Is Italian Sausage Good in Chili? Everything You Need to Know

Chili is a beloved comfort food that warms us up on chilly days. This hearty stew typically contains ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices like chili powder and cumin. But have you ever considered swapping out the ground beef for Italian sausage?

Using Italian sausage in chili imparts tons of extra flavor. The sausage adds a delicious meatiness while spices like fennel, garlic, and black pepper enhance the overall taste. This simple substitution takes your chili to the next level.

Below we will cover everything you need to know about using Italian sausage in chili, from recipes to cooking tips. Keep reading to learn why Italian sausage and chili are a match made in heaven.

Benefits of Using Italian Sausage in Chili

There are several reasons why Italian sausage is fantastic in chili:

• Extra flavor – Italian sausage contains traditional spices like garlic black pepper fennel, and paprika. These seasonings add lots of flavor to the chili.

• Meaty texture – Sausage provides a supple, fatty texture that is different from ground beef. This adds richness.

• Convenience – Pre-seasoned sausage saves time since you don’t have to mix in all the spices yourself

• Variety – Italian sausage comes in hot, sweet, and mild, allowing you to control the spiciness.

• Nutrition – Sausage contains more protein and less fat than ground beef. It also has iron, potassium, and vitamin B12.

How to Cook Italian Sausage for Chili

Making chili with Italian sausage is easy. Here are some tips:

• Remove casing – Squeeze the sausage from the casing before browning it. Use your fingers to crumble into small pieces.

• Cook completely – Be sure to cook the sausage through until nicely browned. This removes excess fat and brings out the flavors.

• Drain excess fat – After cooking, drain off most of the grease so your chili isn’t too oily. Leave a bit for flavor.

• Sear aromatics – Cook onions, garlic, bell peppers, and spices in the pot after browning the sausage. This builds even more flavor.

• Simmer – Let the chili simmer for 30-45 minutes so the flavors develop fully. Add more seasonings to taste.

Top Tips for Making Italian Sausage Chili

Follow these top tips for outstanding Italian sausage chili:

• Choose mild or hot Italian sausage depending on your desired spiciness. Sweet Italian sausage also works well.

• For maximum flavor, use half Italian sausage and half ground beef or ground turkey.

• Add beans like kidney, pinto, black, or cannellini. They provide fiber and protein.

• Use fire-roasted or diced tomatoes for richer flavor. Chicken or vegetable broth also provides moisture.

• Sauté aromatics like onions, garlic, bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Let them sweat for a few minutes to bloom flavors.

• Garnish bowls of chili with shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, scallions, cilantro or tortilla chips.

Sample Italian Sausage Chili Recipes

To get you started, here are some tasty sample recipes for Italian sausage chili:

Sausage and Bean Chili

• 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 15oz cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• Chicken broth as needed
• Shredded cheddar, sour cream, avocado, cilantro for serving

Brown sausage and drain excess fat. Sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper and spices. Add tomatoes, beans and broth. Simmer 30 minutes. Serve with desired toppings.

Cheesy Sausage Chili Bake

• 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 15oz cans chili-style diced tomatoes
• 1 15oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 8oz shredded Monterey jack cheese
• Tortilla chips, sour cream for serving

Brown sausage, beef and onion. Drain excess fat. Add tomatoes, beans, spices and half the cheese. Pour into baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 375F for 20 minutes until hot and melty. Top with chips and sour cream.

White Chicken Sausage Chili

• 1 lb Italian chicken sausage, removed from casings
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 15oz cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 32oz chicken broth
• 2 4oz cans diced green chiles
• 3 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• Juice of 1 lime
• Chopped cilantro, diced avocado, queso fresco for serving

In large pot, cook sausage, onion and garlic until browned. Add beans, broth, chiles and seasonings. Simmer 30 minutes. Stir in lime juice. Serve topped with cilantro, avocado and queso fresco.

FAQs

Is it okay to use only Italian sausage with no ground beef?

Absolutely! The Italian sausage provides plenty of flavor and texture on its own. For a unique sausage-only chili, try hot, sweet and spicy varieties.

What’s the best way to brown Italian sausage?

Remove the sausage from the casings and crumble into small chunks. Cook over medium-high heat until nicely browned, about 10 minutes. Break up any large pieces as it cooks. Drain excess grease before adding aromatics.

Can I use pre-cooked Italian sausage?

You can use pre-cooked sausage but searing it yourself leads to better flavor. If using pre-cooked sausage, sauté it briefly with the aromatics to heat through before making the chili.

What beans work best in sausage chili?

Kidney and pinto beans pair well with sausage chili. Black beans and cannellini beans also work nicely. Try a combo of a few varieties. Drain and rinse canned beans to remove excess sodium.

The Verdict on Italian Sausage Chili

Italian sausage truly ups the ante in chili. It adds hearty, savory meatiness along with traditional Italian-style seasoning. Squeezing the sausage from the casings allows the meat to crumble and incorporate into the chili fully. Taking the time to brown the sausage thoroughly develops a deep, multilayered flavor.

Beans, tomatoes, broth and aromatic spices complement the sausage perfectly. Creative toppings like cheese, avocado and tortilla chips make each bowl unique. With so many benefits, Italian sausage is a fantastic alternative to ground beef in chili. This simple swap creates a richer, more delicious pot of chili!