There are some meals that come from careful planning… and then there are the meals that happen because you open the fridge and realise a few things are begging to be used before they end up in the bin.
Today’s recipe was exactly that.
I had some pre-cooked kranskis, bacon, a punnet of cherry tomatoes that were starting to soften, and a handful of baby capsicums that were well and truly due to be used. Rather than letting perfectly good food go to waste, everything went into the slow cooker to create a rich, smoky casserole that tastes like it took far more effort than it actually did.
This is one of those recipes that’s incredibly forgiving. You can add extra vegetables, throw in potatoes, or even stir it through pasta at the end. It’s comfort food that works with whatever you’ve already got.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great for using up vegetables before they spoil.
- Only takes around 10 minutes to prepare.
- The slow cooker does all the work.
- Family friendly and full of flavour.
- Perfect served with mashed potatoes, rice or crusty bread.
Ingredients
- 5–6 pre-cooked kranskis or smoked sausages, sliced into chunky pieces
- 200g bacon, diced
- 1 punnet cherry tomatoes
- 6–8 baby capsicums, sliced
- 1 brown onion, diced (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional)
- 1 x 400g tin diced tomatoes (or 1 cup passata)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Optional Additions
This recipe is perfect for cleaning out the vegetable drawer. Try adding:
- Potatoes
- Sweet potato
- Pumpkin
- Zucchini
- Mushrooms
- Corn
- Spinach
- Cannellini beans or kidney beans
Method
- Place the diced bacon into the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Add the onion and garlic if using.
- Layer in the cherry tomatoes and sliced baby capsicums.
- Add the sliced kranskis.
- Pour over the diced tomatoes or passata.
- Stir through the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika and Italian herbs.
- Season with black pepper.
- Give everything a gentle stir.
Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.
Remember, the kranskis are already cooked, so you’re simply allowing the vegetables to soften and all those delicious smoky flavours to come together.
Serving Suggestions
This casserole is incredibly versatile. Serve it:
- Over creamy mashed potatoes
- With steamed rice
- Tossed through cooked pasta
- With warm crusty bread
- Topped with grated cheese and grilled until golden
Sam’s Kitchen Tip
Don’t throw away soft cherry tomatoes!
As long as they’re still fresh and haven’t gone mouldy, they’re perfect for slow cooking. Once they simmer away for a few hours, they become beautifully sweet and create a rich tomato flavour that makes this casserole even better.
Sometimes the best meals aren’t the ones you planned—they’re the ones that save ingredients from going to waste. This recipe is proof that a handful of leftovers and a slow cooker can create a hearty family dinner everyone will happily tuck into.