Winter Cabin Casserole

Winter Cabin Casserole–sausage meat sauce topped with cheesy mashed potatoes and french fried onions made in your Instant Pot or on the stove.

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Winter Cabin Casserole

One of my favorite weeks of the year is the week between Christmas and New Years when Greg has work off and the kids have school off and we have nothing planned but “chill time”. This year we are up at the cabin in the snowy pines and it is so magical. I love cooking cozy foods in the cabin and enjoying family time together. I made this recipe and it was a winner! We all loved it. The sausage gives the whole dish incredible flavor. The mashed potatoes are creamy and cheesy. And the french fried onions on top add some crunch to the dish. This sort of reminds me of a shepherd’s pie but I like it even better! You can make this recipe in the Instant Pot (with a steamer basket and air fryer lid) or you can make it on the stovetop and in the oven.

Ingredients/Substitution Ideas

• Russet potatoes–or red potatoes
• Jimmy Dean uncooked ground sausage–or Italian sausage
• Shallot–or a half cup diced onion
• Petite diced tomatoes–or crushed tomatoes
• Tomato sauce
• Garlic powder–or granulated garlic
• Italian seasoning
• Butter
• Salt
• Pepper
• Milk
• Shredded monterey jack cheddar blend–or another cheese of your choice
• French fried onions

Steps

Pour 1 ½ cups water into Instant Pot. Place cubed potatoes into a steamer basket and drop the basket into the Instant Pot.

Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 8 minutes. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid. Carefully remove the steamer basket and set aside. Discard the water. 

Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the shallot. Cook sausage until cooked through. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Simmer on saute “less” setting for 5 minutes. 

Meanwhile pour the potatoes into a mixing bowl and mash. Stir in the butter until melted. Stir in the salt, pepper, milk and cheese. 

Turn off Instant Pot. Scoop potatoes over the top of the meat sauce mixture and spread out. Sprinkle with the french fried onions. If you have an air fryer lid, brown up the top by air frying for 3 minutes at 400 degrees. Serve and enjoy! 

Notes/Tips

• Serve with a side of green beans or another vegetable of your choice.
• Trying adding in a diced green pepper with the sausage and shallot for more vegetables.
• For extra flavor use Italian sausage instead of regular sausage.
• Make this gluten-free by leaving out the french fried onions.
• I used my Duo Crisp 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
• I like using my Avokado silicone steamer basket* to steam and potatoes.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Other recipes you can make with french fried onions are Instant Pot Brunch Casserole and Grieving Heart Casserole.

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More Instant Pot Sausage Recipes…

Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for. 

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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.