As fall hits its stride and winter slowly approaches, it’s time to think about some warm and cozy recipes to help you and your family survive the cold. Soups, pastas, and casseroles, oh my! Smoked sausage recipes can be just the thing to add some flavor to your day. With so many sausages to choose from, where should you begin?
What are Some Common Types of Smoked Sausage?
When it comes to sausages, you could write books about the many different varieties. There’s smoked, unsmoked, cured, uncured. The good news is that smoked, just refers to a process that adds flavor to the sausage. Smoking used to aid with food preservation, but it’s not as necessary any more due to refrigeration. So, what are some common smoked sausages? Generally, you can find sausages that say “hickory smoked” or just “smoked” but sometimes you might want something that’s more of a speciality.
Andouille is a smoked sausage that originally comes from France. In the United States, it’s primarily used in Cajun dishes, and refers to sausage that is made in a way similar to how it was prepared in France.
Another popular smoked sausage in the United States is kielbasa, and refers to any U-shaped smoked sausage. In fact though, kielbasa is originally the Polish word for sausage and there are dozens of different varieties. The word most likely entered English via immigrant populations.
Chorizo originated in Spain and Portugal and is another spicy smoked sausage that’s commonly used here in the US. Mexico also has its own version of chorizo. What do they all have in common? Peppers. Part of chorizo’s spiciness comes from peppers, whether they take the form of chili peppers, paprika, or hot peppers.
Here are 25 smoked sausage recipes to try out!
Christmas Breakfast Casserole with Smoked Sausage
Although this recipe says “Christmas,” it’s perfect for any day where you want to be able to pop something in the stove and hit the ground running. Eggs, smoked sausage, and cheese make this casserole an ideal morning delight. You can prep the entire meal the night before and it only takes thirty minutes to heat up during a busy morning!
Creamy Spinach and Sausage Pasta
Another tasty smoked sausage recipe, this pasta dish only uses one pan, making the clean up super duper easy and fast! This recipe is easily adaptable if you have other vegetables on hand, or don’t like spinach. The tomatoes with chiles and the green onion add a nice kick to the dish, complementing the smoked sausage.
Smoked Sausage and Tortellini Soup
As the days get colder, having hearty soup to keep you warm is just what the doctor ordered. You can make this soup ahead of time in batches and freeze it for ease of use. But, you don’t have to, because the soup only takes about thirty minutes to prepare! The smoked sausage and tortellini will fill up your whole family and you can eat it as its own meal. Spinach ensures you’re getting your vegetables for the day.
Macaroni and Cheese with Andouille Sausage
When you were growing up, could you never get enough mac and cheese? This smoked sausage recipe turns the dish into a heartier grown up version, delicious enough to serve to friends and family. Although the recipe calls for andouille sausage, any variety of smoked sausage will do. The Cajun seasonings add just a hint of spice and complement the green peppers and sharp cheddar cheese.
Baked Beans with Smoked Sausage
This warm baked beans with smoked sausage recipe in a dutch oven will simmer until it’s nice and thick. The recipe has the standard sweet ingredients, however it also uses a hint of Tabasco hot sauce and a fair amount of garlic, so the baked beans will be both savory and sweet. The recipe uses kielbasa, however you could substitute chorizo or any other smoked sausage you prefer.
Smoked Sausage Pizza with Spinach Feta
If you or your kids love pizza, you have to give this one a try. Pre-made Alfredo sauce makes the pizza quick and easy to make, and the spinach ensures that you’ll still get a serving of veggies. The longest part of the recipe? Waiting for the oven to preheat.
Polish Sausage with Bacon and Broccoli
If you’re looking for an easy stir fry smoked sausage recipe, look no further. This easily adaptable recipe requires you to precut everything, as it cooks that quickly! Bacon and sausage? Sign me up. The stir fry method gives you a nice char on the food, adding a layer of complexity to an already tasty meal.
Fat Tuesday Jambalaya
Comfort food is the name of the game if you make this Fat Tuesday Jambalaya, with Andouille Smoked Sausage. The jambalaya recipes calls for chicken breasts, smoked sausage, and shrimp as well, so you’ll have plenty of protein for your family. The one pot meal will allow you to have an easy clean up, once you devour this delicious dish.
Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion, and Potato Hash
If you own a cast iron skillet, this is the perfect meal to cook in it. This smoked sausage recipe uses turkey kielbasa, olive oil, and some veggies to provide you with a quick and rich meal that is ready in only 15 minutes. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy your family, with such a fast prep time!
Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage, Apple, and Root Veggie Dinner
This sweet and savory dish will give you all the feels. Carrots, Brussels sprouts, smoked sausage, and apples. You can eat it on its own or prepare some rice or quinoa on the side as a base. It’s the perfect winter meal.
Roasted Potatoes with Smoked Sausage
This hearty meal will keep you warm on a cold evening or it makes a great cookout dish if you’re barbecuing. Fresh herbs are part of the secret to this smoked sausage recipe, along with the Italian dressing. Enjoy the smell wafting through your home as it cooks!
