Description
Cheesy ranch potatoes and sausage blend hearty midwestern comfort with zesty flavor profiles. Home cooks can easily craft this simple one-pan dinner that satisfies hunger and delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb smoked sausage
- 1 regular size bag of frozen shredded hash browns
- 2 bell peppers
- 1 onion
Dairy and Sauce Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 cup (240 grams) shredded cheese
- 1 can cheddar cheese soup
Seasoning:
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown sliced smoked sausage until edges are crispy, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add sliced bell peppers and diced onions to the skillet, sautéing until vegetables are softened and slightly caramelized, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Transfer sausage and vegetable mixture to a slow cooker, ensuring even distribution across the bottom of the pot.
- Pour frozen hash browns over the sausage mixture, creating an even layer.
- Whisk together heavy whipping cream, cheddar cheese soup, sour cream, and ranch seasoning in a separate bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the creamy mixture over the hash browns and sausage, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese across the top of the mixture.
- Cover and cook on high temperature for 2-3 hours or low temperature for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Once cooking is complete, gently stir the casserole to distribute ingredients and ensure even coating.
- Serve hot, directly from the slow cooker, garnishing with additional fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Select high-quality smoked sausage for maximum flavor depth and ensure even browning when sautéing ingredients beforehand.
- Customize heat levels by choosing spicy or mild sausage varieties to match personal taste preferences.
- Swap frozen hash browns with fresh diced potatoes for a more homemade texture and potentially lower sodium content.
- Make this dish gluten-free by using alternative cream soups and checking ranch seasoning packet ingredients carefully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1,150 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg