Kielbasa Casserole
Two Very Different Recipes for Polish Sausage All-in-One Dishes
Try polish sausage in two casserole dishes: one creamy and homestyle and one with Italian marinara.
Kielbasa is also called Polska Kielbasa or Polish Sausage. This mild sausage is sold by a number of different companies in a precooked version. This makes it very easy to prepare a dish such as a casserole, for there is less prep work involved.
The first recipe for Kielbasa Casserole involves a creamy, cheesy sauce and has a delicious "comfort food" taste. The second ingredient uses Polish sausage in an Italian way, creating a blend of European tastes.
Creamy Kielbasa Casserole
Ingredients:
- 3 links of Kielbasa, precooked and cut into slices
- 1 can (11 oz) cheddar cheese soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 1/3 cup parmesan
- 8 oz of shell pasta or elbow macaroni
Procedure:
- Boil the noodles, drain, and set aside.
- While noodles are boiling, prepare the vegetables.
- When noodles are ready, mix all of the remaining ingredients except the parmesan in a greased casserole dish. (Try Pam cooking spray.)
- Sprinkle the mixed ingredients with parmesan. Cover with a glass lid or tinfoil and bake the casserole at 375 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes or until it is thoroughly heated.
Italian Kielbasa Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 package of Polska Kielbasa, cut in half lengthwise and sliced
- 1 package (16 oz) rotini pasta
- 1 jar of spaghetti sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with Italian herbs
- 8-12 oz of shredded mozzarella
Procedure:
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- Place the pasta in a 9x13 pan or two 8x8 pans. (If using two pans, you may freeze one before baking to serve later.)
- Add in the kielbasa, spaghetti sauce, and tomatoes (undrained).
- Top the casserole with the mozzarella cheese. Cover the dish with foil. Bake the casserole at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes with the foil on.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Varying the Recipes
The two recipes are good, basic recipes for kielbasa. However, feel free to experiment with the ingredients. If you want more of a kick, you can substitute the mild kielbasa with a spicy chicken sausage or a hot Italian sausage for a whole new taste.
In addition, you can toss in various vegetables depending what is fresh or what you have on hand. Mushrooms or olives would go well in the Italian-style kielbasa casserole, while short-cut green beans or peas could be added to the creamy style kielbasa casserole.
What to Serve with Kielbasa Casserole
Kielbasa Casserole contains most of the food groups in one dish. While you could certainly serve either of the casseroles alone, both would pair well with rolls or bread such as foccacia and a green salad.
