Ingredients:
homemade cream of chicken condensed soup:
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup water
1 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon paste*
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
salt & pepper, to taste
1 32-oz. bag of hash browns, defrosted
14 oz. smoked sausage, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Directions:
For the homemade condensed cream of chicken soup, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk. Cook 1 minute. Stir in water and whisk to remove any lumps. Simmer until thick, then stir in milk and chicken bouillon paste plus the seasonings. Sauce should thicken slightly at this point. Taste and adjust seasonings. Set aside.
Place hash browns, smoked sausage, onion and cheese together in a lightly greased crockpot. Pour over condensed soup and stir. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or until potatoes are soft and sausages are hot. Serve.
*Chicken bouillon paste is similar to bouillon cubes, but in a paste form. It’s found in jars right next to the boxes of chicken stock. If you don’t have this ingredient, simply use either powdered or cubed bouillon {enough for 2 cups of liquid according to directions on the packaging} OR 1 cup of chicken stock instead of water and add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of poultry seasoning.