I love one-pot meals and this sausage and red lentil casserole is no exception. It’s the perfect, easy to prepare, and quick to make meal, that I love. Although there is no need to add extra vegetables or sides if you really are hungry, a piece of crusty bread wouldn’t go amiss.
One Pot? Sausage and Red Lentil Casserole
While I am not hankering after the filling, hearty casseroles I did at the beginning of winter, it’s still chilly enough to want some warming comfort food in the evenings. This sausage and red lentil casserole fits the bill nicely. But first, a confession. I actually used two pots: a casserole; and a frying pan. What I really mean by one-pot is that this one dish is all you need for a really satisfying meal.
You can actually get away with using just one pot in the cooking too, if you take the sausages out while frying the onions. It does involve making another dish dirty though, so doesn’t really make a difference! Either way, it’s still only two pots/dishes to wash up. Ok, now I’m just getting bogged down in semantics – now that’s a big word for me! Time to move on.
However many pots,you use, this dish is quick and easy to prepare and tastes really delicious which is the main thing. It’s a great family favourite in our household and I am sure it will soon become one in yours.
Just one thing to keep in mind. Use good quality sausages! (I used Gloucester Old Spot Sausages from my local butchers in Suffolk.) The flavour comes from the sausages so it’s not worth compromising for the sake of a few pennies, it will still be a relatively cheap and economical dish.
Step by Step Sausage and Red Lentil Casserole
A great warming casserole for chilly nights.
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- 8 pork sausages
- 2 large onions, sliced
- 1 clove of garlic, chopped
- 125 g red lentils, rinsed
- 600 ml chicken or vegetable stock
- 400 g can chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato purée (paste)
- 1 tsp dried mixed herbs or 1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (optional)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the sausages quickly until browned on all sides. Transfer to a flameproof casserole or large saucepan.
Reduce the heat and add the onions to the pan. Fry until softened and beginning to turn golden. Stir in the garlic, then add to the sausages.
Add the lentils, stock, tomatoes, tomato purée and herbs, if using to the casserole. Bring to the boil. Season with salt and pepper.
Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 40 minutes.
Recipe Video
Freezes well for up to 3 months. Defrost fully before reheating until piping hot.
Nutrition information is approximate and is meant as a guideline only. (It does not include seasoning with salt and pepper.)
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More Sausage Recipes Made Easy
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Michelle says
Made this tonight was really nice, added sum carrots which I did with the onions and added sum smoked paprika. Served with crusty bread even the kids loved it!
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
So Happy you liked this recipe. I love smoked paprika I shall try it too. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Linda says
Made this today and it was delicious and so easy to make. Used dried thyme and oregano because I was out of mixed herbs.. this will definitely be a regular for us.
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
Thanks Linda for taking the time to comment. I love to receive feedback like this I’m so glad you enjoyed it and its remains a regular one for us too especially now the weather has got a bit cooler. x
Lila says
Love this! Just added a bag of spinach for the last 8 minutes. Very nice!
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
Ohh what a lovely idea, I shall try that myself. Thank you
Kayleigh says
Hi
Could this recipe be done in the slow cooker?
x
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
I am sure it would be fine in a slow cooker, although I have not tried it. I shall put it on my to try list I have made it in a pressure cooker and that worked well.
Katie Higgins says
you say
1 tsp dried mixed herbs or 1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (optional)
but you never mention which herbs so which ones are you talking about?
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
In the UK Mixed herbs is a common herb mix consisting of a mixture of thyme, Marjoram, oregano, basil, sage and rosemary. Sometimes parsley too. If using fresh herbs in this dish I would stick to the more robust herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage. They are usually mixed in equal quantities but there is no need to be too exact in this circumstance.
Ella says
This could be converted to instant pot cooker, in this way only one pot can be used, would have to figure out cooking times.
Here in America I can’t always find good British pork sausages, but as a sub I would add Italian spicy ones.
Thank you for sharing I think this will be my dinner tonight
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Hi Ella
Yes you certainly can cook this in an Instant Pot I have done so myself once I think it was for 14 mins but I found it was a little too long and the lentils were a bit too mushy. I would probably try for 10-12 minutes next time. Spicy Italian sausages would be a good alternative to English sausages too. Do come back and let me know how you get on when you try it.
Eve says
Ive noticed you wrote herbs in the method but I dont see it in the ingredients. Are there any herbs added or have I just over looked it.
This dish looks amazing.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Well spotted Eve an over look by me. The herbs are optional. I like to add a few, my son likes to add chilli when he makes it. I have amended the recipe. Thank you for letting me know. I do hope you like it when you make it. Let me know how you get on.
Eve says
Brilliant, I am curently making it now.
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
enjoy
Robert Bond says
Hello,
I made this delicious casserole last night, adding some butter beans whilst the casserole was simmering. It was a success; my wife, who’s a much better cook than me, loved it! Thank you very much for this recipe, which I’ll definitely use again..
Robert
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
Hi Robert. So glad you and your wife enjoyed it. It is always lovely to hear when people have enjoyed my recipes so thank you also for taking the time to comment. I like the idea of adding some butter beans to it. I shall have to try it.
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 says
Love a good sausage casserole, I usually make mine in the slow cooker so I can forget about it all day while at work. I have only just found my cast iron casserole dish again! Yours looks full of flavour with those lovely sausages. If you fancy it, you could also send this recipe over to the Slow Cooked Challenge which I am hosting.
Jacqueline Bellefonatine says
Thanks Lucy I will do.
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Delicious! Sausage casserole always goes down a treat here. I love the additions of lentils in your recipe. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Jacqueline Bellefonatine says
Me too. I really should start including lentils in more recipes I do like them. Cheap and nutritious too.
Lizzie says
Yum, there’s a pound of sausages from my local butcher in the freezer, this might be just the job. I know what you mean about good quality sausages flavouring the whole meal. I love lentils too – win win. And so nice to find a dish that will take care of itself while you do other things.
Jacqueline Bellefonatine says
Thanks Lizzie. A good sausage is hard to beat but there are some truly awful ones out there too.