This creamy Whole30 casserole is an easy, family-friendly dinner featuring sausage and potatoes baked in a rich, dairy-free cream sauce. Ready in under an hour, it’s a comforting Paleo and gluten-free option that works well for meal prep—leftovers are especially tasty.
Growing up in the Midwest, casseroles—or “hot dishes,” as they’re often called in Minnesota—were at the center of family gatherings. They were simple, filling, and made from ingredients that could be combined in one dish. That same convenience is what I love about this Whole30-friendly casserole: it’s straightforward, hearty, and comforting.
This version uses compliant shredded potatoes (hash browns), savory ground sausage, and a creamy sauce made from coconut cream, unsweetened almond milk, and a touch of ghee. The sauce is thickened with arrowroot (or tapioca) flour for a velvety texture without dairy, keeping the recipe Paleo and Whole30 compatible. You will need a skillet to brown the sausage and make the sauce, but the rest bakes in a single casserole dish for minimal cleanup.
I’ve served this casserole for dinner many times and even for breakfast—if you serve it before 9 a.m., it’s practically a sausage-and-hash-brown breakfast bake. If using frozen shredded potatoes, be sure they’re fully thawed before mixing with the other ingredients.
Creamy Sausage & Potato Whole30 Casserole (Paleo + GF)
A creamy Whole30 casserole with sausage, hash browns, mushrooms, and spinach. Simple to prepare and perfect for family dinners or meal prep.
- Author: Bailey
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4–6
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground sausage (Whole30-compliant, no added sugar)
- 3 cups shredded potatoes (hash browns, no sugar added)
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 (13.5 oz) can unsweetened coconut cream
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 cup chicken or beef broth
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot flour (or tapioca flour)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Lightly grease a 2.5–3 quart casserole dish and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened.
- Add the ground sausage, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook until the sausage is browned and crumbled.
- Drain any excess grease, then transfer the browned sausage to a large mixing bowl.
- In the same skillet over medium heat, add the almond milk, coconut cream, ghee, broth, and dried herbs. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer for about 5 minutes.
- While the sauce is heating, stir the thawed hash browns, spinach, and mushrooms into the bowl with the sausage. Mix well and transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Gradually whisk the arrowroot (or tapioca) flour into the simmering sauce to avoid clumps. Continue whisking for about 2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Pour the cream sauce evenly over the sausage and potato mixture in the casserole dish. Gently fold with a spoon to distribute the sauce.
- Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top sets and forms a slight crust and the center is firm when pressed.
Notes
- If the sauce is too thin, whisk in an additional 1/2 tablespoon arrowroot flour and cook briefly to thicken.
- Use Whole30-compliant sausage brands or make your own with ground pork and compliant seasonings.
- If using frozen hash browns, thaw completely and drain excess moisture before mixing.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 474
- Sugar: 3 g
- Fat: 36 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Protein: 19 g
Some links and product mentions referenced in the original post are for convenience. Ingredients such as coconut cream, compliant almond milk, ghee, broth, and arrowroot or tapioca flour are widely available at grocery stores and natural-food retailers. Use certified Whole30 products if you are following the program strictly.