Wiener Potato Casserole is a wonderfully practical American comfort-food dish built around potatoes, sliced wieners, and a creamy homemade mustard-seasoned white sauce. Casseroles like this became especially popular in American home kitchens during the mid-20th century, when economical ingredients and simple one-dish suppers were prized. Here, sliced potatoes cook directly in a sauce made from butter, flour, milk, and prepared mustard before bite-size pieces of wiener are added. The casserole is then baked until lightly browned, with an optional topping of buttered crumbs or crushed cornflakes. Creamy, savory, filling, and budget-friendly, it is exactly the kind of uncomplicated vintage supper that makes excellent cold-weather comfort food.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter (or margarine)
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 dash black pepper
- 2 tsp prepared mustard
- 2 lb potatoes (peeled and thinly sliced)
- 1 lb wieners (cut into 1-inch bite-size slices)
- buttered crumbs (crushed cornflakes, or bread crumbs, optional, for topping)
Instructions
Step 1: Make the White Sauce
- Melt the butter or margarine in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Stir in the flour until smooth.
- Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly, and cook until the mixture is smooth and thickened.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, and prepared mustard.
Step 2: Cook the Potatoes
- Peel and thinly slice the potatoes.
- Add the sliced potatoes to the white sauce.
- Cook gently, stirring carefully as needed, until the potatoes are almost tender.
Step 3: Add the Wieners
- Cut the wieners into approximately 1-inch bite-size pieces.
- Add them to the potatoes and white sauce and gently combine.
Step 4: Assemble the Casserole
- Grease a casserole dish.
- Pour the potato, wiener, and white-sauce mixture into the prepared casserole.
- If desired, sprinkle the top with buttered crumbs, crushed cornflakes, or bread crumbs.
Step 5: Bake
- Bake at 350°F until heated through and lightly browned on top, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Tips
- Slice the potatoes fairly thin and evenly so they become tender at approximately the same time.
- Yukon Gold or other all-purpose potatoes work particularly well because they retain their shape while becoming creamy.
- Keep the heat moderate while making the white sauce so the milk does not scorch.
- Add the milk gradually while stirring to help prevent lumps in the sauce.
- For a crisp vintage-style topping, use buttered bread crumbs or crushed cornflakes as suggested on the card.
- Add a little shredded cheddar cheese to the top before baking for a richer variation.
- For additional color, stir in a handful of peas or finely diced cooked carrots.
- Smoked sausage can replace the wieners for a stronger, smokier flavor.
- If the casserole seems very thick before baking, stir in a small splash of milk.
- Allow the finished casserole to stand for about 5 minutes before serving so the creamy sauce can settle.
Nutrition
Calories: 445kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 15gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 940mgPotassium: 1030mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 390IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 145mgIron: 2.4mg
