Hot sausage makes for a delicious and satisfying meal, but the right side dishes can take it to the next level. The bold, robust flavors of spicy sausage call for sides that complement and balance the heat Cool, creamy potatoes, tangy coleslaw, and hearty beans are classic pairings But venturing beyond the basics reveals even more enticing options. Next time you cook up a batch of hot sausage, consider these 15 side dish ideas to complete the meal.
Comforting Classics
Some traditional sides have stood the test of time as perfect partners for hot sausage. These comforting classics balance richness and spice:
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Smooth, velvety mashed potatoes provide the ideal soothing contrast to spicy sausage. Russets or Yukon Golds make great mashers. For added flavor, stir in roasted garlic or fresh herbs. Go even richer by folding in sour cream, cream cheese, or shredded cheese.
Tangy Coleslaw
Crunchy coleslaw adds texture and brightness with its cooling crunch. The tangy dressing helps cut through the heat. Customize your slaw by switching up the dressing or adding grated carrots, raisins peppers, or pineapple for extra flair.
Soft Rolls or Bread
Good bread gives sausage sandwiches an edible vessel while adding a pillowy contrast. Soft potato rolls, brioche buns, or Italian loaves work wonderfully. For a heartier side, slice up some crusty artisan bread and toast until golden brown.
Baked Beans
The soulful, smoky flavors of baked beans make them a classic. Slow simmered with brown sugar and spices, beans offer a sweet counterpart to spicy sausage. White, black, pinto, and navy beans all pair deliciously.
Sautéed Potatoes
Crisp, golden potatoes add appeal. Sauté diced potatoes in olive oil over medium-high heat until browned. Toss in minced garlic during the last minute. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.
Savory and Satisfying
For more hearty, robust side dishes that feel like a meal in themselves, consider these satisfying choices:
Cheesy Grits
Creamy, cheesy grits make a wonderful bed for sausage. Opt for traditional stone-ground grits and cook until smooth and thick. Finish by stirring in shredded cheddar, Monterey jack, or goat cheese for a creamy, decadent texture.
Rice Pilaf
Aromatic and fluffy, rice pilaf provides an elegant base for sausage. Sauté the rice in butter before simmering in broth flavored with garlic, shallots, and bay leaves. For variety, add mushrooms, onion, carrots, or other vegetables.
Macaroni and Cheese
The ultimate comfort food, mac and cheese is a delightful match for sausage. Use short pasta shapes like elbows, shells, or cavatappi to hold the creamy cheese sauce. Sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack give the best flavor.
Sausage and Peppers
For a one-pot meal, simmer sliced bell peppers and onions with sausage. The vegetables absorb the spicy flavors while adding a pop of color. Serve over crusty bread or polenta.
Braised Red Cabbage
Sweet and tangy braised cabbage provides a pretty, antioxidant-rich side. Slowly cook shredded red cabbage with apple cider vinegar and a touch of brown sugar until tender. Toss in carrots or apples for extra flavor and nutrition.
Light and Bright Accompaniments
Cleanse your palate with brighter, lighter sides to offset the richness of sausage:
Garden Salad
Cool, crisp lettuce is refreshing after something spicy. Make your salad interesting with colorful additions like cherry tomatoes, shaved carrots, sliced cucumbers, and red onion. Drizzle on a light vinaigrette or creamy dressing.
Roasted Broccoli
Nutritious broccoli caramelizes beautifully when roasted. Toss florets in olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread on a baking sheet. Roast at 400°F until crispy on the edges, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with lemon juice and grated Parmesan.
Zucchini Noodles
Spiralized or julienned zucchini “noodles” make a lighter substitute for pasta. Quickly sauté in olive oil until just tender then season with garlic, basil, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes for a fresh take on pasta.
Fruit Salad
Juicy, sweet fruit adds brightness after spicy sausage. Combine diced melon, grapes, berries, citrus, and your other favorites. Dress simply with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice and a bit of honey or mint.
Caprese Skewers
Take mini caprese salads on-the-go by skewering cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic reduction. The tomatoes’ acidity balances sausage’s richness.
Putting It All Together
When serving up hot sausage, consider complementary contrasts in texture, flavor, and appearance. Creamy, starchy sides soothe the spiciness while crunchy veggies and tangy fruits liven up the palate. Combine comfort with nutrition by including indulgent classics alongside lighter choices. Most importantly, have fun experimenting with different side dishes to find out which pairings please your preferences.
k
This post is about what to serve with Italian sausage and peppers
Looking for tasty low-carb side dishes to go with Italian sausage and peppers? I’ve got you covered with sweet and spicy sausage dishes that will help you stick to your healthy lifestyle goals! Sausage can be a great part of a high-volume, low-calorie diet plan.
Italian sausage is a great meal the whole family will enjoy. A sheet pan dinner with green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onions is my favorite way to make Italian sausage. Drizzle with olive oil and roast at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes. Truly the perfect easy weeknight dinner!.
Another great way to make sausage and green peppers is to place your sausage and peppers {1 lb. } in a slow cooker. Cover the sausage and peppers with marinara sauce. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or until the sausage is fully cooked. This is one of the simplest recipes you can make. You can even use frozen Italian sausage links; just cook them for an extra hour or so.
Usually, pork is used to make Italian sausage, but these days you can easily find turkey sausage and chicken sausage, which is usually a bit leaner. You can normally find both sweet Italian sausage, spicy Italian sausage and many other flavor options.
Take a look next time you’re at the grocery store! I love trying new flavors and recipes.
