For those of you who are goetta newbies, don't be ashamed to have a question mark over your head. A regional delicacy, this German-American sausage is a dish of incredibly humble (and delicious) origins! Made traditionally with a combination of beef and pork, goetta is bound together with steel-cut oats and brought to life with the incredible pairing of sage and thyme.
This sausage cooks in your slow cooker to form a delicious sausage loaf of sorts — not dissimilar in style to a sausage meatloaf — which makes it the perfect dish to make ahead and keep in the freezer for up to three months! One of our favorite things about goetta is that, while classified more as a breakfast sausage, it is a brilliant dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner. See below for some fabulous serving suggestions.
Slow Cooker German Breakfast Sausage
Ingredients1 small onion, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups rolled oats, cooked according to package
2 teaspoons dried sage
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
Directions1. In a 6-quart slow cooker, add onion, garlic, cooked oats, sage, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Mix well.
2. Add ground beef and pork, and mix until fully incorporated.
Cook on high for 5 hours.
3. After 5 hours, vigorously stir everything together.
4. Transfer meat mixture into loaf pan either lightly greased or lined with plastic wrap.
5. Place in refrigerator and allow to set for at least 4 hours (best if overnight).
6. Remove from loaf pan and slice.
Pro tip: This dish is an absolutely brilliant dish to make ahead and freeze for later use. We suggest slicing in once it has set in the fridge and freezing the sliced portions for easier access.
Goetta serving suggestionsFor breakfast: Serve with eggs and home-style potatoes.
For lunch: Serve on a sandwich with Dijon mustard and caramelized onions.
For dinner: Serve with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and a light, simple salad.
