Description
Hearty “cheesy potato & smoked sausage casserole” brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending smoky sausage with creamy potato goodness. Comfort arrives quickly with this simple, satisfying dish perfect for weekend family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 medium potatoes
- 1 lb smoked sausage
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Dairy & Seasoning:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup diced onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Wash and thinly slice potatoes into uniform rounds, ensuring even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Dice the smoked sausage into bite-sized pieces, creating manageable portions that will distribute evenly in the dish.
- Mince garlic and chop green onions and diced onions, preparing the aromatic ingredients that will enhance the overall flavor profile.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, sour cream, melted butter, salt, and black pepper, whisking until the mixture becomes smooth and well-integrated.
- Layer half of the sliced potatoes across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a solid foundation for the casserole.
- Sprinkle half of the diced sausage, minced garlic, green onions, and diced onions over the potato layer, ensuring even distribution.
- Pour half of the cream mixture over the first layer, allowing it to seep between the potatoes and sausage.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining potatoes, sausage, garlic, green onions, and diced onions.
- Drench the second layer with the remaining cream mixture, guaranteeing complete coverage and maximum flavor infusion.
- Generously top the casserole with shredded cheddar cheese, creating a rich and golden melted surface.
- Optional: Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the cheese for an additional crispy texture.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes, ensuring potatoes become tender.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes until the cheese turns golden brown and bubbly.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling flavors to meld and sauce to set before serving.
Notes
- Slice potatoes uniformly to guarantee even cooking and prevent undercooked or overcooked sections.
- Ensure heavy cream and sour cream are at room temperature for smoother blending and better sauce consistency.
- Use high-quality smoked sausage for deeper flavor complexity and more robust taste profile.
- Optional breadcrumb topping adds delightful crunch and textural contrast to creamy casserole base.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like Gruyère or pepper jack for unique flavor variations.
- Consider using turkey sausage or vegetarian sausage alternative for lighter protein options.
- Let casserole rest exactly 10 minutes after baking to allow sauce to stabilize and flavors to intensify.
- Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container up to 3-4 days, reheating gently to maintain original texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg