Hungarian rakott krumpli served on a rustic wooden table with a cozy kitchen in the background.

Traditional Hungarian Rakott Krumpli – Layered Potato Casserole

Simple ingredients, rich flavor, true Hungarian comfort.

This dish has always been one of my all‑time favorites. When my kids were little, I made it constantly — and every single time I sliced the potatoes, eggs, or smoked sausage, I couldn’t resist sneaking a piece. By the time the casserole came out of the oven, I was usually not even hungry anymore.

Cooking in Hungary isn’t always designed for convenience. We don’t have endless varieties of potatoes or eggs lined up on supermarket shelves. We buy one type of potato — maybe new potatoes in early summer — and that’s it. And the best eggs? Always the village eggs. Whenever I had the time, I went to the market to find the old ladies in headscarves who stood there for hours, selling what they could to earn a little extra. Some things haven’t changed, even today.

Welcome to this effortless, comforting Hungarian dish — simple ingredients, honest flavors, and a recipe that never disappoints.

This Layered Potato Casserole can be a perfect lunch with the creamy sour cherry soup.

Layered Potato Casserole (rakott krumpli) – A Taste of Old Hungarian Kitchens

Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Hungarian
Calories: 850

Ingredients
  

  • 1-1.5 lb potatoes or 4 – 5 big potatoes
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 5 – 6 oz smoked sausage sliced (Hungarian kolbász works beautifully)
  • 6 boiled eggs sliced
  • cups sour cream
  • 1 Chives to taste
  • 1 tbsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp pepper

Method
 

  1. Instructions

    1. Cook the Potatoes and Eggs Boil the potatoes and eggs in separate pots until the potatoes are tender (20–25 minutes) and the eggs are hard‑boiled (10–12 minutes). Let cool slightly, then peel and slice both into rounds.
    2. Slice the Sausage While the potatoes and eggs cook, slice the Hungarian sausage into thin rounds.
    3. Prepare the Sour Cream Mixture Whisk the sour cream with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Use this to grease the dish and drizzle between layers.
    4. Assemble the Casserole Grease a baking dish with the sour cream mixture.Layer in this order:
    potatoes
    drizzle of sour cream
    eggs
    drizzle of sour cream
    sausage.
    Finish with a final layer of potatoes.
    5. Add the Topping Pour the remaining sour cream mixture evenly over the top.
    6. Bake Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Bake for 40 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbling.
    7. Rest and Serve Let the casserole rest for 10–15 minutes before serving so the layers can set.

Nutrition

Calories: 850kcal

Notes

 
 
You can add cheese if you want, but be careful not to burn the top when baking.
When serving, you can add cheese if you want, but be careful not to burn the top when baking.
When serving, I always add sour cream on top; I like it that way.

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