Polish Reuben Casserole {my favorite casserole in the whole wide world}

Polish Reuben Casserole is one of my very favorite foods. I could eat it all day, everyday. I really can't get enough of it. Although, it wasn't always like that. The first time my dad made it, I hated it. But after several years, I grew to like it. But not just like it, I loved it. 

So, what exactly is Polish Reuben Casserole? Polish Reuben Casserole has layers of sauerkraut, noodles, and polish sausage topped with a creamy mushroom mixture, bread crumbs, and Swiss cheese. If you like Reuben sandwiches, you'll love this casserole. 

My dad first found this recipe in a big cookbook. However I can't remember which cookbook. Through the years we have made small changes to suit our family. It originally called for only 8 oz. of wide egg noodles, but we wanted more noodles on it. So, I doubled the noodle amount, and in doing so, I have doubled the amount of milk called for in the recipe. 
Everyone always asks me if I'm Irish simply because of my red hair. When I tell them "no", they go onto ask if my parents have any Irish blood in them. I then answer "no" and that I am actually very German. On St. Patrick's Day, however, I become an adopted Irishmen with my friends very Irish family. Polish Reuben casserole may not be  corned beef and cabbage, but it would make a great substitute if you are in a time crunch. As St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, Polish Reuben casserole would make a festive sauerkraut dish for St. Patrick's Day. 

Polish Reuben Casserole

Ingredients:

2-3 cans (10.75 ounces each) condensed cream of mushroom soup

3-4 cups milk (I do 3.5 cups)

1 onion, chopped

1-2 Tbsp. prepared mustard

1 can (16 oz.) sauerkraut, drained and rinsed

1 pkg. (16 oz) wide egg noodles (uncooked)

1 1/2 lb. Polish Sausage, cut into 1/4 - 1/2 inch pieces

8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 cup bread crumbs

 2 tsp. butter, melted

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
2. Combine soup, milk, onion and mustard in a medium bowl and blend together well.
3. Spread sauerkraut on the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Top with uncooked noodles.
4. Spoon soup mixture evenly over the top. Top sausage.
5. Combine butter and bread crumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over top. Then sprinkle the cheese on top. 
6. Cover tightly with foil. Bake in oven for 40 minutes- 1 hour or until noodles are tender. 
7. Serve up and enjoy!

This casserole is so easy to make. I hope you find to love this recipe like I did. The great thing about cooking at home is that you can make the way your family likes it. So if your family wants more sauerkraut, add another can of sauerkraut. Want less noodle, but the same amount of sauerkraut? Then halve the noodle amount and milk amount. This recipe is simple a blueprint. And with that I shall I say goodbye and have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 Peace, Love, Bake on... & the luck of the Irish.

                                                  Andrea