Smith's Smoothie Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-27 · Updated 2026-03-27

A creamy, comforting stew with smooth textures and bold flavors, named after the most common U.S. surname. This american-inspired slow cooker (vegetarian-friendly) ready in about 380 minutes blends sliced smoked sausage, sliced mushrooms, diced potatoes into a quick blender drink — a fast breakfast, a pre-workout pour, or an afternoon energy boost, with nothing to wash up but the pitcher. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it works as a grab-and-go breakfast, a post-gym refuel, or a snack that holds you to the next meal. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb, sliced smoked sausage
• 3 cups, sliced mushrooms
• 2 cups, diced potatoes
• 2 cups, sliced celery
• 1 large, chopped leek
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes until browned, then transfer to a slow cooker.
2. Step 2: Sauté mushrooms, celery, and leek in the same skillet for 6-7 minutes until softened. Add to the slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Pour in broth, add potatoes, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir in soup, then cook on low for 6-8 hours until vegetables are tender and flavors meld.
4. Step 4: Remove bay leaf and serve as is or with crusty bread for a hearty meal.