Crock Pot Italian Sausage and Butternut Squash Stew

Ingredients

- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed (about 4 cups)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped

Instructions

1. Prepare the Ingredients:
Remove the casings from the Italian sausage and break it into smaller chunks. Peel, seed, and cube the butternut squash, ensuring the cubes are evenly sized for uniform cooking.

2. Brown the Sausage:
In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage until it is browned and crumbly. This should take about 7-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.

3. Assemble the Stew in the Crock Pot:
In the Crock Pot, combine the browned sausage, cubed butternut squash, chicken broth, salt, and black pepper.

4. Set Up the Crock Pot:
Cover and cook on the low setting for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. This cooking time allows the butternut squash to become tender and the flavors to meld.

5. Finish the Stew:
Once cooking is complete, stir in the heavy cream, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and sage. Mix well and cook for an additional 15 minutes on low to allow the cream to warm through and the herbs to infuse.

6. Serve and Garnish:
Ladle the stew into bowls and garnish with the toasted pumpkin seeds for added texture and flavor. Serve hot.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time:
PT20M
20 minutes

- Cooking Time:
PT6H15M
6 hours 15 minutes

Total Time

PT6H35M
6 hours 35 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Italian Sausage, Butternut Squash, Crock Pot, Dinner Recipe, Comfort Food, Slow Cooker, Fall Recipes, Hearty Stew, Family Dinner, Easy Meal

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 1,760 calories

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