Food & Cooking 20 Italian Sausage Recipes You'll Want to Make for Dinner Tonight Whether sweet or spicy, Italian sausage is key to pizza, casseroles, pasta, stuffed peppers, and more. By Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani Lynn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on April 8, 2024 Close Photo: Lennart Weibull Whether sweet or spicy, Italian sausage is a fast track to flavor. And if you think of it as ground pork with spices, the range of possibilities blows wide open. Burgers? Sure. Sauce ingredient? Why not. Nachos topper? Absolutely. Our recipes cover every meal of the day and a variety of dishes, so you're sure to find something to tempt your palate. Many of these recipes call for removing the sausage casing and crumbling the meat. It's easy to do: just use a small knife to cut a slit lengthwise down the sausage (it doesn't have to be a deep cut; just enough to cut through the casing). Next, peel back the casing, and the sausage meat will roll right out. You can then crumble it with your fingers or break it up with a wooden spoon as it's cooking. Our Guide to Spicy Pork Sausages, From Andouille to Hot Italian 01 of 20 Sausage-and-Mushroom Burgers With Broccoli Rabe Bryan Gardner Sweet Italian sausage transforms into savory burgers in this easy recipe. Sautéed broccoli rabe and provolone cheese offer a great counterpoint to the rich patties. View Recipe 02 of 20 Orecchiette With Sausage, Chard, and Parsnips Romulo Yanes Sausage is a popular pairing for this ear-shaped pasta. And while recipes often call for the addition of broccoli, this one has you use chard and parsnips for an unexpected (and delicious) twist. View Recipe 03 of 20 Sausage-and-Pepper Ragu Over Polenta Bryan Gardner Although this beautiful melange of Italian sausage and bell peppers would be terrific over any starch, creamy polenta is divine. The quick-cooking grain does an incredible job of soaking up all the deliciousness. View Recipe 04 of 20 Sausage and Swiss Chard Strata Day-old baguette is the key to this tasty dish that makes a delectable breakfast for dinner. The bread absorbs the milk and eggs, turning soft and custardy. The other stars here are sweet or spicy Italian sausage, Swiss chard, and Gruyère. View Recipe 05 of 20 Sausage and Rice Stuffed Peppers John Kernick Although this tasty meal makes great use of summer produce (zucchini and bell peppers), you can definitely make it year-round. It's a nice addition to a buffet, offering each guest their own tidy portion. View Recipe 06 of 20 Sweet Potato-Sausage Soup This comforting soup includes sweet Italian sausage, diced sweet potatoes, small pasta shells, and roughly chopped greens (kale or Swiss chard would work well). It's easy to make and would make a lovely meal on a chilly night. View Recipe 07 of 20 Sausage-Potato Quiche You can serve this versatile and filling quiche warm or at room temperature, and it works equally well as a breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner item. In the morning, plate it with a fruit salad; later in the day, some greens would be the perfect accompaniment. View Recipe 08 of 20 Sausage, Mushroom, and Pickled-Pepper Pizza Lennart Weibull This pan pizza includes the usual marinara sauce and mozzarella but then gets a kick from sweet Italian sausage, shiitake mushrooms, thin slices of red onion, pickled cherry or Peppadew peppers, and fresh basil leaves. View Recipe 09 of 20 Baked Rigatoni With Sausage Julia Gartland A symphony of flavors come together in this pasta bake: sweet butternut squash and cherry tomatoes, spicy Italian sausage, oozy mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. View Recipe 10 of 20 Tomato and Sausage Risotto Although most risotto recipes are meatless, this one calls for sweet or hot Italian sausage, which gives it plenty of heft and rich, hearty flavor. View Recipe 11 of 20 Roasted Sausages With Cabbage and Squash Justin Walker We love a sheet pan dinner, and this fall-themed one is no exception. It combines sweet Italian sausage with cabbage and creamy kabocha squash, all dressed in a Dijon-apple cider dressing. View Recipe 12 of 20 Sausage, Chicken, and White-Bean Gratin This streamlined version of classic cassoulet calls for chicken breast, sweet Italian sausage, and bacon instead of the usual pork and duck confit. And it serves 12, making it a great option for a big gathering. View Recipe 13 of 20 Baked Polenta With Sausage and Artichoke Hearts Similar to the way you'd stack slices of tomato and mozzarella in a Caprese salad, this creative recipe has you alternate slices of polenta with browned sausage. It's a nice option for a potluck, as the polenta slices make it easy for people to take as many as they want. View Recipe 14 of 20 Gnocchi With Sausage, Zucchini, and Tomato Linda Xiao Sweet Italian sausage and store-bought gnocchi and pesto are the smart shortcuts in this satisfying weeknight supper, which also incorporates fresh zucchini and tomatoes. View Recipe 15 of 20 Sausage Meat Sauce You can serve this hefty sauce over spaghetti, rigatoni, or any pasta you like—and the great part is that the recipe makes enough for two meals, so you can freeze half for another night. View Recipe 16 of 20 Rigatoni With Broccoli and Sausage Lemon juice, lemon zest, and chopped anchovies elevate this familiar dish, bringing brightness and depth of flavor. View Recipe 17 of 20 One-Pot Chicken With Sausage and Potatoes This homey dish is a godsend on nights when you want a low-effort, homemade meal. It's a winning combo of sweet Italian sausage, chicken breasts on the bone, onion, potatoes, and celery. View Recipe 18 of 20 Spicy Sausage, Bean, and Cheese Nachos Nachos often star ground beef or even chicken, but it's unusual to see them with sausage. It makes sense, though, as flavorful sausage adds a quick boost of flavor that goes well with beans, cheese, and the other usual nacho players. View Recipe 19 of 20 Tomato-Sausage Lasagna Sausage may not be expected in lasagna, as you usually see it with ground beef or vegetarian, but it works wonderfully in the classic layered dish. Browning it first helps bring even more delicious flavor. View Recipe 20 of 20 Beer-Braised Sausages With Warm Potato Salad This traditional dinner is a great reminder that simple can be spectacular. Sweet Italian sausage, potatoes, onion, and a bottle of beer simmer into a comforting and tasty one-pot meal. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit