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Cozy Slow Cooker Oktoberfest Sausage and Cabbage: Easy Dinner

cozy slow cooker Oktoberfest sausage and cabbage - featured image
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This hearty slow cooker dish features smoked sausage, tender cabbage, apples, and onions simmered in a beer-infused broth. It’s a comforting, set-it-and-forget-it meal perfect for busy weeknights or cozy fall dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds smoked sausage or bratwurst
  • 1 medium head green cabbage (about 2 pounds), cored and cut into 2-inch wedges
  • 2 medium yellow onions, sliced into half-rings
  • 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into wedges
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup German-style beer (dark lager or Oktoberfest-style Märzen)
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Extra Dijon mustard (for serving)
  • Rye bread or crusty bread (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Brown the sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply browned all over. Work in batches if needed. Set aside on a plate. Do not clean the pan.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, add the sliced onions. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Deglaze the pan: Pour about ¼ cup of the beer into the hot skillet and scrape up the browned bits. Let simmer for 1 minute, then pour the onions, garlic, and beer into the slow cooker.
  4. Layer the ingredients: Place half the cabbage wedges at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the apple wedges, then the onion mixture. Place the browned sausages on top, then the remaining cabbage wedges.
  5. Make the cooking liquid: In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining beer, chicken broth, Dijon mustard, brown sugar (if using), caraway seeds, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour evenly over the ingredients in the slow cooker.
  6. Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the cabbage is tender but still holds its shape.
  7. Finish and serve: Carefully remove the sausages and slice into 2-inch pieces. Return to the slow cooker and stir gently. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with extra mustard and crusty bread.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the sausage—it adds essential flavor. Cut cabbage into wedges, not shreds, to prevent mushiness. Watch the salt, as sausage and broth are already salty. If the dish tastes flat at the end, add a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Let the finished dish rest on warm for 15-20 minutes before serving for best flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, Oktoberfest, sausage, cabbage, easy dinner, comfort food, fall recipe, German recipe

Find it online: https://lumalunch.com/cozy-slow-cooker-oktoberfest-sausage-and-cabbage-easy-dinner/