30+ Italian Sausage Recipes to Make ASAP

Updated April 14, 2020
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Italian sausage is the star of the show in these 30+ recipes. Whether you use it to make breakfast (the whole family will love this savory Breakfast Potato Casserole) or dinner (like this classic Italian Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese), you're going to want to bookmark this collection of Italian sausage recipes. 

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Breakfast Potato Casserole

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee

Breakfast Potato Casserole Recipe

Breakfast casserole is a beautiful thing because it puts everything you want on your plate in one warm bite. Our Breakfast Potato Casserole is essentially a baked omelet with all the toppings: hearty potatoes, flavorful veggies, savory sausage, and light, fluffy eggs.

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Zucchini Lasagna

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee

Zucchini Lasagna Recipe

This lightened lasagna has everything you love about the classic Italian dish, minus the noodles. Don’t worry, you won’t miss them. There are rich, deep, meaty flavors in the sauce, which is complimented by the creamy ricotta mixture—it’s a well balanced flavor combination that’s not too cheesy.

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Super Bowl Stuffed Pizza Roll

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Super Bowl Stuffed Pizza Roll Recipe

Your search for the perfect Super Bowl app is here: We combined all the must-have football watch party foods in one easy-to-serve, crowd-pleasing, Instagram-worthy dish. It’s pretty much a junk food dream. The pizza side is one of the tastiest supreme pizza fillings ever, while the buffalo chicken side is creamy with a hint of tangy spice.

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Fontina-And-Kale Mini Meatballs

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Fontina-And-Kale Mini Meatballs Recipe

These easy, cheesy meatballs are perfect for anything from a holiday party to a tailgating get-together—especially if you need to have a keto-friendly appetizer in the mix. The blend of Italian sausage and lean ground beef provide a great, flavorful base that isn’t overly greasy, and the kale and Fontina combo is a surefire crowd-pleaser. 

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Keto Cauliflower Stuffing

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Keto Cauliflower Stuffing Recipe

This keto-friendly stuffing has all the makings and flavors of a top-notch Thanksgiving side. It’s different, but still delicious, and non-keto dieters wouldn’t bat an eye at this. It’s nice and herby and has a great meaty flavor from the pork and chicken stock.

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Pizza Stuffed Squash

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Pizza Stuffed Squash Recipe

Satisfying, savory, and delicious, this no-carb version of supreme pizza is a great alternative for pizza or lasagna. The filling is hearty and flavorful, full of salty, meaty chunks, juicy tomatoes, olives, fresh basil, and cheese and breadcrumbs.

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Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce Recipe

A house full of guests requires a great meal that’s also easy on the cook, and our Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce is exactly that. This hearty meat sauce serves 12 people generously—or 16 people if you serve smaller portions or have lots of side dishes.

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Savory Sausage, Veggie, and Gnocchi Soup

Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Kay Clark; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Savory Sausage, Veggie, and Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Turkey sausage, sweet butternut squash, earthy mushrooms, shallots, and spinach come together to make a big bowl of delicious comfort. The colors stay intact, and the sausage is perfect for sopping up with some crusty French bread. Best of all, it’s fast and easy, and you can dress it up or down.

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Sausage-and-Shrimp Pizzas with Spinach-Basil Pesto

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Sausage-and-Shrimp Pizzas with Spinach-Basil Pesto Recipe

Shrimp might seem like an unusual pizza topper, but they couldn’t be more delicious when paired with smoky sausage and a bright and fresh pesto. When you’re at the seafood counter, choose medium shrimp (43 to 50 typically come in a pound). They are best for these grilled pizzas because they won’t overcook or undercook.

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Cauliflower Chili

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Cauliflower Chili Recipe

Oscar Wilde famously espoused “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” That is the spirit of this recipe. It isn’t attempting to make chili super low-calorie. It is attempting to mitigate the calories while retaining full pleasure. And it takes advantage of the texture and mild flavor of the current darling of the pantry, riced cauliflower.

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Sausage Baguette Pizzas

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Sausage Baguette Pizzas Recipe

Your favorite throwback after-school snack gets a healthy makeover courtesy of a whole-grain baguette crust and vitamin A–packed spinach. Use mild sausage to make it kid-friendly.

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Pasta with Italian Sunday Sauce

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Pasta with Italian Sunday Sauce Recipe

Known as “Sunday Gravy” to many, this meaty tomato sauce is like marinara but with a major upgrade. Short ribs and turkey sausage add flavor; whole-wheat pasta brings heart-healthy fiber to the table.

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Sausage, Apple, and Herb Stuffing

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Sausage, Apple, and Herb Stuffing Recipe

This recipe captures the traditional stuffing vibe with the flavors of sausage, aromatic vegetables, sage, and thyme. The bread soaks up all the goodness and stays moist inside, with a crispy layer on top. Bulk sausage is ideal, but you could use links and just remove the casings.

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Cheesy Turkey Meatball Skillet

Credit: Greg DuPree

Cheesy Turkey Meatball Skillet Recipe

Pair these healthy turkey meatballs with baked spaghetti squash for a simple and tasty low-carb dinner. If you don’t have a skillet with a lid, make sure your nonstick skillet is OK to use in the oven—a cast-iron skillet is a safe bet.

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Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robby Melvin

Lasagna Dip With Pasta Chips Recipe

Olive Garden got this one right, folks—lasagna in dip form is all kinds of wonderful, especially served with freshly fried, crisp pasta chips. Trust us, this meaty, cheesy appetizer will be a welcome addition to any party.

