Description
Home cooks adore this hearty slow cooker sausage and potato casserole that combines savory Polish kielbasa with creamy potatoes. Simple ingredients and minimal prep create a comforting meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 14 oz (397 g) kielbasa sausage, cut into small pieces
- 1 (32 oz / 907 g) bag hash browns or fresh diced potatoes
- 2 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 (10.5 oz / 298 g) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 small onion, diced
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp creole seasoning or favorite seasoning blend
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Coat the slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure effortless cleanup.
- Layering Foundation: Create a robust base by evenly spreading hash browns across the bottom of the slow cooker, forming a crispy potato foundation.
- Sausage and Aromatics: Distribute kielbasa medallions and finely diced onions throughout the potato layer, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
- Cheese Infusion: Sprinkle two-thirds of the sharp cheddar cheese over the mixture, allowing it to melt and create a luxurious, creamy consistency.
- Seasoning Blend: Whisk cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, creole seasoning, salt, and pepper into a silky, well-integrated sauce that will elevate the entire dish.
- Flavor Melding: Pour the seasoned sauce over the layered ingredients, gently folding to ensure complete coverage and even distribution of flavors.
- Cheese Topping: Crown the casserole with the remaining cheddar cheese, creating a golden, tantalizing surface.
- Slow Cooking: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours, allowing the ingredients to tenderize and marry their flavors completely.
- Serving: Let the casserole rest briefly after cooking, then serve piping hot, presenting a comforting, hearty meal that showcases the perfect balance of potatoes, sausage, and melted cheese.
Notes
- Optimize Cooking Spray: Use non-stick spray generously to prevent stubborn food residue and simplify cleaning after enjoying your delicious meal.
- Strategic Cheese Layering: Distribute cheese in two stages for maximum melting – first layer creates creamy texture, top layer provides golden, crispy finish.
- Seasoning Secret: Whisk cream sauce separately to ensure even spice distribution, preventing clumpy or unevenly seasoned bites throughout the casserole.
- Temperature Flexibility: Adjust cooking time based on your schedule – low and slow (6 hours) develops deeper flavors, while high heat (4 hours) works for quicker meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 463
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1020 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 78 mg