37 Sausage Recipes That Are as Easy to Make as They Are to Devour
Sausage is the ultimate shortcut to a fast, satisfying dinner. You can whip up a meal with store-bought links in mere minutes, and there are many dishes out there that require only one pan (dishwasher-less readers, rejoice). Plus, you can swap out pork, turkey or chicken, depending on what you’re craving. It’s far from the *wurst* thing you can put on your dinner table. (See what we did there?) So, read on for 37 sausage recipes that are sure to satisfy and impress.
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1. Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Nope, gnocchi does not need to be boiled. Instead, drizzle it in olive oil, season with salt and pepper and bake until golden and crisp.
2. Chicken and Chicken Sausage Jambalaya
Amy Scott/Healthier Southern Cooking
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, high protein, crowd-pleaser
This Creole classic just got healthier *and* easier to prepare, since the recipe calls for brown rice instead of white and chicken sausage instead of pork andouille. (Plus, it doesn’t even need a side dish to be a complete meal.)
3. Crispy Cast-Iron Skillet Pizza with Fennel, Sausage and Garlic
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Store-bought pizza dough FTW. It turns out your trusty skillet can do the job of a pizza stone with a fraction of the fuss.
4. Keto Instant Pot Sausage-Kale Soup
Leslie Grow/Keto in an Instant
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: keto-friendly, low carb, <30 minutes, make ahead, Instant Pot recipe
With the help of a pressure cooker, you can be sipping homemade soup in a flash. Take your pick of kielbasa, chorizo or Italian sausage, and feel free to substitute spinach or Swiss chard for kale.
5. Sausage and Fennel Pasta
Colin Price/Dinner Then Dessert
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Sausage has a ton of built-in seasoning, so this pasta dish doesn’t require much help in the flavor department. (That’s why you’ll only need six ingredients to pull it off, including salt and pepper.)
6. Turkey Sausage and Veggie Polenta Bowls
Carina Skrobecki/Simply Real Eating
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, high protein, special occasion-worthy
We feel warm and cozy just looking at this cold-weather gem. The polenta is cheesy and savory as is, but you could easily swap in Parmesan risotto for a more decadent feel.
7. Sausage, Corn and Poblano Chowder
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, beginner-friendly
Spicy, sweet and ever so adaptable, this chowder can easily be made ahead and frozen for future last-minute dinners. It’ll keep for up to three months in an airtight container.
8. Chicken Sausage, Spelt and Pepper Skillet
Teri Lyn Fisher/Eat Like You Give a Fork
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, high protein
Never tried spelt? Allow us to introduce you to this nutritious grain. It’s nutty, chewy, sweet and positively packed with protein and fiber.
9. Turkey Roulade with Cherry and Sausage Stuffing
Let’s Stay In
Time Commitment: 11 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Between the brandy, cherries, sage and hazelnuts, this stuffing has Christmas dinner written all over it. It only takes two hours to roast, which is way faster than cooking a whole bird.
10. Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
Nothing beats a low-lift dinner that leaves you with only one dirty dish to clean. Serve it all over rice or pasta to make it more filling.
11. One-Pan Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and White Beans
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free
Pantry staples + fresh produce + mild Italian sausage = the easiest weeknight dinner of all time. Flip the sausages halfway through to ensure they brown evenly.
12. Julia Turshen’s Sheet Pan Stuffing with Sausage and Spinach
David Loftus/Now & Again
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead, sheet pan recipe
Bye-bye, soggy stuffing. Baking it on a sheet pan ensures that it turns out crispy. If you prefer it softer, bake it in a smaller pan, like a square baking dish.
13. Shrimp Boil Skewers with Corn, Sausage and Potatoes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
All the elements of a classic shrimp boil, minus the mess. In case you need more convincing, each skewer is drenched in smoky, spicy, herby Cajun butter.
14. Sausage and Egg Breakfast Dumplings
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
They sure beat soggy cereal and toast, no? Serve the dumplings with a duo of dipping sauces: sriracha ketchup and soy-spicy brown mustard.
15. Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Budget shoppers with expensive taste, this one’s for you. This soul-soothing soup—made with store-bought tortellini, canned tomatoes and Italian sausage—costs less than $5 per serving.
16. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, high protein, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Sunday supper on a weekday—and in 30 minutes flat to boot. Lighten the dish up by swapping in turkey or chicken sausage in place of pork.
17. Butternut Squash, Sausage and Kale Gnocchi
Two Peas and Their Pod
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein
Healthy comfort food is no longer an oxymoron. Whip up this fall pasta to savor seasonal highlights like butternut squash, dried cranberries and fresh rosemary.
