Recipe: Slow Cooker Sausage and Lentil Stew

Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterCulinary Producer at The Kitchn
I'm a recipe developer, food writer, stylist, and video producer, with more than 10 years of professional experience. As an expert meal planner and avid home cook who loves grocery shopping and helping people figure out what to cook for dinner, I'm a natural fit as The Kitchn’s Dinner Therapist. Since graduating from The University of Scranton and The French Culinary Institute, I've authored three cookbooks: Buddha Bowls, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, and The Probiotic Kitchen. My kitchen superpower is turning a random assortment of ingredients into easy, delicious dinners that even my young son will eat.
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updated Jan 29, 2020
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Serves6 to 8

Prep5 minutes

Cook6 hours to 8 hours

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

We know you’ll fall in love with how easy it is to pull off this hearty, protein-packed dinner. But what will really win you over is its savory, smoky flavor, which leaves just the faintest hint of spice on your tongue. It’s inspired by sausage and white bean soup, but we gave it a Southern twist by adding a pack of Andouille chicken sausage. Best of all, there’s next to no prep work needed, meaning your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting to bring dinner to the table.

More: These All-Day Slow Cooker Dinners Cook While You’re at Work or School

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Why Chicken Sausage Is a Drop-Dinner Hero

The beauty of chicken sausage is that it’s already cooked, so there’s no need to brown the meat on the stovetop first. Sliced into chunks, the sausage holds its shape throughout the all-day cook, and infuses its flavor into the stew. The recipe calls for andouille-style sausage, which adds warm, smoky spices and a hint of heat to the stew, but any variety of chicken sausage will work.

French Lentils Are the Best Choice for All-Day Cooking

When it comes to making stew that simmers all day in the slow cooker, French lentils deliver far better results than other varieties of lentils such as green, brown, or red. That’s because small, dark-colored French lentils, which are a type of green lentil, hold their shape remarkably well, meaning they won’t get mushy.

Read more: What’s So Special About French Lentils?

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Sausage and Lentil Soup

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 6 hours to 8 hours

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 2 cups

    dried French lentils, also known as du Puy

  • 12 ounces

    cooked andouille-style chicken sausage, such as Aidells, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 3 cups

    chopped kale leaves

  • 1

    medium onion, diced

  • 2 cloves

    garlic, minced

  • 6 cups

    low-sodium chicken broth

  • 2 sprigs

    fresh thyme

  • 2 teaspoons

    kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place all the ingredients in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on the LOW setting until the lentils are tender, about 8 hours.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Filed in:
beans
Chicken
Cooking Methods
Dairy-Free
dinner
easy