker.
Kate
I love the sound of the recipe. I will try it next week. Food sorted for a few days.
Kate
I like to use Linda McCartney red onion and rosemary free.
vikkie
Thank you Kate, I will definitely look for them 🙂 x