Don’t know what to do with the Italian sausage you just bought?
From sandwiches and meatballs to soups and pasta, here are 33 amazing Italian sausage recipes you may want to try!
When you have great Italian sausage at home, you will want to do more than just fry or grill it, which is why I came up with this list of Italian sausage recipes.
Before we get into these recipes, however, let’s first delve into what this particular sausage is and why it’s special.
Now, there are many different sausage types from around the world; there’s andouille from France, bratwurst from Germany, Chorizo from Spain, and then there’s the Italian sausage from Italy.
When it comes to Italian sausage, you’ll find that there are actually quite a few variants under such a label.
These include mortadella, salami, sopressato, and salamella, to name a few.
When you mention Italian sausage in the US, however, it usually means one thing, and that’s the pork sausage that has the distinct taste and aroma of anise or fennel, with garlic and other spices added in.
This is the Italian sausage I will be talking about in this list.
This is usually sold uncooked and unsmoked, comes in medium-sized links, and can be spicy, mild, or sweet.
Some of these recipes ask you to use the sweet version, while others recommend that you go for the mild or spicy ones.
Some of the recipes that seem to call for sweet Italian sausage include Zuppa Toscana and Seafood Pasta With Sausage.
Those that ask you to use the spicy or mild kind include #8 and #24.
Whichever you choose, however, is entirely up to you and your taste.
Let’s begin!
The first recipe on this list uses either mild or spicy Italian sausage.
Combined with a variety of chopped vegetables and brown rice and stuffed with multi-colored peppers, you get a full meal that’s both festive and filling.
Topped with cheese and baked till the tops are melty, you also get a super cheesy, meaty, and super satisfying dish.
If you love sandwiches and you have Italian sausage on hand, this is one recipe you can try.
This recipe uses hoagie rolls to create the sandwiches, but you can use any other crusty bread you like.
Options include French bread, hero rolls, and baguettes.
This is one of the easier ways to create pasta with meatballs.
Simply remove the sausage links from their casing, cut each one in half, and roll them into meatballs.
If you want smaller meatballs, you can always cut each one in four and roll those into balls.
Translated in English, the name of this soup is simply Tuscan Soup.
It’s made with a combination of bacon, sausage, kale, potatoes, and cream.
This soup can be mild or spicy, depending on the sausage you use, but you can add some bite to this dish even when you use sweet sausage.
What you do is sprinkle the top with pepper flakes or cayenne powder.
Here’s a way to serve breakfast to a huge number of people without tiring yourself out.
Eggs, veggies, cheese, and hot Italian sausage come together in this casserole that can feed up to 12 people.
Just cook the sausage, onions, and peppers, mix in the rest of the ingredients, top with cheese, and bake.
This one-pan dish is a great dish to try after a long and tiring day.
While it does have quite a few ingredients for you to chop, once everything is ready, it takes less than 30 minutes to cook.
Serve with a few garnishes that include pepper flakes, additional cheeses, and fresh herbs.
This Baked Mostaccioli is a pasta that can be easily mistaken for baked ziti.
The difference between the two is the pasta that’s used–one uses ziti, and the other uses Mostaccioli pasta.
Both are similar, however, in what ingredients they use, how they’re made, and how yummy they are!
Want a soup that’s filling, satisfying, and easy to cook all at the same time?
This is a soup that you can try on a rainy day or anytime you want something warm and comforting in your belly.
Choose from spicy or sweet Italian sausage for this recipe, with the former giving the soup a little kick.
This is what you should try when you’re looking for a hearty, creamy, and satisfying potato plus sausage dish.
While the recipe itself uses boxed gnocchi, if you want to make your own for this dish, go for it.
You can also substitute the hot Italian sausage for mild or sweet, depending on what you prefer.
Strata is a dish that combines eggs, bread, and other ingredients in a casserole-type meal.
It’s usually served for breakfast, but this recipe takes it to a whole other level, making it a dish worthy of a place at lunch or dinner!
Instead of using regular loaf bread slices, this recipe uses crusty Italian bread, giving it a crusty and chewy layer you don’t get with regular strata.
Who doesn’t love quesadillas?
This recipe takes this cheesy, flat-bread sandwich and turns it on its ear with the addition of non-Mexican ingredients, like Italian sausage.
And since this is a pizza-inspired quesadilla, it also has pepperoni, bell peppers, and three different kinds of cheese, plus pizza sauce in it!
If you want to reduce your intake of carbs but don’t want to miss dishes such as lasagna or baked pasta too much, this is a dish you can try instead.
This is another one of those Italian sausage recipes that people on keto can really enjoy.
Now, here’s a recipe that’s sure to be a hit with your family and friends at any gathering.
Combining Italian sausage with some veggies and loads of cheese makes for an amazing dip.
Serve with crostini, nachos, and vegetable sticks as an appetizer.
If you love seafood, pasta, and Italian sausage, this is a dish you should definitely try.
These three come together in a saucy pasta meal that’s creamy, spicy, and oh-so-yummy.
Don’t you like spicy pasta?
You can always replace the cayenne powder with smoked paprika, omit the red pepper flakes, and replace the spicy sausage with the sweet or mild variant.
Here’s a different take on the classic southern breakfast favorite, biscuits and gravy!
Instead of biscuits, you use waffles, and instead of regular pork sausage, you use Italian.
Looking for something different for Thanksgiving?
Why not replace the breakfast sausage usually added to your turkey stuffing with Italian sausage?
Choose between mild and sweet, but if your family loves spicy food, a spicy sausage will also work here.
