Quick and Easy Pork Sausage: To make sausages from scratch, you only need a few simple, everyday items. This version features no casing! It doesn’t get any easier than these. Simply mix, shape, and cook.
When it comes to my household, we love a good meat-and-potatoes style dinner. This sausage recipe is great because it’s easy to add different flavors to make it your own, and it freezes really well. Make a big batch and have an easy dinner any night of the week.
This recipe looks a lot like a type of sausage that you’ll find in many Romanian homes, like mine. No casing to fuss around with- just a simple meat mixture hand-formed into delicious little sausages.
As a home cook who loves experimenting in the kitchen I’m always looking for versatile ingredients that can be used to make an array of delicious dishes. One of my favorites is sausage meat – the seasoned ground pork mixture that makes sausages so tasty. The savory spiced sausage meat can be crafted into so much more than just sausages or crumbled as a topping. Let’s explore 15 mouthwatering recipes featuring sausage meat as the star!
Pasta Dishes
Several pasta recipes are elevated by the addition of flavorful sausage meat. For a comforting meal, brown the sausage meat, add mushrooms then toss with pasta and Parmesan. Or make a fast weeknight carbonara with the meat eggs, cheese and tender broccoli florets. For a unique twist, combine Italian sausage meat with chestnut puree, cream and rigatoni.
Hearty Casseroles
Casseroles are my go-to for fuss-free dinners, and sausage meat is perfect mixed into these baked dishes. Make a savory sausage and broccoli casserole with rice and cheese or use the meat in a classic lasagne layered with noodles, sauce and gooey cheese. You can also craft a Mexican-inspired tamale pie with sausage, beans, corn and peppers.
Appetizers and Snacks
From party finger foods to game day snacks, sausage meat shines in appetizers. Roll it up inside puff pastry with nuts and cranberries for festive sausage rolls. Shape into meatballs and air fry for an easy crowd-pleaser. Stuff it into mushrooms caps for a tasty low-carb option. The possibilities are endless!
Breakfast Dishes
Sausage meat not only excels in dinner recipes but also makes for delicious breakfasts. Make patties and fry up with eggs for a protein-packed start to your day. Mix with country gravy and biscuit dough for incredible homemade sausage biscuits. You can even incorporate it into egg bakes, breakfast casseroles or strata.
Savory Breads and Muffins
For a savory twist on baking, add crumbled sausage meat to quick breads and muffins. Try a cheddar cornmeal muffin with sausage and scallions for a delightful savory-sweet combo. Make sausage cheese bread with the meat, shredded cheddar and parsley. Or fold it into flaky biscuits for an upgrade over plain buttermilk ones.
Stuffings and Fillings
Bulk up stuffings and fillings with the addition of flavorful sausage meat. For Thanksgiving, add sausage to your favorite bread-based stuffing recipe along with celery, herbs and broth. You can also use it as a scrumptious filling for hand pies, pot stickers, pierogies, ravioli, stuffed peppers or mushrooms and more.
Soups, Stews and Chilis
Hearty soups and stews gain incredible flavor when you brown sausage meat at the start. Add veggies, beans and seasonings for an easy sausage chili. Make a creamy potato soup topped with crispy crumbled sausage. Or incorporate Italian sausage meat into minestrone or pasta fagioli for a protein boost.
Savory Pies and Tarts
In place of ground beef or turkey, use sausage meat as the base for irresistible savory pies and tarts. Make mini sausage galettes wrapped in flaky crust with sautéed veggies. Bake a quiche Lorraine flavored with sausage. Shape into hand pies or empanadas for fun bite-sized snacks. The options are endless!
Flatbreads and Pizzas
Flatbreads, bruschetta and pizza get an instant flavor upgrade when you top them with browned sausage meat. Sprinkle the meat over flatbread with ricotta, tomatoes and fresh basil. Top French bread baguette slices with sausage and melty fontina. Pile it onto homemade pizza along with your other favorite toppings.
