Why did I decide to make Italian sausage in a clay slow cooker, instead of on the stove?

Well, for one, I was expecting company. Within hours.

I had just cleaned the house. So I didn’t want to brown the sausage on the stove.

Also, most of the burners were already occupied.

So I turned to my trusted clay slow cooker. The results were even better than I imagined.

Slow cooked sausage was tasty and tender. Much better than if I had browned it in a fry pan and then simmered in sauce.

I used by slow cooker out of necessity. But, from now on, it’s the only way I’ll make Italian sausage.

Slow cook sausage is also less greasier than browning sausage in a pan. I only needed 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

No cleanup needed. Except for simply washing out the slow cooker and putting it away.

Italian Sausage In A Clay Slow Cooker Recipe

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The sausage was delectable. I could also serve it right in the slow cooker, on my counter.

Since I had a crowd of about 30, buffet style was the only way to go.

I used fresh Italian pork sausage links, which I bought at the grocery store.

Normally I don’t eat a lot of sausage because of its high animal fat content. But this was a special occasion.

I wanted to serve something delicious and filling for my guests.

The Italian sausage in tomato sauce was a side dish for my guests. This was a large party, so the main course was catered.

I’m a big fan of organic food. Or at least real food.

You can find packaged USDA certified organic sausage at some grocery stores. But not where I live.

So I used regular pork sausage links in a package.

You can also find USDA certified organic tomato sauce. Normally, this is what I use. And I get it in a glass jar instead of a can.

But time was of the essence. So I chose Pastene brand stewed ground tomatoes.

This is the brand used by the cooks in my extended Italian American family.

Italian Sausage In A VitaClay slow cooker. I use a clay cooker instead of the more popular Instant Pot, for reasons you can read about in this blog post.

I’ve never quite understood the Instant Pot craze anyway. My clay cooker is so easy to use and seems to naturally tenderize meat.

I’ve been using my VitaClay slow cooker now for years, long before most of the world heard of the Instant Pot.

If you can’t find this clay cooker at your local health food store, it’s available online.

How To Make Italian Sausage in a VitaClay Slow Cooker

Plan to make this at least three hours before you need to serve it.

Cutting the sausage takes just a few minutes.

But you’ll want to allow for one hour to brown the sausage. For browning, I cooked the sausage for 30 minutes covered, then another 30 minutes uncovered. (Stir every 5 minutes while uncovered.)

Drain excess fat.

Then add the canned tomatoes and spices to the ground sausage.

Cook for two hours on the Slow Cook setting. (What I love so much about the VitaClay pot is that is so uncomplicated. There are only two settings, and no videos to watch in order to learn how to cook with it.)

You can then eat this sausage dish with Italian bread. Or serve it over your favorite pasta.

Italian Sausage In A Clay Slow Cooker Recipe

Yield: 8 Servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes

Italian sausage in tomato sauce cooked in a VitaClay slow cooker.

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Ingredients

• 3 pounds sweet Italian sausage
• 28 ounces of tomato sauce (Canned or in a jar)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 2 bay leaves

Instructions

1. Cut the sausage links into 1-inch chunks.
2. Put the olive oil to the VitaClay slow cooker.
3. Add the sausage links.
4. Cook covered on the Slow Cook setting for 30 minutes.
5. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring every five minutes.
6. Drain excess fat.
7. Add the tomato sauce and spices..
8. Cook for two more hours on the Slow Cook setting.
9. Remove bay leaves.
10. Serve with bread or over your favorite pasta.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 9.62 ounces
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 295Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 1610mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 29g

Nutrition information isn't always totally accurate.

Clay Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Recipe