Hearty layers of smoked kielbasa, tender potatoes, and a creamy cheddar sauce bake into a bubbly, weeknight-ready casserole. Cozy, cheesy, and crowd-pleasing.
1.25lbsmoked kielbasa sausage, slicedcut into 1/2-inch rounds
2.25lbrusset potatoes, peeled and slicedabout 1/4-inch thick
1.25tspkosher saltdivided
2tbspunsalted butter
1cupyellow onion, chopped
2tspminced garlic
2.5tbspall-purpose flour
0.75cupchicken broth
0.75cupwhole milk
0.75cupsour creamroom temperature if possible
1tsppaprika
1tspdried parsley
0.75tspblack pepperfreshly ground
2.5cupsharp cheddar cheese, shreddeddivided
0.5cupgreen onions, slicedfor topping
Instructions
Preparation Steps
Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Boil the sliced potatoes in well-salted water until just tender, 8–10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the kielbasa 4–5 minutes; remove to a plate.
Melt butter in the same skillet. Sauté onion until softened, 3–4 minutes. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
Sprinkle in flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute to form a roux.
Whisk in broth and milk gradually. Simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, 2–3 minutes.
Take the pan off heat. Stir in sour cream, paprika, parsley, 1 tsp salt, pepper, and 1.5 cups cheddar until smooth.
Fold potatoes and browned kielbasa into the sauce until coated.
Transfer to the baking dish and scatter the remaining cheddar on top.
Bake until bubbling and lightly golden, 20–25 minutes. Broil 1–2 minutes for deeper color if desired.
Rest 10 minutes. Finish with green onions and the remaining salt to taste. Serve warm.
Notes
Variation: Add 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard to the sauce for a subtle tang. For extra richness, swap half the cheddar with smoked Gouda. Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days; reheat covered at 325°F until hot, adding a splash of milk if needed.This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Cheesy Kielbasa Potato Casserole flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.