Smothered potatoes and sausage is an easy recipe with simple, budget-friendly ingredients. The perfect Southern-style side dish!
You all know how much I love smothered recipes, so here I am with another one! This time, I’m going to show you how to make smothered potatoes and sausage in the Southern style. Like my smothered cabbage recipe, this smothered recipe doesn’t involve any gravy. Before, I shared a recipe for regular smothered potatoes. But now, that recipe is gone (I’m still not sure how it happened!). No worries, though, because this smothered potatoes and sausage recipe is even better.
Sausage and potatoes are an unbeatable flavor combination. The savory, robust sausage pairs perfectly with starchy, buttery potatoes. While this dish can certainly stand alone as a main course, the right side dishes can take it to the next level.
When cooking up sausage and potatoes, think about complementary textures and flavors to make the meal complete Here are 10 of the very best side dishes to serve alongside this hearty duo.
1. Coleslaw
Crunchy coleslaw is a classic pairing with sausage and potatoes. The fresh cabbage adds a bright, tangy crunch that balances the richness of the main dish. Creamy or vinaigrette-style coleslaw both work well. For more flavor, use a mix of cabbage, carrots, onions or other veggies.
Key Benefits
- Adds color and crunch
- acidic tang cuts through fat
- Easy to make ahead
2. Dinner Rolls
Warm, fluffy dinner rolls round out the meal nicely when served with sausage and potatoes. They’re perfect for sopping up any delicious pan sauces or gravy. Homemade rolls take things up a notch, but quality bakery rolls are a convenient option too.
Key Benefits:
- Soaks up extra sauce and flavor
- Provides a hearty carb alongside potatoes
- Feels special when served homemade
3. Braised Red Cabbage
For a pop of color, try braised red cabbage. Slow cooking brings out the natural sweetness in the veggie. If you want, add apples or raisins to amp up the sweet factor even more. The tender cabbage pairs well with the hearty potatoes and sausage.
Key Benefits
- Vibrant color brightens up the plate
- Sweet and slightly tangy flavor
- Easy to make in advance
4. Corn on the Cob
You can’t go wrong pairing corn on the cob with sausage and potatoes. Grill the corn for a smoky char that enhances the sweet kernels. Slather with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Or skip the grill and quickly boil corn instead for an equally tasty option.
Key Benefits:
- Naturally sweet flavor balances sausage
- Fun handheld side dish
- Grilled option adds smokiness
5. Macaroni Salad
For a creamy, comfort food twist, macaroni salad is a smart choice. The al dente pasta mixed with a mayo or sour cream-based dressing provides a pleasing texture contrast. You can keep it simple or load the mac salad up with mix-ins like bell peppers, onions, hard-boiled eggs or cheese.
Key Benefits:
- Familiar flavors of classic side dish
- Cools the palate with chilled pasta and dressing
- Make ahead for easy prep
6. Green Bean Casserole
No need to save this just for Thanksgiving! The classic combo of tender green beans, crispy fried onions, and creamy mushroom sauce is delicious any time of year. It’s an easy way to get veggies onto the plate alongside sausage and potatoes. Use fresh or frozen green beans.
Key Benefits:
- Kid-friendly way to add veggies
- Crunchy, creamy textures
- Easy to assemble casserole
7. Baked Beans
It doesn’t get much more classic than baked beans alongside sausage. The sweet and tangy beans pair perfectly with the savory sausage. Make your own or use canned beans jazzed up with bacon, onion, brown sugar and spices. The soft beans contrast with the crispy potatoes beautifully.
Key Benefits:
- Sweet and tangy complements sausage
- Protein-packed and affordable
- Easy dump-and-bake recipes available
8. Glazed Carrots
For extra veggies, glazed carrots are a fast, flavorful side. Boil carrots until tender then toss with butter, brown sugar, honey or maple syrup. The natural sweetness of the carrots caramelizes into a beautiful glaze that complements the sausage. They add vitamin A too.
Key Benefits:
- Sweet glaze offsets sausage
- Fast and easy vegetable option
- Colorful addition to the plate
9. Garlic Bread
Warm, garlicky bread is heavenly with sausage gravy, pan drippings or sauce. The rich garlic butter seeps into each slice, taking ordinary bread to extraordinary levels. Serve crusty artisan bread or cheesy Texas toast for delicious options. It can be baked or grilled.
Key Benefits:
- Soaks up extra gravy and flavors
- Brings warm garlic goodness
- Easy to make ahead
10. Potato Salad
Lastly, don’t overlook classic potato salad, made with cubed potatoes, mayonnaise or vinaigrette, hard-boiled egg, onion, celery, mustard and other flavorings. The cool, creamy potato salad balances the hot sausage and potatoes beautifully. It’s a reliable option for any cookout or dinner spread.
Key Benefits:
- Provides two types of potato flavors
- Tangy, creamy base cuts through richness
- Easy pantry staple side
With any of these tasty sides joining forces with sausage and potatoes, you have a well-rounded and satisfying meal everyone will love. Mix and match different options for variation and brighten up your dinner plate. Now dig in!
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How to Make Smothered Potatoes and Sausage
- Prep your ingredients. First, wash and peel the potatoes. Then, cut them into even slices so they cook more evenly. After that, put the potatoes in cold water to soak while you cut the peppers and onions. At this time, you’ll also chop up your sausage.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. I like to use vegetable oil, but you can also use olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the sausage slices and let them brown on all sides. Then, remove the sausage from the pan.
- After you drain and dry the potatoes, put them in the pan. Let the potatoes fry until they’re fork-tender. Do not worry if the potatoes turn brown in the pan; we want all that flavor! They will soak up all that flavor from the sausage and taste even better.
- Add the peppers and onions, and cook until soft, stirring often. During this time, you should also add your spices.
- Add the chicken broth. The broth will help clear out the pan, which will let all that flavor mix with the vegetables and potatoes. Add the sausage back in and stir the potatoes around. Let them cook down until everything is soft.
Change Out or Add Protein
Even though this recipe calls for smothered potatoes and sausage, I wouldn’t mind if you changed the amount of protein in this dish. You could make this recipe even better by adding diced chicken, bacon, or smoked turkey. Any of these would make it a full meal!
Smoked Sausage & Potatoes – Super easy and absolutely delicious! Old fashioned sausage & potatoes
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