Description
Hearty sausage and potato casserole brings comfort straight from Midwestern kitchens, blending rustic flavors with savory goodness. Rich layers of smoky sausage and creamy potatoes promise a satisfying meal that welcomes you home with warmth and nostalgia.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 kg (2 lbs) potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
- 500 g (1 lb) sausage (pork, chicken, or turkey), casings removed
- 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Sauce Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (500 ml) milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the sausage, methodically breaking it into crumbly pieces until fully cooked. Transfer to a separate plate.
- Using the same skillet, sauté onions and garlic until they become translucent and release their aromatic essence. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Carefully slice potatoes into uniform thin rounds to ensure consistent cooking throughout the casserole.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the cooked sausage, caramelized onions, minced garlic, potato slices, sour cream, milk, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Thoroughly blend ingredients to create a harmonious mixture.
- Elegantly transfer the combined ingredients into the prepared baking dish, spreading them evenly to create a uniform layer.
- Generously distribute shredded cheddar cheese across the top, creating a complete coverage that will melt into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Carefully cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes, allowing the potatoes to soften and flavors to meld.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender and the cheese develops a beautiful golden-brown color.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes after removing from the oven. Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant touch before serving.
Notes
- Pick waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes for the best texture and even cooking throughout the dish.
- Cut potato slices uniformly to ensure consistent cooking and prevent some pieces from being undercooked or overcooked.
- Use high-quality smoked sausage or chorizo for deeper flavor complexity and enhanced overall taste profile.
- Consider swapping whole milk with lighter alternatives like almond or oat milk for a lower-calorie version that still maintains creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg