Getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of life is easy. When you’re busy, finding time for food preparation or cooking can be hard. Luckily, slow cookers are an amazing tool for busy people on the go.

This recipe is a great example of how you can use your slow cooker to create a delicious dish without too much effort. All you need is one pot, some beans, and some sausage links; then, you’ve got yourself a casserole that even your kids will love!

How to Make Baked Beans and Frankfurter Sausage Casserole

You will need:

  • 1 lb of Frankfurter sausages
  • 1lb of belly pork (or diced pork)
  • 415g (15 ounces) can of peeled tomatoes
  • 415g (15 ounces) can of baked beans
  • 415 (15 ounces) can of butter beans or cannellini beans
  • 1 chopped clove of garlic
  • 2 chopped onions
  • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of plain flour
  • 568mls (1 pint) of chicken stock

To make:

  1. Chop the Frankfurter sausages into bite-sized pieces and place them into a slow cooker.
  2. Add chopped pork, tinned tomatoes, and baked beans.
  3. Drain the cannellini beans and add these to the pot.
  4. Add garlic, chopped onions, sauce, and sugar.
  5. Mix the plain flour with a little chicken stock and stir into the slow cooker.
  6. Add the remaining stock mixing all the ingredients.
  7. Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours.

Easily serves 4 people.

Please keep in mind that, in addition to soaking, if you use raw kidney beans or other pulses in any dish, you must boil them for at least 10 minutes to remove any harmful compounds. In the first recipe, canned beans do not need to be soaked or cooked. When in doubt, always refer to the package’s directions.

Slow Cooked Beef Stew

You will need:

  • 2lb of braising steak
  • 1 large chopped onion
  • 3 small chopped carrots
  • 1 chopped courgette
  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 2 tablespoons of plain flour
  • 300mls of beef stock (oxo cube is fine)
  • A large teaspoon of dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Half a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper

To make:

  1. Turn the slow cooker onto auto setting (if you have it) or onto low.
  2. Chop the beef into large bite sizes.
  3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan until very hot.
  4. Toss the beef in the flour and brown on both sides in the oil. It may be necessary to do it in two separate batches.
  5. Place meat in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  6. Gently saute the onion in the frying pan for 5 minutes.
  7. Add the carrot and courgette and cook gently for a further 2 minutes.
  8. Add the stock, thyme, salt and pepper, and sauce.
  9. Bring this mixture to a boil and pour over the meat in the slow cooker.
  10. Stir well and allow to cook on auto or low for 6-8 hours.

Serves 4 people.

Add dumplings, which may be placed to the top of the slow cooker for the last hour and turned up to high to crisp slightly; they are delicious.

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