Hearty Crock Pot Italian Sausage and Tortellini Stew

Ingredients

- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 cup ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 (15 oz) can baked beans
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 (9 oz) package cheese tortellini
- 1/2 cup corn kernels
- 1/2 cup peas
- 2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

1. Initial Preparation:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook Italian sausage and ground beef until browned. Use a spatula to crumble the meat as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 3 minutes.

2. Layer Ingredients in Crock Pot:
- Transfer the cooked sausage, beef, onion, and garlic mixture into the crock pot.
- Add diced potatoes, sliced carrots, broccoli florets, and green beans on top of the meat mixture.
- Sprinkle with salt, pepper, brown sugar, and cinnamon for seasoning.

3. Add Liquids and Seasonings:
- Pour in the baked beans and maple syrup. Stir to combine and coat the vegetables.
- Add chicken broth to the crock pot, ensuring the ingredients are just covered with liquid.

4. Cooking:
- Set the crock pot to low and cook for PT6H (6 hours). If you're in a rush, set the crock pot to high for PT3H (3 hours).

5. Final Touches:
- 30 minutes before the end of cooking time, stir in cheese tortellini, corn, and peas.
- Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.

6. Finish and Serve:
- Just before serving, mix in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted.
- Garnish with toasted pecans and crumbled bacon on top.
- Serve hot with crusty garlic bread on the side for dipping.

Total Time

- ISO Duration: PT6H15M
- Human-Readable: 6 hours and 15 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Crock Pot, Italian Sausage, Tortellini, Dinner, Hearty Stew, Slow Cooker, Cheese, Comfort Food, Maple Syrup, Easy Recipe

Recipe Yield

Serves 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 2,800

#CrockPotMeals #ItalianSausage #ComfortFood #SlowCookerRecipes #DinnerDelight