18. Chicken Sausage Quinoa Skillet
Plays Well with Butter
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan,gluten
Think baby Portobello mushrooms, bell peppers, tomato sauce and chicken sausage, nestled atop a bed of tender quinoa. We’ll take extra grated Parm on ours, please.
19. Apple Cider Maple Sausage Cornmeal Pancakes
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <30 minutes
These are too tasty to only eat before noon—we’re getting breakfast-for-dinner vibes. The secret to the pancake’s moist, fluffy texture is Greek yogurt in the batter.
20. 5-Ingredient Italian Sausage and Kale Baked Ziti
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one dish, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Take this edible mic drop to your next potluck and let the compliments roll in. Serve it with plenty of Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.
21. Kickin’ Cheesy Sausage Dip
Dude That Cookz
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
Make it for game day and never look back. Crushed red pepper flakes, fire-roasted tomatoes, cayenne and smoked chicken sausage offer the dip a ton of oomph.
22. Creamy Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, high protein
If you don’t add this to your Thanksgiving menu, you’re missing out. The soup is packed with tender white beans, seasonal veggies and a drool-worthy paprika-sage broth.
23. Egg Muffins with Sausage, Spinach and Cheese
Two Peas & Their Pod
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, keto-friendly
Because you should never be without a filling breakfast, even on busy mornings. Make the muffins ahead and keep them in the fridge for up to four days.
24. Weeknight Skillet Paella
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, high protein
This Spanish staple may seem out of reach on a weeknight, but thanks to our shortcuts, it’s only an hour away. (Our version is cooked in any large oven-safe skillet and the seafood is limited to shrimp and clams for minimal fuss.)
25. Spiralized Zucchini, Quinoa and Turkey Sausage-Stuffed Peppers
Foodie Crush
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, high protein
Psst, wanna know a secret? You can save on time and effort by starting with pre-spiralized zoodles. The more you know.
26. Chicken Sausage and Sauteed Greens Sub
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein
The ingredient list is short and sweet, just how we like it. (But we might add a generous slather of aioli to each bun, since it makes everything better.)
27. Baked Turkey Sausage and Mascarpone Stuffed Shells
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Mascarpone cheese stands in for typical ricotta in the filling, which makes the shells sweeter and more buttery than you’re probably used to. We have a feeling picky kids will love it.
28. Gnocchi with Brussels Sprouts, Chicken Sausage and Kale Pesto
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser
The homemade pesto just might be the healthiest you’ve ever had, since the basil is supplemented with chopped kale and walnuts. But if you want to save time, use your favorite jarred kind instead.
29. Grilled Italian Sausage and Peppers
Two Peas & Their Pod
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy
This iconic sammy tastes just as good at a backyard barbecue as it does at your local carnival. Did we mention the recipe only calls for nine ingredients?
30. Stewed Okra & Tomatoes with Chicken Sausage
Dude That Cookz
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
No soul food feast is complete without okra. This take is a hybrid of stewed okra and tomatoes and succotash, a Southern side made with lima beans and corn.
31. Sausage Lasagna with Ricotta Cheese
Foodie Crush
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Sweet Italian pork sausage and ground beef unite to create a dinner staple that even kids can get down with. (Must be all that melted mozzarella.)
32. Freeze-Ahead Turkey Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Eat your heart out, McDonald’s. These breakfast sandwiches are just as tasty as theirs, and they’ll be ready to devour just as fast too, if you prep them ahead.
33. Italian Sausage and Rice Casserole
Well Plated by Erin
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pot, high protein
How does this one-pot stunner cook in just 30 minutes? We’re so glad you asked. It’s all thanks to instant brown rice.
34. Eggs in Hell with Italian Sausage
Averie Cooks
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, dairy free
Shakshuka never disappoints at Sunday brunch. Start with ground sausage or Italian sausage links, either hot or mild. We’ll bring the mimosas.
35. Spinach and Havarti Phyllo Bake
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
There are so many delicious surprises hiding between those flaky layers. We’re talking kalamata olives, spicy chicken sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, yogurt and three types of gooey cheese.
36. Turkey Sausage and Spinach Frittata
Dude That Cookz
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, high protein
Here’s one breakfast that’s guaranteed to keep you full ’til lunchtime. Turkey kielbasa sausage, organic eggs and cheddar jack cheese pack it with protein.
37. Sausage Strata
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
How could you possibly go wrong when bread is the star ingredient? Use a hard, crusty loaf, like sourdough or Italian bread, so it can hold up against the custard overnight.
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For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
