How to Make Hoosier Stew: Green Beans, Sausage, and Potatoes
Learn how to make authentic Hoosier stew with our simple recipe. Perfect for family gatherings or cozy nights in, it’s a must-try comfort food!
Hoosier Stew: A Comfort Food Tradition
Growing up in the Midwest, when I think of comfort in a bowl, I think Hoosier Stew. A lot of people may know it as green beans, sausage, and potatoes. No matter what you call it, it is such a simple, delicious, and budget-friendly meal that your family is sure to love!
Gather Your Ingredients:
- 2 cans of green beans (we like cut or French style)
- 3 large potatoes or 6 medium potatoes
- 12-16oz of smoked sausage (we get whatever is on sale)
- slow cooker or stock pot
- salt, pepper, onion powder OR Cajun seasoning
How to Make Hoosier Stew: Green Beans, Sausage, and Potatoes:
First, add your canned green beans to your stock pot, including the water. You don’t have to do this, you can use 2 cans of water or even chicken broth, but we just throw the water in from the can.
Next, scrub and peel your potatoes. Then, cut your potatoes. We dice ours small enough for our young kids. Add the potatoes to your stock pot.
After that, we cut our smoked sausage. We cut it in half lengthwise, then half again lengthwise. Then, we dice it. This makes it small enough to prevent a choking hazard. It also adds more sausage to every bite, which is everyone’s favorite part! Add the sausage to your stock pot.
Place your lid on your stock pot and set your Hoosier Stew to medium heat. Then, leave it and work on your cornbread. Stir every few minutes. Once the potatoes are tender, it’s ready. Usually about 20-25 minutes.
After it’s cooked, add your salt, pepper, and onion powder OR cajun seasoning. Then, serve and enjoy!
How to Make Hoosier Stew in the Slow Cooker:
This is how I remember my mom making it growing up. It’s just as delicious, whether you make it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.
The directions are the same, the only difference is you’ll want to throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours. Make sure to mix often, as the potatoes and sausage can tend to burn.
Hoosier Stew Variations: Adapting the Recipe for Your Taste
We have used a few variations over the years. We usually make this recipe when we have lots of leftover ham from Christmas or Easter.
I also have family members who swear by adding corn to theirs.
Traditional Hoosier stew also doesn’t use Cajun seasoning, but we can’t eat it any other way now!
We love to pair ours with my homemade Jiffy cornbread. It’s a must try! We love to break it up into our Green Beans, Sausage, and Potatoes.
How to Make Hoosier Stew: Green Beans, Sausage, and Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 cans green beans (we like cut or French style)
- 3 large potatoes or 6 medium potatoes
- 12-16 oz of smoked sausage (we get whatever is on sale)
- slow cooker or stock pot **see notes for crockpot instructions
- salt, pepper, onion powder OR Cajun seasoning
Instructions
- Dump cans of green beans into stock pot, including the water. You can drain and add your own cans of water or sub with chicken broth, but we just dump right in.
- Scrub and peel potatoes. Dice potatoes and add to stock pot.
- Cut sausage. We cut small enough to prevent choking hazard for our kids.
- Place lid on stock pot.
- Let sit on medium heat until potatoes are fork tender, about 20-25 minutes.
- Start cornbread if making
- Once finished, add salt, pepper, and onion powder OR Cajun seasoning
