Slow Cooker Italian Sausage and Butternut Squash Stew

• •1 lb Ground mild Italian sausage
• •0.5 lb Ground turkey (93% lean suggested)
• •1 medium Butternut squash (about 2-3 lbs, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes)
• •1 large Yellow onion (diced)
• •2 medium Carrots (peeled and diced)
• •2 Celery stalks (diced)
• •3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• •1 can Crushed tomatoes (28 oz)
• •4 cups Chicken or vegetable broth
• •2 tsp Italian seasoning
• •1 piece Bay leaf
• •1 tbsp Olive oil
• •to taste Salt
• •to taste Black pepper
• •2 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish (optional))

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground mild Italian sausage and ground turkey. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat and transfer the cooked meat to your slow cooker.

2. 2

   In the same skillet (or directly in the slow cooker if it has a sauté function), add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes until slightly softened, stirring occasionally. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

3. 3

   Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker with the meat. Add the cubed butternut squash, crushed tomatoes, chicken or vegetable broth, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Stir everything gently to combine.

4. 4

   Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7-9 hours or on high for 4-6 hours, or until the butternut squash is tender and the flavors have melded together.

5. 5

   Once cooked, carefully remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. Ladle the stew into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Chef's Tips

• 💡Browning the meat and sautéing the vegetables before slow cooking adds a significant depth of flavor to the stew that you wouldn't get otherwise.
• 💡If you prefer a thicker stew, you can create a slurry with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water, stir it into the hot stew during the last 30 minutes of cooking, and stir until thickened.
• 💡This stew is excellent served with crusty bread for dipping, or over a bed of polenta or rice.