Ingredients
- 1 pound beef kielbasa, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed and cut into thirds (you can use 1 to 1.5 pounds depending on what you have)
- 3 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 potatoes, chopped (no need to peel them)
- 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
1. Prepare the Kielbasa Cut the kielbasa into 2-inch pieces. You can make them smaller if you prefer bite-sized portions.
2. Prep the Green Beans Trim the green beans and cut them into thirds. This helps them cook evenly and makes them easier to eat.
3. Chop the Vegetables Chop the tomatoes and potatoes, leaving the skin on the potatoes to save time and add extra nutrients. Chop the onion and mince the fresh garlic (fresh garlic tastes better than garlic powder).
4. Add Everything to the Slow Cooker Add all the prepared ingredients to your slow cooker and pour in the chicken broth. Add the brown sugar (it helps balance the flavors), salt, and pepper.
5. Mix and Season Give everything a good stir to mix all the ingredients together and distribute the seasonings evenly.
6. Cook Put the lid on and cook on HIGH for 4 hours, or on LOW for 6-8 hours if that works better for your schedule. The vegetables should be tender when done.
7. Serve Serve as is in bowls, or over rice or egg noodles. Rice works great because it soaks up all the flavorful juices from the cooking.
Notes
- Cut potatoes into smaller pieces – Don’t skip this step. Large chunks take too long to cook and might still be hard when everything else is done.
- Use frozen green beans if needed – Fresh green beans work best, but frozen ones are fine when fresh aren’t available. Add them frozen directly to the crockpot without thawing first.
- Brown the kielbasa for extra flavor – This optional step takes more time but adds deeper taste. Brown the kielbasa in a pan before adding to the crockpot, though you can skip this to keep things simple.
- Choose your kielbasa type – Beef kielbasa works great, but turkey or pork versions each have different flavors. Pick what your family prefers and remember that some brands are saltier than others.
- Adjust salt based on your sausage – Since kielbasa saltiness varies by brand, taste and adjust the salt in the recipe accordingly.
- Add heat for spice lovers – Include red pepper flakes or a chopped jalapeño if your family enjoys spicy food.
- Use bay leaves for depth – Add a bay leaf during cooking for extra flavor, but remember to remove it before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the recipe
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg