The very first time I made Cheesy Ranch Potatoes and Sausage, I knew instantly that this dish was going to become one of my go-to comfort meals. My whole kitchen filled with the smell of sizzling sausage, melted cheese, and warm ranch seasoning, and it honestly reminded me of the kind of cozy meals my family would gather around on cold evenings. I threw it together on a whim because I needed something hearty and unfussy, and what came out of my slow cooker tasted so rich, creamy, savory, and satisfying that I couldn’t help but go back for seconds.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll love this recipe because it’s the kind of dish that looks like you spent hours on it, but really, it’s a simple dump-and-cook meal that always comes out flavorful and comforting. It’s creamy, cheesy, savory, and full of tender potatoes that soak up every drop of flavor. Whether you want a no-stress dinner, a crowd-pleasing potluck dish, or a cozy weekend meal, this recipe delivers big flavor with minimal work, and once you try it, you’ll want to keep the ingredients stocked at all times.
Ingredients
- 1 (32-oz) bag shredded hash brown potatoes, frozen
- 1 lb mild Italian ground sausage
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
I’ve made this several different ways, and I can tell you that frozen shredded hash browns work the best—they hold their shape during cooking and become tender without turning mushy. Mild Italian sausage gives the dish the perfect savory flavor, but you can use hot sausage if you like more spice. Heavy cream makes the sauce rich and velvety, but whole milk works in a pinch. And Colby Jack melts beautifully, creating that silky cheese pull that makes this dish so irresistible.
Equipment Needed
- Slow cooker
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Mixing spoon
- Cutting board and knife
Your slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting here, and what I love is that it keeps everything warm and creamy until you’re ready to serve. The skillet is needed only to brown the sausage and soften the onion, but that quick step adds so much depth of flavor. A sturdy spatula makes it easy to break the sausage into small pieces, and a sharp knife helps get the onion finely diced so it melts into the dish. Beyond that, this recipe doesn’t need anything fancy.
Step-by-Step Instructions
I always begin by browning the sausage, because this step builds the foundation of flavor for the entire dish. As it cooks, the aroma of the sausage starts filling my kitchen, and it already feels like something delicious is happening. I break it up into small crumbles, letting the edges get a little caramelized because that’s where the best flavor hides. Once the sausage is cooked through, I toss in the diced onion and let it soften in all that savory drippings.
After everything in the skillet smells irresistible, I pour the entire mixture straight into the slow cooker. Then I add the frozen hash browns, and I always smile a little here because they look like nothing special—but in a few hours, they’ll transform into the creamiest, most flavorful potatoes. I sprinkle in the ranch seasoning, and as soon as it hits the steam, the smell becomes even more mouthwatering.(See the next page below to continue…)