Serve this great dish for dinner or even breakfast. It makes a great meal for when company comes. It's delicious and satisfying.
For homemade cream of chicken condensed soup:
1 T. butter
2 T. flour
1 c. water
1 c. whole milk
2 t. chicken bouillon paste (in a jar next to chicken stock at grocery store)**
1/2 t. thyme
1/2 t. poultry seasoning
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
non-stick cooking spray
32 oz. bag hash browns, defrosted
14 oz. smoked sausage, diced (or turkey sausage)
1 small onion, diced or grated
1 1/2 c. grated Cheddar cheese
Homemade condensed cream of chicken soup:
Melt butter in a small pot over low heat; sprinkle in flour; whisk; cook 1 minute. Stir in water; whisk to remove lumps. Simmer until thick; stir in milk and chicken bouillon paste; add seasonings; stir. Sauce should thicken slightly. Taste and adjust seasonings. Set aside.
Place defrosted hash browns, sausage, onion and cheese together in a crockpot that has been lined with a crockpot liner for easy clean up; spray inside of liner with non-stick cooking spray. Pour in condensed soup; stir; cover; cook on High 3 hours or until potatoes are soft and sausages are hot. Serve.
** If you don't have chicken bouillon paste, use powdered or cubed bouillon, enough for 2 cups of liquid according to directions on the package or 1 cup chicken stock instead of water, then add an extra 1/2 t. poultry seasoning.