Finding the best side dishes to go with your sausages can make all the difference, whether you’re planning a backyard barbecue, a cozy family dinner, or a casual get-together with friends. Many types of sausages come in a lot of different flavors, and they taste juicy and savory. Many types of sides go well with sausages. This list has something for everyone, from colorful salads full of fresh flavors to hearty grains and vegetable medleys that will make your mouth water. These delicious side dishes will not only go well with the strong flavors of the sausage, but they will also help keep your meals balanced.
Sausage is a versatile protein that can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But when it comes to dinner time, what should you serve alongside those juicy, savory sausages? Having a delicious side dish can take your sausage dinner from basic to spectacular.
In this article I’ll share 20 of my favorite side dish ideas to complement sausage for a satisfying dinner. From classics like mashed potatoes to fresh salads and veggie sides there’s something here to appeal to every tastebud!
Potatoes
Potatoes are a no-brainer when it comes to sausage sides. They’re hearty, comforting, and pair perfectly with the richness of sausage. Here are some of my favorite potato sides to consider:
Mashed Potatoes
Buttery, smooth mashed potatoes are a classic for a reason. I like to jazz mine up with garlic, sour cream, cheese, or herbs. Quick tip: use the leftover potato boiling water to thin out the mashed potatoes as needed.
Scalloped Potatoes
For a creamier potato dish scalloped potatoes baked with a cheese sauce can’t be beat. I love using a combo of cheddar and parmesan.
Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
If you want something healthier, roasted sweet potato wedges are delicious. Toss them with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary or thyme. The natural sweetness balances out the sausage.
Potato Salad
A cold, creamy potato salad is a great lighter option for warmer weather. German-style potato salads with a vinaigrette dressing and bacon are amazing with sausage.
Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are an easy side – just poke some holes, rub with oil, salt and pepper and bake until tender. Offer fun toppings like bacon, cheese, sour cream, etc.
Veggies
Don’t forget your veggies! Bright, fresh vegetables add nutrition and color to your plate. Some tasty options:
Roasted Vegetables
Roast veggies like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc. for a healthy accompaniment. Toss with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper before roasting.
Sauteed Peppers and Onions
A classic! Saute red bell peppers, onions, garlic and olive oil in a skillet until soft and caramelized. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
Green Beans
Green beans – whether steamed, sauteed, or roasted – offer a pop of green. Toss with lemon juice and toasted almonds for crunch.
Steamed Broccoli
An easy veggie side is steamed broccoliflorets. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Pasta, Rice and Grains
Carb sides like pastas, rice, and grains perfectly round out a sausage dinner. Get creative with these ideas:
Baked Mac and Cheese
ooey, gooey baked mac and cheese is irresistible next to sausage. Customize with different cheese varieties.
Rice Pilaf
Make a simple rice pilaf with chicken or vegetable broth and mix in things like mushrooms or peas.
Polenta
Creamy, cheesy polenta is divine with sausage. Cook the polenta and stir in cheese, cream and herbs.
Pasta Salad
Chilled pasta salads with vinaigrette make a refreshing summer side. Toss with veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.
Quinoa
Toasted quinoa tossed with fresh herbs makes a hearty, protein-packed side.
Breads
Crunchy, warm bread completes the meal. Here are breads that pair wonderfully with sausage:
Garlic Bread
Buttery garlic bread is easy to make at home and ideal for sopping up any sausage juices.
Cornbread
Moist, fluffy cornbread studded with corn kernels or jalapenos screams barbecue side.
Dinner Rolls
Soft yeast rolls or poppyseed rolls are simple but tasty.
Focaccia
Focaccia bread brushed with olive oil and roasted garlic is heavenly.
Salads
Fresh, vegetable-packed salads provide balance alongside heavy sausage. Make these colorful salads:
Garden Salad
A classic garden salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots works with any meal.
Greek Salad
Greek salad has it all: tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta and a red wine vinaigrette.
Kale Salad
Massaged kale salads with a lemon dressing are sweet and tangy.
Potato Salad
As mentioned, potato salads made with German or American styles both pair well with sausage.
Baked Beans and Soups
Hearty baked beans and brothy soups complement sausage beautifully.
Baked Beans
Baked beans simmered with bacon, onions, brown sugar and spices are a barbecue staple with sausage.
Minestrone Soup
A hearty minestrone soup with beans, veggies, and pasta is perfect for dipping sausage slices.
Potato Soup
Creamy potato soup topped with crispy bacon bits, cheese and chives.
Chili
A meaty chili made with ground beef or turkey, beans, and spices. Garnish with sour cream.
Best Practices for Serving Sides with Sausage
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Aim for balance – pair richer dishes with something bright or acidic.
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Vary textures and flavors – crunch, creaminess, sweetness, etc.
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Season simply to let the sausage shine.
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Make sure your sides can be prepped in advance for easy weeknight meals.
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Offer condiments like mustards, ketchups, hot sauces.
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Keep meat and veggie sides for non-meat eaters.
