Of course! A Sausage and Potato Casserole is the ultimate comfort food—hearty, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. It’s a complete meal in one dish, perfect for a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend brunch.
Here’s a classic, versatile recipe that you can customize to your liking.
Sausage and Potato Casserole
This recipe yields a savory, well-seasoned casserole with tender potatoes, juicy sausage, and melted cheese.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45-55 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients
· 1 lb (450g) Italian sausage (mild or hot), removed from casings
· 1.5 lbs (700g) potatoes (Yukon Gold, Russet, or red potatoes), cut into ½-inch cubes
· 1 medium onion, chopped
· 1 bell pepper (any color), chopped
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 2 tbsp olive oil
· 1 tsp smoked paprika
· ½ tsp dried oregano
· ½ tsp dried thyme
· Salt and black pepper to taste
· 1 cup shredded cheese (a blend of cheddar and mozzarella works well, or Italian blend)
· Optional Add-ins:
· 1 cup broccoli florets
· 1 cup sliced mushrooms
· 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping
· 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or a similar-sized casserole dish.
- Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage (breaking it up with a spoon) until it’s browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving a little bit of the drippings in the skillet.
- Combine Vegetables and Seasonings: In a large bowl, combine the diced potatoes, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and add the smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss everything until the vegetables are evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread the potato and vegetable mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Add Sausage and Bake Again: Remove the dish from the oven. Scatter the cooked sausage over the partially cooked potatoes. Give everything a gentle stir to combine. Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Add Cheese and Broil: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. For an extra-golden top, you can switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes (watch it closely!).
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Helpful Tips & Variations:
· The Potato Cut is Key: Cut the potatoes into small, uniform cubes (about ½-inch) to ensure they cook through at the same time as the other ingredients.
· Skip the Skillet (One-Pan Method): For an even easier cleanup, you can skip browning the sausage separately. Simply add the raw sausage meat in small chunks directly to the potato mixture before baking. It will cook through in the oven.
· Make it Spicy: Use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the other seasonings.
· Creamier Version: For a richer, more breakfast-style casserole, whisk together 4 large eggs and ½ cup of milk or heavy cream. After the initial 20 minutes of baking, pour this egg mixture over the potatoes and sausage before adding the cheese and finishing the bake.
· Different Sausages: This recipe is very flexible. Feel free to use smoked sausage (kielbasa) sliced into rounds, breakfast sausage, or even chicken sausage.
· Crispy Topping: For a crunchy top, mix the shredded cheese with ½ cup of Panko breadcrumbs and a tablespoon of melted butter before sprinkling it on.
Why This Recipe Works:
· Layered Cooking: Partially baking the potatoes first ensures they become perfectly tender without overcooking the sausage or vegetables.
· High Heat: A 400°F oven is ideal for getting the potatoes slightly crispy on the edges while cooking through.
· Versatile Base: The formula of “protein + potato + veg + cheese” is endlessly adaptable based on what you have in your fridge.
This casserole is hearty, satisfying, and guaranteed to be a family favorite. Enjoy