What's Cookin': Sausage & Potato Casserole

The plan for last night was Dirty Rice with sausage in it, but I changed my mind. Since I'm the cook, I can do that. ;) I have a surplus of potatoes that need to be used, so I came up with this and it turned out deliciously. However, Ben said he liked it but would prefer it if it was made with breakfast sausage, rather than Italian. So next time I will do that.

Sausage & Potato Casserole - serves 6-8

1 package mild Italian sausage (the 5 sausage pack*)

5-6 medium potatoes, chopped to bite size pieces (I left skins on)

1 onion, chopped

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 tsp garlic pepper

Salt & Pepper

1/2 tsp sugar

1 cup cheese, shredded (I used half cheddar and half mozzarella) 

1/4 cup bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9 x 13" baking dish.

In a large skillet, cook sausage. Place cooked sausage in baking dish and set aside. Return pan to heat (with sausage grease in it). Add potatoes and onions, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook, about 2 minutes, until onion starts to soften and potatoes get some color. Stir in tomato sauce and sugar. Cook another 2-3 minutes, until potatoes are starting to soften. Pour into dish with sausage and mix together. Top with cheese and bread crumbs. Bake about 20-30 minutes, or until potatoes are done. (I went for 30 and they were a little too soft, so I would start with 20 and go from there.)

*You can either cook up the links and chop them, or take the meat out of the casing and brown it as crumbles. I took mine out of the casing. If you can find just a pack of ground sausage you can do that as well, it would be about 20 oz.

Notes & Variations:  It would probably be good with bell peppers, but we don't really like the taste of them in casseroles. When Ben asked for breakfast sausage next time, he said it was one ingredient away from the perfect breakfast dish. If I were to make it for breakfast I would do the same, but add scrambled eggs to it as well.

Ben Rating: 3 (4 if it had breakfast sausage).