25 Family Dinners That Start with Italian Sausage

Nicole Rufus

published Aug 13, 2022

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Credit: Kelli Foster
Slab Pasta Pie

Italian sausage is one of my favorite proteins. It packs a big pop of flavor, and yet it still manages to pair well with just about anything. Whether you like yours sweet, spicy, or mild, there are plenty of things you can make at home with it. Of course there’s pasta, which is usually the first thing that comes to mind when people think about Italian sausage, but that’s really just the beginning. Soups, casseroles, stews, and sheet pan dinners are all great ways to turn sausage into a meal.

From pizzas to polenta, here are 25 Italian sausage recipes to try right now.

1 / 25

Whether you call it baked ziti or mostaccioli, it's impossible to dislike this tender pasta dish tossed in red sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until bubbling and browned.

2 / 25

This zuppa toscana recipe outdoes the popular Olive Garden menu item.

3 / 25

This irresistible app is made of crumbled crispy sausage baked into a cheesy dip.

4 / 25

This sheet tray bake is easy to slice, equally easy to eat, and should quickly sneak its way into your nightly rotation.

5 / 25

Italian Sausage and Peppers Baked Ziti

Think of this baked ziti as an easier version of lasagna. Throw in some Italian sausage and sweet peppers, and the smell of this baked casserole will lure everybody into the kitchen even though the sun’s still up.

6 / 25

Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Veggies

This sheet pan dinner pairs Italian-style smoked chicken sausage with a colorful mix of chopped veggies for a satisfying 30-minute meal.

7 / 25

Sausage Meatball Soup

This homemade meatball soup is pure comfort, with a brothy tomato base that’s filled with al dente pasta, wilted spinach, and bite-sized meatballs.

8 / 25

Deep-Dish Chicago-Style Sausage and Mushroom Skillet Pizza

Chicago deep-dish pizza is a uniquely American dish that has proven challenging to replicate at home. This is not an imitator recipe; it is a modern interpretation with a serious homage to the past and a crust that is worth every minute of your time.

9 / 25

Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Unlike a chili or gumbo, which really need a lot of time on the stove, this soup tastes great in just 30 minutes or so. It's finished off with two secret ingredients, and best served with parmesan on top.

10 / 25

Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Sausage

Packed with a lemony sausage stuffing and sprinkled with Parmesan breadcrumbs, these are the most delicious zucchini boats you'll make.

11 / 25

Black-Eyed Pea Stew

The texture of these beans is delightful— smooth and plump outside, but creamy inside, endowing their broth with a richness even though each pea holds its shape, distinctly marked with that elegant eye.

12 / 25

Pasta with Cauliflower, Sausage & Breadcrumbs

This is a straightforward pasta — our favorite kind — with mostly basic pantry ingredients and a couple of things to wow it up. The breadcrumbs (poor man’s Parmesan!) might seem trivial, but don’t skip them!

13 / 25

Chile and Sausage Oven Frittata

Egg dishes are the busy cook’s best friend — especially when you can store a few in the freezer. Not only are they an inexpensive (and protein-packed) breakfast dish, but they can also be dressed up in all kinds of flavor profiles from French to Italian to this Southwest-themed oven frittata.

14 / 25

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

There are a million and one versions of stuffed mushrooms out there, but this is the one that we consider to be the holy grail. It’s simple on assembly, but big on flavor.

15 / 25

Sweet Potato Hash with Caramelized Onions, Sausage & Eggs

This is a favorite make-ahead recipe for a big family brunch: savory, garlicky sweet potato hash, roasted with sausage and rosemary, and baked the next day with eggs on top.

16 / 25

Sausage Pizza Topped with Crispy Kale

If it didn’t have the potential to raise confusion, we'd be all for calling this recipe Kale Chip Pizza. Because that’s essentially what this is. A pizza topped with quick-cooked kale chips.

17 / 25

Sausage, Artichoke & Goat Cheese Egg Bake

Artichokes, sausage, goat cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes — here’s an egg bake for you that will work for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It’s also a great example of my basic formula for egg casserole.

18 / 25

Sausage and Lentil One Pot Pasta

Lentils are a true culinary powerhouse: They’re high in iron, packed with protein, and full of flavor And while we most often think to use them in lentil soup or Indian dals, they shouldn’t be underestimated as an easy way to add protein to pasta dishes.

19 / 25

5-Ingredient Sausage, Kale, and Sweet Potato Soup

Browned sausage, tender sweet potatoes, just-wilted kale, and Italian herbs infuse store-bought broth in this simple Whole30 soup.

20 / 25

Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Mushrooms, Sausage, and Butternut Squash

Chunks of sweet butternut squash, join earthy mushrooms, sweet red onion, juicy sausage, and plenty of chopped rosemary for a sheet pan dinner that's ready in 30 minutes.

21 / 25

Sausage Ragù over Creamy Polenta

Inspired by our love for slow-simmered bolognese, this weeknight version blends the richness of crumbled sausage with bright tomatoes and fresh herbs for a fast sauce that will satisfy the whole family.

22 / 25

Gnocchi Lasagna with Spinach, White Beans, and Sausage

This crowd-pleasing casserole is surprisingly light and fresh, thanks to the addition of spinach and white beans. Use plant-based sausage instead of pork sausage to make it vegetarian.

23 / 25

Sausage and Tomato Risotto

When fragrant Italian sausage, juicy tomatoes, and sweet basil join forces, you know things are going to be good.

24 / 25

Butternut Squash & Sausage Lasagna

For lasagna, the winner this time around is undoubtedly this combination of sweet Italian sausage, roasted butternut squash, and spinach. Filled out with noodles and a creamy bechamel, it’s a meal that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

25 / 25

Johnny Marzetti

This extra-cheesy casserole only calls for a handful of ingredients.

More Quick and Easy Dinners

This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: 25 Delicious Dinners That Start with Italian Sausage