Gnocchi with Sausage and Kale
Gnocchi is an oft-forgotten meal-maker and it shines in this winter dish that combines smoked sausage and kale with minced garlic and a healthy amount of parmesan cheese. Although this recipe doesn’t cite Italian sources, clearly it has all the hallmarks of a solid Italian meal.
Fire-roasted Ziti with Smoked Sausage
Speaking of Italians, this Fire-Roasted Ziti gives you a meal in a pot. Perfect for a busy weeknight, the smoked sausage adds some heft to what otherwise would just be a very cheesy meal. If you use pre-made sauce, you’ll save even more time! You could even double the recipe and have leftovers later in the week.
Sheet Pan Hash Browns Brunch Bake
If you are looking for a simple, easy way to wow your kids, this is an ideal choice. As a sheet pan meal, you can even simplify cleanup by using some foil or parchment paper on the tray. Prepping the hash browns, smoked sausage and eggs takes only 15 minutes, and cook time is about 40, leaving you time to have a mimosa.
Jambalaya Soup
This smoked sausage recipe uses Andouille sausage, shrimp, and chicken, to flavor a tasty jambalaya soup for a fresh alternative to traditional jambalaya. Make it a few days ahead of time so that the flavors can meld together. Better yet, freeze some and have it to reheat all winter long!
Italian Sausage and Zucchini Noodle Skillet
If your family craves a meal that’s a little lighter, to remind them of sweet summer days, this Italian sausage and zucchini dish should be on the menu. With five main ingredients, the dish comes together quickly. The grape tomatoes and the smoked sausage contrast nicely against the zucchini noodles. If you want a little more veggies, you can always toss in a pepper or two (orange and red would add more color!)
Big ol’ mess Smoked Sausage in Spicy Sweet Sauce
This next dish is the epitome of easy cooking. Whether you’re at home cooking it in the oven or on the grill, or camping, and letting it heat up over the campfire, this dish is definitely just a mess. But a mess you don’t have to worry about cleaning up as long as you seal the foil bag. Tabasco sauce and jalapeño add some extra heat.
Kale and White Bean Soup with Sausage
Hearty dishes have met their match in this smoked sausage recipe that not only warms you, but fills you with both delicious root vegetables and leafy greens. The recipe combines Andouille sausage and beans, so you’ll also have a healthy serving of protein aside all those vegetables. If you’d like some kick, add a dash of Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce.
Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo
The winner of this smoked sausage recipe roundup, this dish only has five ingredients and can be ready in less than 15 minutes! Can you believe it? All you need is smoked sausage, parmesan cheese, cajun seasoning, heavy cream, and pasta. After you cook your pasta, you can even reuse the same pot to sauté your sausage and prepare the rest of the dish.
One Pan Cheesy Smoked Sausage & Pasta
This meal is amazing if you’re looking for easy leftovers— you can reheat it in the oven or on the stove, depending on the time you want to spend in the kitchen. The recipe calls for Cheddar-Jack cheese, but it might also taste nice with stronger cheese, if your family prefers those types of flavors. Plus, if you’re running late on dinner, most of the ingredients are cabinet staples, and it takes less than thirty minutes from the start to be able to sit down and dig in.
Hearty Sausage & Sweet Potatoes
This smoked sausage recipe is both sweet and savory, thanks to the apples and sweet potatoes juxtaposed with the smoked sausage and the sage. The pumpkin spice adds just a hint more of sweetness and flavor profile. The best part of this recipe is that it utilizes the microwave to quickly cook the sweet potatoes and speed up the cooking process. If not for the microwaving, it’d be another one-pot meal for the books.
Smoked Sausage Gnocchi Skillet
Looking for a good weeknight meal and tired of doing dishes? This one-pot meal should be on your weekly rotation. Although the main recipes calls for smoked sausage and spinach, you should play with combinations that you love. Maybe one week try out Andouille with zucchini and the next week, add a bit of carrot to the mix. It’s sure to be a winner.
Smoked Sausage and Sauerkraut Soup
Feeling experimental? Then you should give this soup a try: it features Gyulai, an Hungarian smoked sausage. If you can’t track any down, Chorizo will work as a substitute. This soup also features duck legs and serrano chiles and is best served over mashed potatoes. The tanginess of the dish comes from the spicy mixed with the sauerkraut. You’re sure to not forget the taste!
Chicken Smoked Sausage with Couscous
This meal comes with a more mediterranean profile, combining couscous with cinnamon, raisins, and apples as a base for the smoked sausage. It’s perfect for a milder weather day. If you’d like the recipe to be even more flavorful, consider using chicken stock instead of water.
Smoked Sausage Cheesy Rice
Finally, what would a recipe roundup be without a cheesy rice dish? You can even make this recipe to use up leftover rice! This dish cooks in a single skillet, meaning you can spend more time eating and less time cleaning. The smoked sausage complements the extra-sharp cheddar cheese, and the broccoli and bell pepper ensure your family gets more than just dairy and protein for dinner. They won’t even realize they’re eating vegetables, it’s so tasty.
So there you have it! Twenty-five different smoked sausage recipes to carry you through the winter days. There’s something for everyone, whether you prefer pasta, rice, or potatoes. Give them a try and let us know which one is your favorite!
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