Description
Cheesy ranch potatoes and smoked sausage bring hearty comfort to dinner tables across home kitchens. Southern-style casseroles combine savory sausage, creamy potatoes, and zesty ranch for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) smoked sausage, sliced into ½-inch pieces
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) baby potatoes (red or yellow), quartered
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsps butter, cut into small cubes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 packet (1 oz / 28 g) dry ranch seasoning mix
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheating: Set oven to 400F (200C) and generously coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray or butter.
- Seasoning Blend: In a large mixing bowl, combine quartered potatoes and diagonally sliced smoked sausage. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and cracked pepper. Thoroughly massage to ensure even coating.
- Roasting Preparation: Transfer seasoned mixture to prepared baking dish, creating an uniform layer. Strategically dot surface with butter cubes to enhance moisture and richness.
- Baking Process: Roast in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, rotating midway to ensure consistent caramelization of potatoes and sausage.
- Cheese Finishing: Once potatoes reach golden tenderness, generously cover with shredded cheddar cheese. Return to oven for 5-7 minutes until cheese melts into a bubbling, glossy layer.
- Serving: Remove from oven and let rest briefly. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for vibrant color and herbaceous accent. Serve alongside a crisp salad or as a complement to grilled proteins for a complete meal.
Notes
- Optimize Potato Cutting: Slice potatoes uniformly into quarter-inch chunks to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Seasoning Secret: Massage seasonings directly onto potatoes and sausage to maximize flavor penetration and create a more intense taste profile.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Allow cheese to melt completely but avoid over-browning by watching carefully during the final 5-7 minute baking stage.
- Make-Ahead Flexibility: Prepare the entire dish in advance and refrigerate, adding 10-15 minutes to cooking time when baking from cold state for meal prep convenience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg