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Crockpot Smokies with Beans and Potatoes is an easy, hearty slow cooker dinner with smoky sausage, tender potatoes, and saucy beans all cooked together in one pot. The potatoes soak up plenty of flavor as they cook, while the beans create a savory-sweet sauce that ties everything together.

This is the kind of meal that’s useful when you want dinner cooking in the background while you get on with the rest of the day. There’s very little prep beyond cutting the potatoes and sausage.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Everything cooks in one slow cooker, and there’s no need to prepare a separate sauce. The beans already bring plenty of flavor and moisture, while the smoked sausage seasons the potatoes as it cooks.

It’s also easy to adjust depending on what you have. Different smoked sausages and bean varieties can change the flavor without changing the basic preparation.

And because you’ve got sausage, beans, and potatoes together, there’s really no need to make several sides to turn it into dinner.

I like using baby potatoes because they hold their shape nicely in the crockpot. Larger potatoes work too, but they should be cut into similar-sized pieces so you don’t end up with some soft and others still firm.

It’s casual, filling food that works for busy weeknights, weekends, or anytime you need something easy enough to scoop straight into bowls.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need just a few hearty, everyday ingredients:

Smoked sausage or cocktail smokies
Baby potatoes
Baked beans
Yellow onion
Barbecue sauce
Brown sugar
Garlic powder
Smoked paprika

How To Make Crockpot Smokies With Beans And Potatoes

Step 1: Wash and dry the baby potatoes. Leave very small potatoes whole and cut larger ones in half so the pieces are fairly similar in size.

Step 2: If using a full-size smoked sausage, cut it into thick bite-sized rounds. Cocktail smokies can go into the crockpot whole.

Step 3: Add the potatoes and sliced onion to the bottom of the slow cooker. Keeping the potatoes closer to the heat helps them become tender at the same time as everything else.

Step 4: Add the smoked sausage and baked beans, including the bean sauce. Spoon the barbecue sauce over the top, then sprinkle in the brown sugar, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

Step 5: Gently stir just enough to distribute the sauce and seasonings without bringing all the potatoes away from the bottom of the crockpot.

Step 6: Cover and cook on LOW for about 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours. Cooking time will depend on the size of the potatoes and your slow cooker.

Step 7: Check one of the largest potato pieces with a fork. It should slide easily into the center without resistance. If the potatoes are still firm, cover and continue cooking until tender.

Step 8: Stir everything gently before serving so the potatoes and smokies get coated in the thick bean sauce. Let the mixture sit uncovered for a few minutes if you’d like the sauce to thicken slightly.

Smokies With Beans And Potatoes Variations

Spicy Smokies

Use a spicy smoked sausage and add a little cayenne or crushed red pepper to the beans.

Cheesy Smokies And Potatoes

Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the finished dish and cover briefly until the cheese melts.

Extra-Smoky Beans

Use a smoky barbecue sauce and increase the smoked paprika slightly for a deeper barbecue flavor.

Sausage And Bean Crockpot Dinner

Leave out the potatoes and serve the saucy sausage and beans with cornbread instead.

Potato And Bean Heavy Version

Add extra baby potatoes when you want to stretch the meal a little further. Make sure there’s still enough sauce to coat everything.

Storing Leftover Smokies With Beans And Potatoes

Cool leftovers and transfer them to an airtight container within two hours. Refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.

Reheat gently in the microwave or in a covered saucepan over medium-low heat. The bean sauce will become thicker after refrigeration, so stir in a small splash of water if needed while reheating.

FAQ

What Kind Of Smokies Should I Use?

Cocktail smoked sausages are especially convenient because they don’t need to be cut. You can also use a fully cooked beef, turkey, or chicken smoked sausage sliced into rounds.

Do I Need To Cook The Sausage First?

No. Fully cooked smoked sausage can go directly into the slow cooker. Browning it first is optional if you prefer a little extra color.

Why Are My Potatoes Still Hard?

They may have been cut too large or placed too far from the bottom of the slow cooker. Keep the pieces relatively small and similar in size.

Do I Drain The Baked Beans?

No. Keep the sauce with the beans. It provides much of the cooking liquid and flavor for the dish.

Can I Make This Less Sweet?

Yes. Leave out the brown sugar and choose a less-sweet barbecue sauce. Depending on the baked beans you use, you may find the dish sweet enough without additional sugar.

Can I Add More Vegetables?

Absolutely. Thickly sliced carrots or bell peppers are easy additions. Carrots should go near the bottom with the potatoes because they need more time to soften.

What To Serve With Crockpot Smokies With Beans And Potatoes

Crockpot Smokies with Beans and Potatoes is already pretty filling, so I’d keep anything alongside it simple. Cornbread is especially good for scooping up the thick bean sauce, but warm dinner rolls work too. Coleslaw or a crisp green salad adds something fresh and crunchy next to the smoky sausage and saucy beans, and green beans are another easy option if you want a vegetable. Most nights, though, I’d spoon everything into bowls, add a piece of cornbread, and call dinner done.

Keep those potato pieces fairly small and uniform. The sausage and beans only need heating, so the potatoes are what determine when dinner is actually ready.

And taste before adding extra salt. Smoked sausage, baked beans, and barbecue sauce all bring plenty of seasoning on their own.