Easy Side Dish Ideas {Low-Carb}
Caesar Salad – this is a perfect low-carb side dish with any kind of sausage. You could easily make your own with some Romaine lettuce, a few croutons, Parmesan cheese, and bottled dressing. You could also buy a bagged salad kit like I do. My kids love Caesar salad, so we always have that on hand.
I recommend mixing the dressing and topping separately in your own dish so you can control the calories. Load up on the lettuce and go sparingly with the rest!.
Kale Salad – Due to kale’s strong flavor this is a perfect side dish for mild sausage. This is my favorite Kale Salad Recipe. You can often find bagged kale salad kits at the grocery store, as well. There’s no shame in cooking healthy food quickly; just watch out for the toppings and dressing.
It’s easy to make cauliflower rice with just olive oil, salt, and pepper. For a fun twist, add an easy dish like
Quick Caulirice Sausage and Peppers Skillet:
Cook 1 sausage with peppers in your skillet over medium heat. I like to cut the sausage into bite size pieces, so it cooks faster.
After about 8-10 minutes add 2 cups of cauliflower rice (frozen or fresh) to the skillet.
Cook another 3-4 minutes until sausage is cooked through and cauliflower rice is lightly browned. The sausage and peppers add such delicious flavor for a one pan meal.
Cloud Bread Rolls – let’s be honest, there’s nothing like a sausage on hoagie roll. Making low-carb cloud bread rolls is a close second, though. Just use my recipe for cloud bread pizza and cut it into four 8-inch pieces. Use your favorite sausage and pepper recipe, wrap it in a cloud bread roll, and sprinkle mustard on top. So yummy!.
Turnip Fries – you can whip up a batch of Turnip Fries in your air fryer or oven. The big flavors of your sausage and turnip fries combine for a great meal. This would work really great with the cloud bread rolls, too.
1 large head of broccoli, 2 tablespoons of corn starch, 3/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or regular milk), 1 egg, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, and 1/4 cup of grated cheddar cheese or cheese mix of your choice. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Wash and dry the broccoli, then cut it into bite-sized florets. Put them in a large bowl that can go in the microwave, and cook them on high for 5 to 7 minutes, until they are soft enough to pierce with a fork. Mix corn starch, salt, pepper, milk, and 3/4 cup of grated cheese in a large mixing bowl 3. Drain cooked broccoli and combine with milk/cheese mixture in bowl 4. Pour broccoli and cheese mixture into medium casserole dish, then top with remaining cheese 5. Bake 25-30 minutes, uncovered until sauce is bubbling and top of casserole is browned lightly.
There you have it: roasted cauliflower. This is a great recipe for a snack as well. I love roasted cauliflower, and I bet you will too. This is a simple dish and can even be made with sheet pan sausage and peppers. Simply toss one head of cauliflower with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite seasoning. Roast at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes until outside is browned and crispy.
Mashed Rutabaga – mashed rutabaga is a family favorite here. My grandmother used to make it for all the big holidays, and I hadn’t thought about this tasty root vegetable in a while. With your sausage and peppers, this is a hearty and comforting meal. However, the rutabaga is much lower in carbs than the mashed potatoes!
Simply chop your rutabaga into bite size pieces, then boil or steam for about 10 minutes. Mash with a potato masher. Season with salt and black pepper. For more tips on cooking rutabaga click here.
roasted frozen green beans—yes, you read that right! You can make these green beans from frozen! This recipe is tasty and can go with almost any main dish.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle green beans with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning and olive oil. If you have chopped shallots or red onion, you can add them too. Roast for 20-30 minutes until beans are browned and crispy. Toss 2-3 times while roasting.
Spaghetti Squash – ah, spaghetti squash, low carb and the perfect accompaniment for so many different flavors. You can microwave it, bake it, roast it or my favorite is to make it in my Instant-Pot. Top with your sausage and spaghetti sauce for a filling and delicious meal.
Grilled or Roasted Zucchini – this might be one of my all time favorites side dishes. Grilling your zucchini gives it a bold flavor. I like to use a grill basket so I don’t lose any in the cracks. Simply toss with some Italian seasoning and olive oil, then grill for about 10-15 minutes.
Zoodles – zoodles are a great way to get your veggies in. Simply saute your zoodles in some olive oil in a large skillet. Then top with your favorite sauce with sausage and peppers. Its even quicker and easier than regular pasta. Many grocery stores sell pre-made zoodles in the section for chopped vegetables. Again, don’t feel bad about treating yourself to foods that make it easier to eat healthy.
Skillet Eggplant – eggplant goes so well with sausage and peppers. Its truly like these flavors were made for each other. You can roast them in the oven with the sausage and peppers, or you can cook them on their own in a skillet. When cooking eggplant on the stove, it takes about 20 minutes. If you roast the eggplant with the sausage and peppers in the oven, you may need less oil.
Grilled Mushrooms – mushrooms are in regular rotation in our house and grilled mushrooms are to. die. for. Lightly coat with olive oil and seasoning, then grill over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Remember that mushrooms do shrink quite a bit while cooking, so cook more than you think you’ll need.
Cauliflower Mash: This side dish is great for the whole family and doesn’t have any carbs. You’ll never miss the carbs! Here is my favorite cauliflower recipe.
Thanks for reading these recipes. I hope they helped you figure out what to serve with Italian sausage and peppers. Making more than one low-carb side dish helps you not miss the carbs as much, plus they taste great on their own.
This Italian Sausage Pasta Is So Easy, You’ll Forget About Other Pasta Recipes
FAQ
What to eat with Italian hot sausage?