27 Italian Sausage Recipes To Try This Weekend

Italian sausage, or “salsiccia,” holds a special place in the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide. Whether it’s the sweet and mild notes of the classic Italian sausage or the fiery kick of the spicy variety, these sausages have the power to transform ordinary meals into extraordinary feasts. From pasta to pizza, soups to sandwiches, Italian sausages elevate the taste of countless dishes, infusing them with a burst of savory goodness. It’s easy to cook, and easy to add to dishes as you’ll see throughout this roundup. 

In this Italian Sausage Recipe Roundup,  we’ll explore the world of the herbed sausage, where each bite tells a story of Italy’s rich gastronomic heritage. From rustic family favorites to gourmet creations, we’ll unravel the secrets of preparing mouthwatering Italian sausage dishes that will transport your taste buds to the heart of Italy itself. Let’s jump right in with a recipe for making Italian sausage right at home. 

1. Homemade Italian Sausage

This homemade Italian sausage recipe tastes at least a hundred times better than any store-bought stuff, and you can trust it will be the highest quality. And making your own sausage is an empowering way to maintain control over what you consume. While there’s nothing wrong with the store-bought version, why not make it at home when it’s this easy and this delicious? 

2. How to Cook Italian Sausage

Whether you have an oven, grill, or just a stovetop, this recipe goes over how to cook Italian sausage so that you get it moist, juicy, and just right. It’s a hearty meat that can be used in a plethora of dishes, so ensuring you know just how to cook it is essential.

3. The Bomb Sausage Sandwich

This amazing sandwich is oven-baked and has roasted sausages layered between thick slices of French bread. A delicious red sauce and spicy pepper jack cheese are all the condiments you need on this hearty sandwich. It’s a messy, melted entree, but that’s what makes it perfect. The flavor combo is unbeatable. 

4. Italian Sausage Casserole

You can have the herbed meat even if you need a healthy dish. This casserole is gluten-free and low-carb, so you don’t have to miss out on the wonderful flavor. Serve this on a busy weeknight or bring it to a potluck. It’ll be a hit no matter what. No one will miss the carbs! 

5. Italian Sausage Penne Casserole

If you’re looking for an easy, hearty dish to serve for a quick family dinner or to make as an easy addition to potlucks and get-togethers, this delicious pasta bake is your new staple. It’s full of al dente penne pasta, lots of melted cheese, and the meaty sausage of course. Every bite is bursting with flavor. 

6. Drunken Noodles, Italian Style

This is the Italian version of the Thai classic entree named drunken noodles. This version features pappardelle noodles, bell peppers, plenty of tomatoes, white wine, sausage links, and Italian seasoning and herbs. It’s a big bowl of Italian flavor all in one dish. It’s a quick cook too since the pappardelle doesn’t take long at all. 

7. Creamy Sausage Gnocchi

Sausage gnocchi is a simple and quick dinner that takes only 30 minutes to prepare. It tastes and looks like an entree from a high-end restaurant. This recipe uses store-bought potato gnocchi, spicy Italian sausage, garlic, spinach, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes to make a one-pan meal. You can also use mild or sweet Italian sausage – and add some spice to it!

8. Italian Sausage Orzo

This 30-minute one pot meal features orzo, Italian sausage, baby spinach, and a rich and creamy parmesan sauce. It’s a hassle-free way to get meat, veggies, and hearty pasta in a single dish. It’s great for kids too as it doesn’t have long noodles to wrestle with. It can be easily eaten with a spoon and it’s also absolutely creamy. 

9. Stuffed Italian Sausage 

These Stuffed Italian Sausages are a simple 3 ingredient recipe that uses Italian sausage, string cheese, and marinara sauce. If you’re on a Keto diet, add peppers and onions and some fresh parsley, parmesan cheese, fresh basil, or red pepper flakes for some heat. Use Rao’s Marinara sauce and make this recipe in a smoker or grill. 

10. Baked Italian Sausage and Peppers

You can use hot or mild sausage in this dish – it’s up to your personal preference. It’s a quick one sheet pan meal that has great flavor and is easy to make. Once the sausages and peppers are roasted, you can add them to hoagie buns, put them over a bowl of rice or pasta, or even more veggies to keep it low carb. 

11. Italian Sausage Rigatoni with Spicy Cream Sauce

This recipe features crumbled Italian sausage, so you’re getting tiny bits of delicious flavor in every bite. Rigatoni is a great pasta to use in this entree. It’s big enough to hold up to the bold flavors of the sausage and the spicy cream sauce. It’s hearty and perfect with a glass of wine. 

12. Italian Sausage Bowtie Pasta

Another sausage and pasta dish, because they really just go together. It’s a simple dish, and kid-friendly due to the bowtie pasta. You can spice it up or down by omitting the red pepper flakes. But it is delicious with the red pepper flakes as the cream and plum tomatoes really give it a good balance.  

