Description
Cheesy ranch hash brown casserole with sausage brings comfort and flavor to your dinner table. Crispy potatoes, savory sausage, and creamy ranch blend perfectly for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) smoked sausage, sliced
- 2 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bag frozen shredded hash browns
- ¾ cup (177 ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1 can cheddar cheese soup
- ½ cup (118 ml) sour cream
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 1 cup (226 g) shredded cheese
Instructions
- Sauté Base: Brown smoked sausage with bell peppers and onions in a skillet over medium-high heat until vegetables soften and meat caramelizes, releasing robust flavors.
- Layer Foundation: Transfer sautéed mixture into slow cooker, creating a savory base layer for the casserole.
- Incorporate Potatoes: Distribute frozen hash browns evenly across the sausage and vegetable mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Create Creamy Mixture: Blend heavy whipping cream, cheddar cheese soup, sour cream, and ranch seasoning, whisking thoroughly to develop a rich, tangy sauce that coats all ingredients.
- Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, creating a decadent golden layer that will melt and bind the casserole.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on high for two hours or low for four hours, allowing ingredients to meld and potatoes to become tender while developing deep, complementary flavors.
- Final Preparation: Once potatoes are fork-tender and cheese is completely melted, remove lid and let casserole rest for 10 minutes to stabilize and enhance flavor integration before serving.
Notes
- Sausage Searing Technique: Brown sausage on medium-high heat to develop deep caramelized flavors and enhance overall dish complexity.
- Cheese Distribution Strategy: Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly to guarantee uniform melting and maximum flavor coverage across the entire casserole.
- Slow Cooker Timing Flexibility: Adjust cooking time between high (2 hours) and low (4 hours) settings based on your schedule and desired texture intensity.
- Resting Period Importance: Allow 10-minute cooling period after cooking to stabilize ingredients, making serving easier and allowing flavors to fully integrate.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg