Cheesy Kielbasa Skillet (Printable)
Smoky kielbasa, tender potatoes, and melted cheddar come together in one hearty skillet.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 12 oz kielbasa sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 large yellow onion, chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 cups baby potatoes, thinly sliced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 cup broccoli florets
→ Dairy
07 - 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (about 6 oz)
08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
→ Seasonings
09 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
10 - ½ tsp dried oregano
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Optional Garnish
12 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
# Steps:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and let it melt completely. Add the sliced kielbasa in a single layer and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
02 - In the same skillet with the rendered drippings, add the chopped onion and sliced potatoes. Cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes begin to soften and develop a light crust.
03 - Stir in the minced garlic, diced bell pepper, and broccoli florets. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until the garlic is fragrant and the vegetables have begun to tenderize.
04 - Return the browned kielbasa to the skillet. Sprinkle the smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper evenly over the top. Toss everything together until well combined and evenly coated with the seasonings.
05 - Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the entire surface of the skillet mixture. Cover with a lid and let cook for 3–5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the potatoes are fork-tender.
06 - Remove the lid and garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately while hot, straight from the skillet.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan which means cleanup is almost nonexistent and that alone is worth celebrating.
- The combination of smoky sausage and melted cheddar over tender potatoes is the kind of comfort food that disappears before everyone gets seconds.
02 -
- Do not rush the potato step because undercooked potatoes are the fastest way to ruin an otherwise perfect skillet dinner.
- Covering the pan when the cheese goes on creates steam that finishes the potatoes and melts the cheese simultaneously which is the whole trick.
03 -
- A dash of hot sauce or Dijon mustard stirred in at the end wakes up all the flavors and makes people ask what your secret is.
- Resist the urge to stir while the cheese is melting because disturbing it too early prevents that gorgeous stretchy layer from forming.