Sausage Green Bean Potato Casserole

Sausage Green Bean Potato Casserole

This sausage, green bean, and potato casserole is perfect for a chilly weekend when you want to warm up the kitchen and enjoy a comforting meal. I used a chicken-apple sausage, but any sausage flavor will work. While it might not fit into a busy weeknight, you can easily assemble the casserole the night before and bake it the next day.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken apple sausage, sliced crossways 1/4-inch thick
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, halved
• 1 1/2 pounds baby gold potatoes, halved
• 1 pound baby carrots
• 1 1/2 cups purchased fried onions

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and grease a 3-quart baking dish.
2. Brown sausage pieces in a nonstick skillet over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and place them in a large bowl.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Add thyme and season with salt and pepper.
4. Sprinkle flour over the onions and garlic, stirring until the flour is absorbed, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth and half-and-half. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Add green beans, potatoes, and carrots to the bowl with the sausage. Pour in the sauce and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and cover with foil.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, stir, and sprinkle fried onions on top.
7. Continue baking for an additional 20 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the onions have crisped. Serve warm.