Not so long ago, sausage was typically relegated to a breakfast side dish, a soup ingredient or a hefty hot dog substitute on a bun. Now, it's graduated to gourmet status with many blends including exotic herbs, fruits and vegetables mixed in, and everything from duck to reindeer meat ... even no meat at all.
But there's no need to shop for gourmand varieties to make winning sausage entrees. With the ingredients and techniques in these recipes, you can transform basic sausage into dinner, lunch and breakfast dishes that are sure to garner rave reviews.
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Creamy sausage and potato casserole
Potatoes and sausage go together like bacon and eggs because salty/smoky and slightly spicy make subtle flavors blossom. Don't be put off by the canned mushroom soup in the recipe; it adds the perfect richness to the sauce. If you can find bulk sausage at the store, you'll save the step of removing the sausage from its casings. Get the recipe here.
Potatoes and sausage go together like bacon and eggs because salty/smoky and slightly spicy make subtle flavors blossom. Don't be put off by the canned mushroom soup in the recipe; it adds the perfect richness to the sauce. If you can find bulk sausage at the store, you'll save the step of removing the sausage from its casings. Get the recipe here.
Spicy sausage casserole
Italian sausage provides a kick of spice to the cheese and rice in this dish -- not too hot but bold enough to pique interest. The raw diced green bell pepper retains its crunchiness during baking, adding texture. Leftover rice gets this complete meal on the table in less than an hour. Leftovers develop an additional layer of flavor, but be sure to reheat gently to prevent the cheese sauce from separating. Get the recipe here.
Italian sausage provides a kick of spice to the cheese and rice in this dish -- not too hot but bold enough to pique interest. The raw diced green bell pepper retains its crunchiness during baking, adding texture. Leftover rice gets this complete meal on the table in less than an hour. Leftovers develop an additional layer of flavor, but be sure to reheat gently to prevent the cheese sauce from separating. Get the recipe here.
Stuffed sausage casserole
Stuff a sausage? It might sound impossible, but the stuffing is what makes this dish so special. Gently sautéed onions, garlic and mushrooms combined with perfectly crisped, chopped bacon are lightly pressed into the center of chubby Italian sausages cut halfway through lengthwise before baking. The browned melted cheddar on top keeps everything in place. Get the recipe here.
Stuff a sausage? It might sound impossible, but the stuffing is what makes this dish so special. Gently sautéed onions, garlic and mushrooms combined with perfectly crisped, chopped bacon are lightly pressed into the center of chubby Italian sausages cut halfway through lengthwise before baking. The browned melted cheddar on top keeps everything in place. Get the recipe here.
Pizza casserole with sausage
Around 3 billion pizzas are sold in America every year ... and the popularity of homemade pizza is soaring. The combination of zesty meats, aromatic vegetables, lightly seasoned tomato sauce and Italian cheeses is apparently somewhat of an addiction. When you bake those magical ingredients with short pasta, you have a delightful dish ready in less time than most pizza deliveries take. Get the recipe here.
Around 3 billion pizzas are sold in America every year ... and the popularity of homemade pizza is soaring. The combination of zesty meats, aromatic vegetables, lightly seasoned tomato sauce and Italian cheeses is apparently somewhat of an addiction. When you bake those magical ingredients with short pasta, you have a delightful dish ready in less time than most pizza deliveries take. Get the recipe here.
Tater tot sausage breakfast casserole
Just saying the words "tater tots" brings a smile to most faces. The little puffs of potato heaven mixed with eggs, spices, breakfast sausage and a healthy portion of shredded cheddar create a hearty breakfast casserole that everyone loves. Since nothing has to be precooked, it's ready in a jiff. You can make it the night before and refrigerate it for baking the next morning; just increase the baking time a bit to make sure it's cooked through. Get the recipe here.
Just saying the words "tater tots" brings a smile to most faces. The little puffs of potato heaven mixed with eggs, spices, breakfast sausage and a healthy portion of shredded cheddar create a hearty breakfast casserole that everyone loves. Since nothing has to be precooked, it's ready in a jiff. You can make it the night before and refrigerate it for baking the next morning; just increase the baking time a bit to make sure it's cooked through. Get the recipe here.
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