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When I go to The Container Store, I just want to say, “take all my money.” It’s seriously Target’s evil twin sister. Every time I walk in either of these stores, I just want to buy all the things, but The Container Store brings out this OCD need in me and makes me feel like my house is completely filthy because it’s not contained and organized into containers and racks. Oh, and their custom closets? Gahhhh. If I won the lottery, I’d probably hire someone from The Container Store to custom redo my closets and re-organize my house.
I wanted all these baskets and containers but I was like, ok, in reality, where would these go in our house and do we realllly need these? The Container Store is a dangerous place to be sometimes!
One of my good friends gave me this recipe and she called it the ‘panty/boxer dropper’ and I wasn’t about to title the recipe that and get flagged for having an adult website, haha. I thought I’d mention it though because while this doesn’t look like much, it has got SO MUCH FLAVOR and it’ll be one of the best things you eat this season. I honestly was skeptical because the ingredient list didn’t sound all that enticing and after I had it cooking for a couple hours, the smell was outrageous. I tried a spoonful and I think my eyes rolled to the back of my head and I let out a groan. It was the best effing slow cooker dish I’ve had in a while. Holy yum.
The spicy pork sausage is definitely what gives this dish a lot of flavor so I definitely wouldn’t omit that (sorry vegetarians!). This is even better the next day, too. Leftovers were something we were looking forward to. Ahh, you have to make this slow cooker lentil and spicy sausage stew to see what I’m talking about!!
Slow Cooker Lentil and Spicy Sausage Stew
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ pound (227 g) hot pork sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cups (399 g) sweet potatoes, cubed
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- ½ pound (227 g) bag of lentils, rinsed
- 3 ¾ cups (887 ml) chicken stock + more if needed
- 3 cups (90 g) loosely packed baby spinach leaves
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add pork sausage to a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage and break it up into pieces with your spatula or wooden spoon. Add the onion and cook until just softened (you don’t need to cook fully).1/2 pound (227 g) hot pork sausage, 1 onion
- Remove from heat and add sausage and onions to your slow cooker.
- Add the sweet potatoes, celery, lentils, and chicken stock to the slow cooker. Stir to mix.3 cups (399 g) sweet potatoes, 3 celery stalks, 1/2 pound (227 g) bag of lentils, 3 3/4 cups (887 ml) chicken stock + more if needed
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Stir in the spinach leaves and wilt them. Season with salt and pepper.3 cups (90 g) loosely packed baby spinach leaves, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- If your stew is thick and you want to thin it out, add a little more chicken stock to it until you get the desired consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Hi Julie this looks so good! Curious could I sub acorn squash cubes for the sweet potato? I Don’t know how they do in slow cookers? I have one sitting in cold storage that needs used up but have never had one that I haven’t just made into soup and I need to branch out.. ha!
Yes, you can definitely use sweet potato!
I made this stew, following the recipe exactly as written. It was FANTASTIC — I wouldn’t change a single thing! Thank you for this delicious and easy recipe, which is now one of my favorites and definitely in my regular rotation. I can’t wait to take it to a potluck — it will be a crowd pleaser!
Thanks for letting me know!
Yummy
I made this a few weeks back and forgot to comment— but it was really really delicious! I totally neglected to drain the browned sausage and it ended up a bit greasy, but still really great (perhaps even tastier because of that reason, haha, oops!). I also cooked mine longer and on low (about 7 hours). Turned out perfect!
Awesome!! Thanks for the feedback!
looks wonderful! I just made a lentil and black eyed pea stew in my crockpot.left on low for over ten hours and lentils were still crunchy…is there a trick or process to getting lentils soft? thanks!
over 10 hours and the lentils were still crunchy? wow! to be honest, i’m surprised by this because that really shouldn’t happen. when i made my lentils, by hour 4, my lentils almost couldn’t hold its own shape and about to turn to mush. i would say maybe for you, soak your lentils overnight and then cook them.
If I’m making ahead for freezer meal exchange, should I brown sausage and onion, let cool and then combine ingredients in freezer bag? I was thinking of giving each person a carton of chicken stock on the side instead of putting in freezer bag. What do you think?
Yes, I would definitely let cool and then combine in a freezer bag. What a great idea!
I noticed there’s a difference between the Pinterest site and your blog on the amount of lentils. Is it one 2-lb bag or 1/2 (0.5) lb? Thanks!
It’s 1/2 pound bag. Just for future knowledge, Pinterest is just an aggregation site and they’re usually highly inaccurate when it comes to recipes. You should always come to the original source for the right amounts in recipes! :)
So glad I asked!! Can you imagine the disaster if I dumped 2 lbs of lentils into this?!
Haha, oh gosh, that would’ve been overflowing! I’m glad you asked too :) I hope you enjoy!