Southern Sausage Spaghetti Sauce is thick and full of ground Italian sausage with plenty of tomato flavor. This Southern Spaghetti Sauce recipe, which is one of the most-liked on Spicy Southern Kitchen, is basically made with sausage. I love the extra flavor that sausage gives this sauce.
People love spaghetti, and it’s a cheap meal to make, so it’s nice to come up with different ways to serve it so you can do it often without anyone getting bored.
When I use ground sausage in my recipes, I always use Johnsonville Sausage. I love that you can buy it ground without the casings. You and I both know that trying to get sausage out of its casings is not fun. .
Johnsonville Ground Italian Sausage comes in 3 flavors: Mild, Sweet, and Hot. Since the sausage is already seasoned, there’s no need to add much seasoning to your recipe. That can really help you put a quick weeknight meal on the table.
Any kind of ground sausage will taste great in this Southern Sausage Spaghetti Sauce; it just depends on what flavor you want. When I want a meal with a little heat, I like the Hot one better than the Mild one.
This sauce freezes really well so you can make a double batch and freeze half of it.
A steaming bowl of pasta drenched in rich, flavorful tomato sauce is the ultimate comfort food But spaghetti can get boring fast if relying on the same tired sauce night after night. What’s the secret to transforming basic spaghetti into a dish that will have the whole family rushing to the dinner table? The answer is breakfast sausage!
Adding crumbled breakfast sausage to spaghetti sauce infuses it with savory depth and a subtle kick of spice. This easy ingredient swap pumps up plain tomato sauce into something special. Read on to learn why using breakfast sausage in spaghetti is a game-changing hack.
Breakfast Sausage 101
Before diving into recipes, let’s cover the basics about breakfast sausage Breakfast sausage is made from ground pork and seasoned boldly with sage, black pepper, thyme and other spices It commonly comes in bulk-style rolls or pre-formed patties.
Compared to Italian sausage, breakfast sausage has a less intense flavor profile But it still packs a tasty punch of herbaceous and salty-savory notes. Breakfast sausage contributes great texture and flavor contrast when added to pasta sauce
Why Add Breakfast Sausage to Spaghetti Sauce?
Breakfast sausage brings several benefits to spaghetti sauce:
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Flavor – The prominent sage seasoning and blend of spices add lots of extra flavor not found in plain tomato sauce. This takes the sauce from boring to restaurant-quality.
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Texture – Crumbled breakfast sausage provides meaty bites and a pleasing texture contrast to the soft pasta and sauce.
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Heartiness – Sausage gives the sauce more body and makes it much more filling and satisfying.
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Convenience – Pre-seasoned breakfast sausage is an easy shortcut compared to Italian sausage or raw pork.
How to Cook Breakfast Sausage for Spaghetti
It only takes a few extra minutes to prepare breakfast sausage for your spaghetti. Here’s a simple process:
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Remove sausage from casing if using bulk breakfast sausage.
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In a skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles as it browns. Cook until no longer pink.
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Drain excess fat, reserving 1-2 tablespoons in the pan.
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Add crumbled sausage directly to simmering tomato sauce. Let it cook for 5-10 minutes to blend flavors.
And that’s all it takes to incorporate breakfast sausage! Easy and fast.
Recipes to Try
Here are some tasty ideas for recipes using breakfast sausage in spaghetti:
Simple Breakfast Sausage Spaghetti
- Simmer jarred marinara sauce with crumbled breakfast sausage and red pepper flakes. Toss with spaghetti, top with Parmesan.
Creamy Breakfast Sausage Alfredo
- Make an easy Parmesan Alfredo sauce. Stir in cooked crumbled sausage. Mix with pasta and chopped parsley.
Breakfast Sausage Ragu
- Cook sausage with onions, garlic, thyme and tomato paste. Add wine and diced tomatoes. Simmer until thickened.
Sausage Lasagna
- Layer lasagna with ricotta filling and Italian sausage along with breakfast sausage in the meat sauce.
Sausage Aglio e Olio
- Sauté sausage and garlic in olive oil. Toss with parsley, lemon zest, red pepper flakes and cooked spaghetti.
Cooking Tips for the Best Results
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Choose quality sausage – Opt for pork breakfast sausage without a lot of fillers or chemicals for the most flavor.
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Cook it well – Be sure to cook the sausage thoroughly until browned and crumbled into small bits.
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Drain excess grease – Draining excess fat prevents the sauce from being too oily.
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Simmer the sauce – After adding the sausage, simmer the sauce for at least 10-15 minutes for the flavors to blend.
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Season to taste – Check for seasoning and add more salt, pepper or herbs if needed to balance flavors.
Creative Uses Beyond Spaghetti
While spaghetti is a perfect match, breakfast sausage can enhance all kinds of pasta dishes and other recipes:
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Baked ziti, lasagna or manicotti
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Stuffed shells or ravioli
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Pizza, flatbreads and calzones
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Macaroni and cheese or pasta bakes
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Frittatas, egg bakes and stratas
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Soups, chilis and stews
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Rice bowls and stir fries
The possibilities are endless! Let breakfast sausage revolutionize your dinner routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use plain ground pork instead?
You can, but the flavor will be more bland without the seasoning in breakfast sausage. Opting for Italian sausage is a better alternative.
Is breakfast sausage healthier than other sausage?
Not necessarily. In terms of fat and calories, breakfast sausage is comparable to other raw sausages. Make sure to drain excess grease.
What about vegetarian or turkey breakfast sausage?
These can also add good flavor to pasta sauce in place of pork sausage. Just know the flavor and texture may differ.
Do I have to cook the sausage first?
It’s best to pre-cook breakfast sausage to render fat and develop flavor. But in a pinch, you could sauté it right in the sauce. Just increase cooking time.
Satisfying Spaghetti Made Simple
Finally, a quick and easy way to get out of your tired spaghetti rut! Using breakfast sausage in spaghetti sauce is a game changer. The savory, mildly spicy sausage ramps up the flavor and gives a meaty boost to otherwise bland tomato sauce.
Next time the Spaghetti Boredom Blues strike, grab a pack of breakfast sausage from the fridge. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have a mouthwatering pasta dish the whole family will request again and again.
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Discover many more ways for making sausage swaps in recipes by following Johnsonville on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube.
- ▢ 1 1/2 pounds Johnsonville ground Italian sausage
- ▢ 1 medium onion, chopped
- ▢ 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ▢ 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
- ▢ 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- ▢ 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ▢ 3/4 teaspoon salt
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- ▢ 2 teaspoons sugar
- ▢ 1 cup water
- In a big pot or Dutch oven with a heavy bottom, brown the ground sausage. Drain fat.
- It will take about 5 minutes of cooking after adding the onion and green pepper.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.