Cheesy, savory, meaty, and, oh, did I already mention cheesy?
Yes, this frittata is super cheesy because of the addition of three different kinds of cheese.
The cheeses used here are provolone, parmesan, and mozzarella, but you can substitute these with any of your three favorite kinds of cheese.
Here’s another keto-friendly dish that you can try when you’re cutting out carbs.
Make sure to use crushed tomatoes in this recipe and not tomato sauce since the latter usually has some sugar added to it.
When you talk about pigs in blankets, you always envision hotdogs in bread dough.
Why not try using sweet or mild Italian sausage in place of hotdogs?
This is a version that you can surprise guests with when you serve it as an appetizer.
For a more surprising bite, use spicy sausage in this recipe.
Ready for another creamy pasta recipe that uses sausage instead of ordinary ground meat?
This one has a Tuscan flavor to it, with the addition of sundried tomatoes.
Simple yet super flavorful, you can put together this dish in a matter of minutes.
Start your day right with a filling and satisfying first meal of the day!
Hearty, sweet, and savory come together in this breakfast dish that is rustic and easy to make.
If it’s the simple fare you want, this dish is right up your alley.
This stew consists of a few key ingredients, namely white beans, sausage, chicken broth, and some veggies.
Serve with some crackers or crusty bread on a cold day for a heartwarming meal.
Time to break out your crock pot for this recipe.
This meatball soup is extra special, not only because flavors develop in the 6 hours it’s cooking on low.
But also because the meatballs are made with super flavorful Italian sausage.
Looking to make a quick lunch for work using that spicy sausage you just bought?
These subs can be ready in half an hour.
These are so mouthwatering you might not wait till lunch to try them.
This one-pot soup recipe is something you should try when you’re craving something hot and tasty on that cold, rainy day.
Best made with mild sausage, this soup is robust and so welcoming when you need something warm in your tummy.
For added zing, cayenne powder or some red pepper flakes should work.
If you haven’t tried making lasagna using good Italian sausage, then you’re truly missing out on something spectacular.
The use of sausage in place of ground beef gives you added flavors that only make this pasta dish extra special.
Super rich and super delicious, you may just find yourself never cooking lasagna the old way again.
Want another one of those Italian sausage recipes that uses pasta?
Here’s one that uses large pasta tubes called manicotti, stuffed to overflowing with a cheesy, meaty, and savory sausage mixture.
This is somewhat similar to lasagna, but instead of layers, you get everything mixed together inside each manicotti.
Here’s a recipe you can tweak to your heart’s content!
It originally calls for spicy sausage, but you can choose to use sweet or mild for a rice dish without the kick.
You can also skip the pepper flakes if you’re not into fiery dishes.
Creamy and sweet with spicy and savory is the combination of flavors you get with each spoonful of this dish.
This is a terrific dish to make when you want ragu but don’t want pasta.
The polenta here is creamy, but you can substitute it with circles of sliced polenta tubes.
This is a breakfast dish that you can actually serve at lunch and dinner.
If you can’t find pre-made pie crust, you can always make your own.
You can also try this recipe using mini pie shells for mini quiches that can be served individually.
Want something different for an appetizer?
Try this recipe for sausage-stuffed mushrooms that aren’t only quick to make but are also super tasty.
You might need to make a lot of this since it will definitely be a hit among your guests.
Risotto is one of the more challenging dishes to make, but when you do get it right, it’s heavenly.
Creamy with lots of flavors, this classic is a recipe you shouldn’t miss out on making.
Is it a pizza, or is it a giant empanada?
It’s a giant empanada pizza!
Whatever you think a calzone may be, just know that it’s utterly delicious.
The bottom line
Now that you have this list of Italian sausage recipes, you won’t have to settle for simply grilling or frying it for your next meal.
Try out these many different recipes and experience a whole new level of Italian sausage goodness.
And don’t be scared to experiment by switching from mild to sweet to spicy.
Let your palate be the compass that guides you to your next culinary masterpiece.
Italian Sausage Recipe Collection
From sandwiches and meatballs to soups and pasta, here are 33 amazing Italian sausage recipes you may want to try!
Ingredients
- Sausage & Rice Stuffed Peppers
- Italian Sausage Sandwich
- Italian Sausage Meatballs With Pasta
- Zuppa Toscana
- Italian Sausage Breakfast Casserole
- Sausage Pasta Skillet
- Baked Mostaccioli
- Sausage & Tortellini Soup
- Creamy Gnocchi With Italian Sausage
- Sausage & Pepper Strata
- Italian Sausage Quesadillas
- Stuffed Zucchini Boats With Sausage
- Italian Sausage Dip
- Seafood Pasta With Italian Sausage
- Waffles With Sausage Gravy
- Italian Sausage Stuffing
- Italian Sausage Frittata
- Sausage Tomato Cauliflower Soup
- Sausage Pigs In Blankets
- Tuscan Sausage Pasta
- Sweet Potato Hash With Italian Sausage & Eggs
- White Bean Stew With Italian Sausage
- Italian Wedding Soup (Minestra Maritata)
- Italian Sausage Subs
- Sausage & Sweet Potato Soup With Kale
- Italian Sausage Lasagna
- Italian Sausage Manicotti
- Italian Sausage Rice Skillet
- Sausage Ragu On Polenta
- Italian Sausage Quiche
- Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
- Sausage & Tomato Risotto
- Italian Sausage Calzones
Instructions
- Take a look at our Italian Sausage Recipes list.
- Bring the ingredients to create a new favorite dish.
- Woohoo! You created a home-cooked meal.
- Comment your thoughts on our Facebook page!