13. Crockpot Italian Sausage and Peppers

If you’re looking for a delicious sausage-flavored pizza, but without the carbs, this is your recipe. It brings all the yummy pizza flavor to your dinner table without the crust. And the crockpot does all the work, so it can be ready for you when you walk through the door. 

14. Sausage, Potatoes and Peppers

Not only does Italian sausage go with pasta, but it absolutely goes with potatoes too. This Italian bake starts off on the stovetop and gets baked in the oven, but the taste transformation from ordinary to extraordinary is complete when the potatoes are parboiled and the rest of the ingredients start in a frying pan.

15. Italian Beef and Sausage Pie 

This dish comes out looking like you put in hours of work, but it’s simple to make. Ground beef and Italian sausage are browned in a large skillet so they don’t have to bake as long in the oven. It’s hearty, meaty, and very filling on a cold winter night. 

16. Cheesy Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are perfect for meal prep. They are easily divided into individual servings and reheat well in the microwave. You can stuff them with as much meat as you’d like, and plenty of cheese of course. The cheese gets all melty and holds everything together. They are also a great option for a busy weeknight. 

17. Easy Italian Sausage Bake

Meaty chunks of herbed Italian sausage are baked in a tangy tomato sauce until they are tender and delicious. This is an amazing option for elevating a tailgate party. Instead of meatballs, wow your guests with these sausage bites. They go great with a pint (or a couple!) of cold beer. 

18. Dairy Free Sausage Potatoes

If all these cheese would get to you, don’t worry, we’ve got a recipe just for you. And it’s still absolutely delicious. Sausage links are roasted until crispy with potatoes that turn golden brown, tomatoes that pop, onions that soften, and herbs that add pungent flavor. It’s a weeknight dinner win! 

19. Garlic Butter Sausages and Broccoli Skillet

This is another cheese-free dish that works well as a weeknight dinner option. Instead of roasting the dinner, everything is pan-seared in a delicious butter garlic sauce. The broccoli gets a nice char and the sausage gets tender and juicy. It’s a fantastic one-pan dish for any time you’re busy and don’t want to put in a ton of effort. 

20. Sausage and Peppers Meatloaf

The flavor of sausage elevates this meatloaf from the plain, traditional, ketchup version to a spiced, herbed, moist version. Make plenty, because the family will be going back for seconds! It’s a bit sweet and a bit spicy due to the addition of a sweet chili sauce. Each slice is hearty, and the leftovers make a great lunch the next day. 

21. Italian Sausage Quesadillas

Italian Sausage Quesadillas are loaded with hot Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and more and take 30 minutes from start to finish. The sausage gives quesadilla a much needed break from bland chicken. You don’t need much else added once sausage is introduced to the mix, but a bit of basil enhances the full bite. 

22. Easy Italian Enchiladas

These enchiladas are just four ingredients, and they’re gluten free, and they can be made in just 30 minutes. Talk about easy! You can eat some now and freeze some for later, or save leftovers for lunches for the week. These are going to be a new weeknight favorite for sure. 

23. Eggs in Purgatory

Eggs, gently poached in a spicy tomato sauce, make a fancy weekend brunch entree. You’ll please any guest with each savory bite of this simple recipe. Sausage and veggies add to the tomato sauce place and bring it all together for a perfect fully balanced meal. Dip a bit of sourdough in the sauce to help soak it up. 

24. Frittata Affogato

A frittata stuffed full of sausage and peppers makes a great breakfast. It’s easy to make, easy to eat and is high in protein. If you need a healthy breakfast that you can take on the go on a busy morning, this frittata is for you. It makes a great meal prep option as well, so you can have it ready for each morning’s breakfast. 

25. Italian Sausage and Cabbage

Sausage and cabbage – simple but the perfect combination. Cabbage is seared until tender but slightly crisp on the edges. Just like the sausage! It’s flavorful, healthy, low in carbs and calories, and perfect for a simple, quick meal. It’s budget friendly too, which is how this whole dish originated! Inexpensive ingredients that pair well flavor wise. 

26. Italian-Style Breakfast Casserole

This casserole is similar to a frittata, but it has the addition of ricotta cheese and bread cubes to help keep it soft and perfectly baked. This savory Italian-style breakfast casserole combines Italian sausage, onion, soft bread cubes, and three types of Italian cheeses. It’s easy to make and ready in less than an hour.

27. Breakfast Burritos

Want a handheld, high-protein breakfast and you’re trying to stay away from muffins and bagels? Breakfast burritos are the perfect solution. Soft, warm tortillas are wrapped around cheesy, scrambled eggs and spicy sausage to give you the breakfast you’ve been craving. You can make them in advance and freeze them to have on hand when the mornings get busy! 

This list of culinary delights shows the sheer richness and diversity of Italian food. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the bustling streets of Rome, Italy’s regional cuisine is a tapestry woven with tradition, passion, and an undying love for flavors. At the heart of many Italian dishes lies a humble yet incredibly versatile ingredient: sausage.  Buon appetito!

And if you are looking for a slightly healthier option, check out this turkey sausage pasta.