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Lasagna Pizza

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robby Melvin

Lasagna Pizza Recipe

It’s certainly not the first pasta-pizza partnership we’ve tried, but we dare say—Lasagna Pizza might just be the best. 

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Supreme Pizza Pie

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Supreme Pizza Pie Recipe

As it turns out, loading all of the cheesy supreme pizza goodness into a flaky crust makes for one supremely delicious pot pie.

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Instant Pot Sausage-Cornbread Stuffing

Credit: Caitlin Bensel Food Styling: Tina Stamos and Gordon Sawyer Prop Styling: Kay Clark

Instant Pot Sausage-Cornbread Stuffing Recipe

You can't have Thanksgiving dinner without stuffing. Classic flavors, a moist-but-not-soggy texture, and a touch of sweetness will make this Instant Pot stuffing a new family favorite. 

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Sheet Pan Pizza with Corn, Tomatoes, and Sausage

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Sheet Pan Pizza with Corn, Tomatoes, and Sausage Recipe

We topped this summer pizza with fresh corn, bell peppers, plum tomatoes, and hot Italian sausgae. The sausage and tomatoes cook together to create a rich sauce, which is used as a base for summer corn, peppers, and even more tomatoes. Use fresh pizza dough and par-cook the crust before adding the toppings for the crispiest results.

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Sausage and Tomato Mini Pizzas

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Sausage and Tomato Mini Pizzas Recipe

If you’ve got adventurous palates in the family, punch up the flavor of these personal pizzas with a dash of red pepper flakes and briny kalamata olives. Add a veggie- forward side, like a simple salad or roasted broccoli.

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Meat-za

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Meat-za Recipe

Sporting a crust made from woven bacon and topped with sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon and cheese—this “meatza” is not for the faint of heart. Baking the bacon base on a wire rack helps it cook faster and crisp up nicely because air can circulate underneath and the bacon is not sitting in its own grease.

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Zucchini-Pesto-Sausage Pizza

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Zucchini-Pesto-Sausage Pizza Recipe

You can make these vegetable-forward pizzas even more colorful by mixing in yellow squash or yellow bell pepper for half the zucchini. Lose the crushed red pepper if your kids don't like the heat. Ready-to-use prebaked crusts are the secret to getting this pizza to the table quickly.

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Nicole’s Best Lasagna

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Nicole’s Best Lasagna Recipe

Test kitchen chef and host of Mom vs. Nicole McLaughlin shares her personal recipe for the absolute best homemade lasagna. And trust us, she doesn’t throw the word “best” around lightly. 

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Reunion Pea Casserole

Credit: Greg DuPree

Reunion Pea Casserole Recipe

Refrigerated crescent roll dough gives this comforting casserole a golden, buttery crust with minimal effort. Add coleslaw or salad on the side, and you’ll have an easy, homey supper that will feed the whole family—and then some.

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Classic Cast Iron Pizza Pie

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Classic Cast Iron Pizza Pie Recipe

Nostalgic cast iron pies are back in style, like this cheesy, chewy example piled high with pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage, and extra mozz. The only thing missing from this throwback from the ‘80s pizza taverns of yore: some faux wood paneling, a red-checkered tablecloth, and maybe a stand-up arcade game in the corner.

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Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin

Sausage and Kale Pesto Pizza Recipe

Switch things up for family pizza night and enjoy a healthy pesto based option. Instead of the usual tomato sauce, this tasty deep-dish pizza is topped with a vibrant green pesto made with fresh basil and kale. This deep-dish pizza is made in your favorite cast-iron skillet. Don’t skip preheating the cast-iron skillet, which helps create a nice crisp crust.

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Skillet Sausage with Peppers and Onions

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Skillet Sausage with Peppers and Onions Recipe

This classic skillet entree is just the sort of  simple and hearty comfort fare we all need every so often. Enjoy your sausage and peppers on a toasted hoagie roll, over cheesy polenta, or straight from the skillet—we’re not here to judge.  

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Collard Green Creole Dirty Rice

Credit: Alison Miksch

Collard Green Creole Dirty Rice Recipe

This dirty rice gets its flavoring from chicken sausage, paprika, cayenne pepper, and even a poblano chile. Just add a serving of hot cornbread.

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White Bean, Fennel, and Italian Sausage Soup with Parmesan Toasts

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

White Bean, Fennel, and Italian Sausage Soup with Parmesan Toasts Recipe

Pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients combine to make a comforting soup that's ready to eat in less than an hour. Serve with a glass of your favorite red wine and a couple of our crunchy Parmesan Toasts for dunking.

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Cake Pan Italian Sausage Dinner

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Cake Pan Italian Sausage Dinner Recipe

Simple, satisfying, and incredibly comforting—this single-pan supper has a lot going for it. Using a 9x13-inch pan for this tasty combo allows all the flavors to meld (and soak into your potatoes) in a most-delicious way.  And since dinner is done all in one pan, clean-up is a total breeze. 

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Mostly Veggie Pasta with Sausage

Mostly Veggie Pasta with Sausage Recipe

Spaghetti sauce is typically mostly meat, about a pound of ground beef bound by a scant amount of marinara. Here we reverse the ratio, using sausage as the flavor agent instead of the base and adding plenty of vegetables.

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Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe

While we love the images of a cook standing over the stove for hours, stirring the family’s secret recipe for Bolognese until it is just right, we have simplified the technique so you can create a tasty meal in under 30 minutes. Create a satisfying meat sauce by cooking Italian sausage, peppers, sweet onions and garlic.

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