Smoked Sausage Casserole

Smoked Sausage Casserole

Ingredients:

For the casserole:

• 4 cups frozen diced hash brown potatoes, thawed
• 2 cups smoked sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds
• 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz)
• ½ cup whole milk
• ½ cup chopped yellow onion
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½teaspoon paprika (optional, for color and mild heat)
• 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, lightly brown the sliced smoked sausage for about 5 minutes. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, milk, melted butter, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika. Stir until smooth.
4. Add the thawed hash browns, sautéed sausage, chopped onion, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese to the bowl. Stir until everything is well coated in the creamy mixture.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese over the top.
6. Place the casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling and the center is hot. You can broil it for the last 2-3 minutes for a crispier cheese crust.
7. Remove from the oven and let it rest for approximately 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley as a garnish.