Crock Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Potato Bake – A Smoked Sausage Casserole with Potatoes
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Crock Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Potato Bake is comfort food at its best with a creamy cheese sauce topping family-pleasing ingredients. This smoked sausage casserole with potatoes can be made in the slow cooker or the oven. Find both recipes below.
Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
Barbara crafted this Crock Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Potato Bake after a casserole our mom made for growing up (find it here). Mom’s recipe is one of our favorites but like MOST of her dishes, she didn’t really have a recipe for it. So Barbara had to create her own version.
Cheese, potato and smoked sausage casserole can be made in either the slow cooker or the oven.
Mom made hers in the oven, but Barbara often uses her regular crock pot or her casserole slow cooker. Using the crock pot leaves some browned cheese around the edge…our favorite part! But, you could just pull off the browned edges and discard. A crock pot liner can help prevent the browning.
Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole
Smoked sausage is an easy ingredient to keep on hand in the refrigerator. It can be split open and fried for a tasty sandwich, or if you get the fully-cooked kielbasa (this is what we use), you can slice it and snack on it right from the fridge without cooking.
For this cheese potato and smoked sausage casserole, use your favorite brand and flavor of smoked sausage. Barbara either uses a turkey variety from Aldi or her favorite which comes from Rihm Foods, a wholesale and retail meat shop in Cambridge City, Ind.
Want to know a secret? Barbara does not peel the potatoes for this recipe. Maybe it’s because the peels are full of fiber or maybe she is just lazy (her words, not mine)!
Ingredient List for Smoked Sausage Casserole with Potatoes
Potatoes (white, yellow, Yukon Gold, Idaho, etc.)
Smoked Sausage (your favorite variety)
Evaporated Milk (or regular milk)
All Purpose Flour
Velveeta Cheese Melt
Shredded Cheese (cheddar, Colby, etc.)
Butter or Margarine
Black Pepper
Recipe FAQs
- The edges will get dark. If you like crispy cheese, eat the outside, or just pull off and discard. To prevent this, try using a crock pot liner.
- Feel free to use smoked sausage or swap in ham. This is a great way to use leftover ham from the holidays.
- Use butter or margarine, evaporated milk or regular milk, or swap in whatever cheese is your favorite for the Colby Jack. This crock pot potato casserole recipe is very forgiving.
- You can peel your potatoes or leave the skins on. Just be sure to scrub the potatoes first to get the dirt off.
- This is the best ever crockpot cheesy potatoes using raw potatoes. The cheese flavor from the cheese sauce is thick and holds everything together.
- If you do not want to use the slow cooker for this dish, just preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. We often turn on the broiler at the very end to get the top browned – we like a bit of crunch cheesy bits on top!
- Try our oven version for which this is inspired from Mom’s Ham and Cheesy Potato Casserole.
- Check out our Amazon Store for our pantry essentials and other kitchen finds.
How to Make Easy Crockpot Sausage and Potatoes
Step by Step Instructions
- Whisk together milk, butter, flour, Velveeta, shredded cheese and black pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat until cheeses melt and mixture is smooth.
- Layer cooked potatoes, smoked sausage and cheese sauce in prepared slow cooker insert; stir well to mix. To make clean up easier, use a slow cooker liner.
- Bake on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours (low for 5 hours) or until bubbly.
Storage Instructions
Let leftovers cool. Transfer to an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to a week.
For the full recipe for easy crockpot sausage and potatoes, scroll to the bottom of this post.
Recipe Variations
- Use ham instead of smoked sausage.
- Add a small onion; dice it and add for more flavor.
- Stir in a can of cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup for a creamier texture.
- A scoop of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream will give a little tang.
- Love cheese? Add more. Cheddar cheese is the perfection option.
How to Make Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole in the Oven
- Wash, peel and cube potatoes. Boil until fork tender; drain well.
- Cut smoked sausage into slices or half-moon shapes.
- Make cheese sauce in a medium sized saucepan by heating evaporated milk, flour, butter, Velveeta, shredded cheese and black pepper. Whisk until smooth.
- Add potatoes and smoked sausage to cheese sauce and mix.
- Pour into a greased 2-quart baking dish.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and hot.
Old Fashioned Casseroles with Potatoes
Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
Mom’s Pork Chop Potato Casserole
Crock Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Potato Bake
Ingredients
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 3 Tablespoons margarine or butter
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
- 1/2 pound Velveeta cubed
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 cups potatoes cooked, drained and cubed
- 1 1/2 cups smoked sausage cut into half moons
Instructions
- Wash, cube and boil potatoes until just fork tender.
- In a saucepan, add evaporated milk, margarine, flour, shredded cheese, Velveeta and black pepper.
- Warm over medium heat, whisking constantly until the cheese is melted and everything is well incorporated.
- Spray the crock pot insert with cooking spray; add a layer the potatoes and top with smoked sausage.
- Pour cheese mixture over the potatoes and smoked sausage; mix together gently.
- Cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until bubbly, or low for approximately 5 hours. Give the casserole a good stir before serving.
Notes
- Try using a casserole slow cooker.
- The edges will get dark. If you like crispy cheese, eat the outside, or just pull off and discard. To prevent this, try using a crock pot liner. Â
- Feel free to use smoked sausage or swap in ham. This is a great way to use leftover ham from the holidays.
- Use butter or margarine, evaporated milk or regular milk, or swap in whatever cheese is your favorite for the Colby Jack. This crock pot potato casserole recipe is very forgiving.
- You can peel your potatoes or leave the skins on. Just be sure to scrub the potatoes first to get the dirt off.Â
- This is the best ever crockpot cheesy potatoes using raw potatoes. The cheese flavor from the cheese sauce is thick and holds everything together.Â
- Try our oven version for which this is inspired from—Mom’s Ham and Cheesy Potato Casserole.
- Don’t want to use the slow cooker? Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake in a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish for 35-40 minutes until heated through.
Referral links are used in this post.
Linking up to Whatcha Crockin’ Wednesday!
Loving all the CHEESE!!!
Isn’t it fun trying to figure out those heritage recipes?
Nice crock pot recipe!!
Can you use milk instead of can evaporated milk?
Teresa – You can use regular milk instead of evaporated milk. Thanks!
I made this last night for me and my husband and it was a hit! I did double the amount of sausage, per his request, and it was delicious. We will definitely be adding this into our rotation of meals. YUM!!
Glad you both enjoyed it…we add extra sausage too!