From mashed potatoes to fresh salads, the possibilities are endless when pairing side dishes with sausage for dinner. Using classic comfort foods, hearty vegetables, grains and bread gives you options for every taste and occasion. With this list of 20 delicious sides, you’ll look forward to sausage dinners instead of dreading the usual boring pairings. Get creative with these side dish ideas, and your sausage dinners will never be boring again!
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What to Serve with Sausage
You can find a dish here that everyone in your family will love, from potatoes to salads, vegetables to pasta, bread to baked beans.
Potatoes are a classic comfort food that go well with any protein, even sausages. They can be mashed, roasted, scalloped, boiled, or fried (well, “fried”).
You can bake these air fryer potatoes in the oven or air fryer and then mash them with the garlic you roasted with them for a great side dish that goes with any sausage dinner.
Like peanut butter and jelly, German food goes well with sausage. This savory potato salad is no different. If you’ve never had German potato salad, it’s a tasty side dish that is mostly made of mustard and vinegar instead of mayo.
Sometimes the best side dishes are the simplest. These baby potatoes are cooked in a single pot with classic seasonings. They are very simple to make.
Scalloped, cheesy potatoes might be the perfect compliment to your favorite sausage. Because the sauce is made with cream and Parmesan cheese, it is rich and creamy. The whole family will love these potatoes.
These roasted sweet potato rounds, which have brown sugar on top that caramelizes, go great with spicy Italian sausage for a sweet and spicy main dish.
You will love these sweet potato fries if your favorite way to eat sweet potatoes is as french fries. They get perfectly crisp without all the mess of frying because they are soaked and heated in a baking tray first.
Going to a cookout? These mashed sweets made in the crockpot are the perfect side dish. They cook and mash in the crock pot, so you only have to do a few dishes and can take them with you. All without heating up your kitchen during the summer!.
To upgrade sausages to a truly complete meal, I always try to add a veggie. Luckily there are lots of options to mix it up with!.
Many recipes call for mushrooms to be added to the stuffing of sausage because they go so well with it. These are vegetarian and go well with any kind of sausage.
Sometimes the simplest sides are the best ones, and this is one of those times! The Italian seasoning would go great with either spicy or sweet Italian sausage.
Sausage and peppers are a classic combination, and you can roast your own with no extra ingredients. While the instructions are written for red, you can use green bell peppers if you prefer.
With sausage, mushrooms are a great side dish, and caramelized onions on top of a bed of mushrooms might be the best thing you could serve with sausages.
Cheddar cheese goes well with almost any savory dish. Here, broccoli is served with a cheese sauce made of only two ingredients. You can easily double the sauce to make more for your sausages.
If you garden, you probably have an excess of zucchini or yellow squash on your hands. Air-frying makes the outsides crispy and the insides soft, so it’s a great way to get rid of some vegetables.
When you think of green beans you probably think of green bean casserole. It’s not just for holidays, and you can make it in the slow cooker to give your oven a break.
Roasted vegetables are always a great addition to a meal. This mix features red onions, parsnips, carrots, and sweet potato.
You can make this creamed corn any time of the year because you can use fresh, frozen, or canned corn. When you grill hot sausages outside or fry them up in a big skillet in the winter, this dish goes well with them.
If youre looking for a quick and easy side dish, stir-fried collard greens are the perfect choice. Simply slice them thinly and sauté them quickly!.
This Italian Sausage Pasta Is So Easy, You’ll Forget About Other Pasta Recipes
What goes well with sausage?
While the instructions are written for red, you can use green bell peppers if you prefer. Mushrooms go oh so well with sausage, and a bed of them with caramelized onions might just be one of the most delicious side dishes you could serve with your sausages. Cheddar cheese goes well with almost any savory dish.
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 side dishes go with sausage?
Finding the perfect side dishes to serve with sausage can elevate your meal to new heights. Classics like mashed potatoes provide a creamy, comforting complement, while grilled vegetables add a vibrant, smoky touch. Coleslaw offers a revitalizing crunch with a tangy dressing that cuts through the richness of sausage.
What Soup Goes well with sausage?
You can use any kind of soup, but I find that vegetable soups (without any meat) are great because the flavours don’t clash. For instance, potato soup, traditional vegetable soup, cabbage soup or kale and white bean soup, pairs well with any type of sausage flavour to create a well-rounded and satisfying main meal. RECIPE IDEAS
What to eat with chicken sausage?
Chicken sausage makes an awesome one-dish dinner by itself or served with brown rice in a burrito. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah My husband made sausage and veggie kabobs when we didn’t have buns to make classic sausage bombers. Grill ‘em up, then add cheese cubes. —Cindy Hilliard, Kenosha, Wisconsin
What to eat with Italian sausage?
Creamy and indulgent thanks to the cream and parmesan cheese sauce, the whole family is sure to love these potatoes. Topped with brown sugar that caramelizes on top, these roasted sweet potato rounds are the perfect compliment to spicy Italian sausage for a sweet and spicy main course.