Kielbasa Potato Stuffed Shells is a new twist on the classic recipe - shells are stuffed with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, kielbasa and cheese.
Every year a bunch of us get together and make homemade kielbasa. I am always looking for new ways to use the kielbasa and I think these kielbasa potato stuffed shells are my new favorite!
What are Kielbasa Potato Stuffed Shells?
Kielbasa Potato Stuffed Shells are similar to a sauerkraut and potato pierogi. Large shells are stuffed with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, kielbasa and shredded cheese. Then it's all baked on top of Parmesan cheese sauce.
Ingredients
- large shells
- prepared mashed potatoes
- fresh kielbasa, not the smoked kind
- sauerkraut
- shredded cheddar cheese
- milk
- unsalted butter
- all purpose flour
- grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper
- dried parsley, for garnish, if desired
Instructions for these pierogi-style stuffed shells
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.
Then cook the pasta shells. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add large shells and cook for 10-12 minutes, or according to package directions, until al dente. (They'll finish cooking in the oven.) Drain and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, brown and crumble the kielbasa. Cook fresh kielbasa in a medium skillet over medium high heat, crumbling, until browned and cooked through.
Next, combine the filling ingredients together. In a large bowl, combine prepared mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, crumbled kielbasa and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir together and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Then, make the cheese sauce. Melt butter in the same skillet you used for the kielbasa. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Then whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and stir until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted. Spread into the prepared baking dish.
After that, fill the pasta shells. Fill each of the shells with a heaping tablespoon of the kielbasa potato mixture. Place on top of the sauce in the prepared baking dish. Repeat until all shells are filled, then sprinkle more cheddar cheese on top.
Finally, bake the kielbasa potato stuffed shells. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese on top of the shells is fully melted. Remove from the oven, garnish with parsley if desired and serve immediately.
Substitutions and Serving Suggestions
- If you can't find fresh kielbasa, use sweet Italian sausage
- Double the cheese sauce recipe to serve poured on top of the shells
- Serve with more sauerkraut, a green side salad or Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
- Don't like sauerkraut? Caramelized onions would be a delicious addition to the filling
FAQ
A pierogi is a Polish dumpling - a dough that is filled with a variety of toppings - either sweet or savory - that can be boiled or pan-fried. Typical savory pierogi are filled with mashed potatoes. Secondary filling ingredients include onions, cheese and sauerkraut.
Fresh kielbasa is a type of Polish sausage. You can usually find fresh kielbasa next to the other sausages in the grocery store. It is also sold already cooked, typically smoked. My family makes fresh Kielbasa every year.
For this recipe, I made a cheese sauce, which I think goes great with it. But you could also try a pesto, a mushroom sauce, or even just shake some hot sauce on top.
These pierogi potato stuffed shells are the ultimate comfort food. Who doesn't love mashed potatoes? Especially when there is cheese added in! I love how filling and hearty this recipe is. You almost need a light side, like a salad, to eat alongside this to balance out the rich flavors.
March's Improv Cooking Challenge ingredients are cabbage and meat. Sauerkraut is a pickled cabbage so this recipe fits in perfectly.
Check out what the other blogger's have made for this month's Improv Cooking Challenge:
- See Ji Tan - Chinese Lion’s Head Meatballs from Pandemonium Noshery
- Grilled Rachel Tacos byA Day in the Life on the Farm
- Cabbage and Noodles from Palatable Pastime
- Keto Cabbage & Bacon Stir Fry from Sneha’s Recipe
- Kielbasa Potato Stuffed Shells from Cookaholic Wife
- Ghatte Manchurian Noodles from Magical Ingredients
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Recipe
Kielbasa Potato Stuffed Shells
Ingredients
- 16 jumbo pasta shells
Filling
- 8 oz kielbasa
- 1 cup mashed potatoes prepared
- ¼ cup sauerkraut
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Sauce
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add jumbo pasta shells and cook according to package directions for al dente, 8-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.16 jumbo pasta shells
- Heat a medium skillet over medium high heat. Add in kielbasa and cook, crumbling until browned.8 oz kielbasa
- In a large bowl, combine prepared mashed potatoes, cooked kielbasa, sauerkraut and ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until combined and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.1 cup mashed potatoes, ¼ cup sauerkraut, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
- Prepare the cheese sauce - melt butter in the same skillet you cooked the kielbasa in. Then whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the milk while whisking. Bring to a simmer, stirring until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste.2 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon all purpose flour, 1 cup milk, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper
- Spread the cheese sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the filling mixture into each of the shells, placing open side up in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with dried parsley if desired and serve immediately.1 teaspoon dried parsley
Wendy Klik
This is definitely going on the to make list. That cheese sauce is the perfect finish for this dish. OH MY YUM.
Radha
Making your own kielbasa sounds amazing! The idea of stuffing in pasta shells - amazing to the power infinity! Genius!