Sandwiches and Wraps
From subs to sliders, sausage meat makes sandwiches more substantial and tasty. Stuff it into crusty rolls for a juicy sausage sub. Make sausage cheddar sliders on Hawaiian rolls for game day. Add some kick with jalapeños and Pepper Jack. Wrap in tortillas with sautéed peppers and gooey Oaxaca cheese.
Salads and Bowls
For hearty main-dish salads and grain bowls, crumbled sausage is right at home. Toss with sturdy greens, roasted veggies, beans, cheese, and vinaigrette. Serve over brown rice with avocado, corn, and salsa. Mix into orzo pasta salad with tomatoes, spinach and Italian dressing. The options are limitless!
Breakfast Bowls
Take breakfast bowls up a notch by browning and crumbling sausage over the base. Enjoy sausage with potato hash, peppers, onions, eggs and cheese. Serve with grits or polenta, cheesy sauce, mushrooms and greens. Or make a breakfast taco bowl with sausage, scrambled eggs, beans, avocado and more.
Scrambles and Frittatas
Sausage meat adds rich flavor scrambled right into eggs or baked in a frittata. Simply brown sausage crumbles then combine with whisked eggs and pour into a hot pan to scramble. Or layer into a baking dish with your favorite veggies and cheese for an easy sausage frittata.
Meatballs and Meatloaf
Ground sausage combines seamlessly with other ground meats when shaping into meatballs, loaves or patties. Make Italian-style beef and sausage meatballs in marinara sauce. Shape into mini meatloaves and pair with mashed potatoes. Grill sausage patties and serve on buns with all the fixings for an easy dinner.
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How to store leftovers
Transfer leftover sausages to an airtight container or sealable freezer bag. They’ll last 3-4 days in the fridge. For 10 to 15 minutes at 400F in the oven, the microwave, or a skillet over medium-low heat are all good ways to warm them up again.
Nothing freezes better than a recipe like this! You can freeze these sausages raw or cooked. You can make twice or three times as much of the recipe and freeze the extras to use when you need them.
To freeze raw or cooked sausages, arrange them on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the sausages. Freeze them like this for 2 hours, then transfer them all to a large freezer bag.
Make sure, whether they’re raw or cooked, to let the sausages thaw fully before cooking them. This will ensure they will cook or reheat evenly without drying out.
How to make pork sausages
- Mix the ingredients: Put all the ingredients (except the oil) in a large bowl and mix them together until everything is well mixed in. Cut the mixture into 16 equal parts, and then roll each part into a small sausage.
- To cook the sausages, put the oil in a pan and set it over medium-low heat. Turn each sausage over every few minutes for 12 to 15 minutes, or until all sides are brown.
Delicious Spicy Rice With Sausage | Gordon Ramsay
FAQ
What is the best way to cook sausage meat?
Can you freeze sausage meat?
Can I fry sausage meat?
What’s the difference between sausages and sausage meat?
Can you make sausage from meat?
The mixing process draws out the protein strings that bind the sausage mix, and if you over-mix or grind too many times, you end up with a very dense sausage. We can make sausages from any meat, beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, venison, etc. You can even make vegetarian sausages, but why you would want to is beyond me.
Is sausage casing healthier option to eat?
Cellulose casings and some natural casings are perfectly fine to eat. Sausage casings are used to hold and shape filling inside so that it can be cooked. There are natural sausage casings and synthetic varieties, and most of them are edible. The healthiest way to cook them is by boiling or baking. Sausages provide high levels of vitamin B12 and iron, both of which are essential for healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin production.
What makes a good sausage?
Good sausage is all about balance. Balance of salt and savory, balance of meat and fat, balance of spices and herbs within the whole. Knowing a proper ratio of salt to meat (and fat) is essential, but once you understand it you can adjust to your own perception of saltiness, which varies wildly among people.
What can I add to a sausage?
Keep in mind these are base instructions for a basic sausage. You can add seasonings as you like, cooked onions, garlic, change the ice water for wine or beer or juice — have fun with it!