Easy Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes Kielbasa (Print Version)
Tender potatoes, smoky kielbasa, and creamy cheese sauce layered and slow-cooked to perfection.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz kielbasa sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce & Dairy
05 - 2 cups half-and-half or whole milk
06 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
09 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp paprika
13 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
# How-To:
01 - Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with butter or non-stick spray.
02 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add garlic and onion; sauté 2-3 minutes until soft.
03 - Whisk in cornstarch; cook for 1 minute, then slowly add half-and-half and chicken broth, whisking until smooth. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - Stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme, stirring until cheese melts.
05 - Layer half of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with half the kielbasa and half the sauce. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes, kielbasa, and sauce.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or until potatoes are fork-tender.
07 - Sprinkle reserved 1/2 cup cheddar over the top during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
08 - Let sit 10 minutes before serving for the sauce to thicken.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy cheese sauce infuses every single layer, so you get rich flavor in every bite
- Your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day
- Leftovers somehow taste even better the next morning, straight from the fridge
02 -
- Slicing potatoes evenly, about 1/8 inch thick, ensures they all finish cooking at the same time
- The cornstarch needs to bubble gently for at least a minute to activate its thickening power
- Resist the urge to lift the lid frequently, each peek adds 15-20 minutes to the cooking time
03 -
- Slice potatoes with a mandoline for perfectly even rounds that cook uniformly
- Turkey kielbasa works beautifully if you want to lighten it up without sacrificing flavor