Delicious Smoked Sausage Recipes

From Cajun to Comfort Food, Sausage Is a Must

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 04/13/21
Spicy Sausage and Penne Casserole
Photo: Diana Rattray

Whether you use spicy andouille, kielbasa, chorizo, or gourmet poultry sausage made from chicken or turkey, these meats add a smoky flavor to everyday recipes. You're sure to find some inspiration in this collection of recipes, from soups to jambalaya, gumbo to pasta.

  • 01 of 04

    Dishes with Andouille Sausage

    Diana Rattray

    Andouille sausage is a Southern staple made with pork and spices and doubly smoked for extra flavor. These recipes bring out the best of the pork while enhancing the smokiness by using milder ingredients to complement it:

    • As fun to eat as it is to say, beloved British "toad in the hole" gets a Cajun version with andouille sausage paired with the traditional Yorkshire pudding batter. This delicious preparation gets an extra kick of flavor from the spices in the batter and from the smoky sausage. By baking the sausages before adding the batter, you get rid of a lot of the fat and make them crispier. Prep and cook in 45 minutes. Serve with a raw beet salad.
    • An andouille mac and cheese is a creamy, cheesy pasta with a sausage sauce that is simply irresistible. Simply cook the sausage with peppers and make a cheddar cheese sauce with milk and spices to cover the pasta with. Bake for 25 minutes with extra cheese on top for a mac and cheese casserole on your table in a total of 45 minutes. Serve with a refreshing dill-cucumber salad.
    • Our spicy penne uses andouille sausage and a creamy sauce of cheddar cheese and creole seasoning to create an extraordinarily spicy and smoky pasta dinner. Serve with a sweet and creamy apple-fennel salad.
    • A roasted potato and sausage dinner is a perfect one-tray dish for a busy weeknight. Simply chop and roast vegetables, potatoes, and andouille sausage and place in the oven for 55 minutes. The simplicity of the dish makes it suitable for kids and adults alike. If your guests can handle some heat, add some cajun or creole seasoning and extra cayenne or chili flakes. Serve with grilled Mediterranean vegetables.
  • 02 of 04

    Soups with Sausage

    International Food
    Geri Lavrov / Getty Images

    Soups are a simple way to provide a filling and complete meal to your family. Our soup recipes featuring sausage are very hearty and flavorful, ideal dinner dishes for a chilly night.

    • This kale and white bean soup with spicy sausage is an easy soup that requires just 45 minutes of cooking. Use canned tomatoes and beans and store-bought chicken broth to help maintain that short cooking time. Serve with warm ciabatta bread.
    • Our spicy sausage and potato soup is silky and creamy thanks to the addition of heavy cream. The ultra-thick and rich texture makes it a great main dish. Simply serve it with fresh bread and a fennel and avocado salad.
    • Use spicy andouille or chicken smoked sausage in this tasty mixed bean-sausage soup. Lima, great northern, navy and red beans give the soup a rich texture. The dish will be ready after 1 hour of prep and cooking. Make a creamy mayo-avocado guac and serve the soup with tortilla chips and the dip.
    • Andouille sausage powers this tasty spicy black bean-sausage soup. Prep and cook in 1 hour and 5 minutes, and while you're cooking the soup make simple white rice as a side. Put a pat of butter on the rice when cooked for an extra silky side dish.
    • This hearty, flavorful chicken and sausage gumbo is technically a stew, but after trying it's rich and flavorful broth you might call it a soup. Thyme, bay leaf, and creole seasoning are the key. After 2 hours of prep and cooking, you can sit down to smoky feast. Serve with rice and crusty bread.
  • 03 of 04

    Crockpot Sausage Recipes

    Sausage, Cabbage, and Potato Meal, Slow Cooker
    Crock Pot Sausage and Potatoes With Cabbage. Diana Rattray

    Cooking in a crockpot is the easiest way of bringing a meal to your table. Chop, mix, season, set, and forget. Our delicious sausage crockpot recipes make excellent weeknight meals:

    • Use your favorite variety of sausage for our crockpot smoked sausage with potatoes and cabbage. Add sliced potatoes, cabbage, and the sausage to the crockpot with butter and apple sauce. Prep takes 5 minutes, then you can cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Serve with warm baguette and butter.
    • Smoked sausage and onions features a mustard sauce balanced by Balsamic, honey and vinegar. The sweet-and-sour dish can be served as a main with rice and roasted vegetables, or sliced as an appetizer or party snack. Cook on low for 6 hours and on high for 3.
    • Creole chicken and sausage is a combination of chicken thighs, sausage, and vegetables in a tomato sauce that cooks for 7 hours on low. These ingredients make a hearty stew that you can adjust depending on your taste, more or less spicy, or creamier by adding 1/2 cup of heavy cream before serving. Serve with rice or pasta.
    • Smoked sausage (chorizo or chicken) adds another dimension to this flavorful sausage beef chili recipe. This super simple recipe uses canned beans, tomatoes, and chiles. Cook on low for 6 hours (or overnight) or on high for 3. Serve with tortilla chips and sliced avocado.
    •  If you need a party appetizer that's easy and delicious, set your crockpot with cocktail franks, grape jelly, and chili sauce and cook on low for 6 hours. The spicy and sweet coating on the little smokies makes them a go-to when hosting a party.
  • 04 of 04

    Beans, Rice and Sausage

    Red beans, rice, and sausage
    4kodiak / Getty Images

    The classic combination of rice and beans is key recipe in many cultures and is a whole meal thanks to the protein content of the beans and the nutritious carbs and fiber in the rice. In these recipes, the sausages just make them even more delicious:

    • In our Louisiana beans and rice, use andouille for a traditional flavor. The smoked sausage on top adds richness and texture to the dish. Cook the beans in an aromatic broth for 2 and 1/2 hours, add the sausage, and cook for 30 more minutes. Serve them over rice, garnished with parsley.
    • For the Southern classic purple hull peas and sausage, use purple hull peas or black-eyed peas. This flavorful stew needs 1 hour on the stove cooking. Serve with maple and bacon cornbread.
    • This chicken, shrimp, and sausage Jambalaya is a traditional southern Louisiana rice dish. The meats and vegetables combine to give the dish a fantastic mouthfeel. Prep and cook in 1 hour and 15 minutes.