29 Best Dinner Ideas With Sausage for Fast Weeknight Meals

When you need something easy for dinner on a busy night, these delicious recipes with sausage are the answer.

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CAITLIN BENSEL

Pasta or chicken may be your first thought when you're looking for fast and easy dinner ideas—that is, if you aren't reaching for the takeout apps. But sausage recipes tend to come together just as fast, plus the sausage's spiciness adds extra flavor to the meal, without having you reaching for your spice jars.

Try these easy dinner ideas with sausage to help you get dinner done—yet still serve up something delicious.

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Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies

Sheet Pan with cooked Sausage and Veggies with a spatula for serving
Caitlin Bensel

It takes just 20 minutes (and one pan) to make this flavorful and easy sheet-pan dinner that'll quickly become a busy night dinner favorite.

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Tapas-Style Pasta Salad

Tapas-Style Pasta Salad
Greg DuPree

Pasta salad is the unsung hero of easy summer dinners—an all-in-one dish that you can even prep ahead of time and let the flavors meld in the fridge. This Spanish take on the classic makes a perfect summer dinner idea with sausage.

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Gochujang Gumbo

Gochujang Gumbo
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Korean chile bean paste adds extra heat to the traditional Southern dish—but doesn't make it too spicy for people with milder flavor palates.

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Shrimp and Chorizo Skillet Supper

Shrimp and Chorizo Skillet Supper
Greg DuPree

All you need is 30 minutes and a single pot to create this delicious sausage-and-shrimp meal.

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Cheesy Sausage Pasta Bake with Brussels Sprouts

Cheesy sausage pasta in a serving bowl.
Caitlin Bensel

When you're looking for cozy comfort food, this recipe may just be it, with sausage adding a little spice to a creamy, cheesy pasta with Brussels sprouts for a hearty all-in-one dinner.

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Rigatoni With Roasted Sausage and Broccoli

Rigatoni with Roasted Sausage
Sang An

For days when you're in a hurry, here's the perfect dinner recipe for you. You only need 10 minutes of prep and less than a half an hour before dinner's on the table.

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Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Slow Cooker Frittata With Waffle Fries

Sausage,, Egg, and Cheese Slow Cooker Frittata

The slow cooker makes getting dinner ready super easy with this tasty sausage frittata (with waffle fries to add a little more fun to it). Plus: Who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?

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Spicy Chorizo-and-Pinto Bean Chili

Spicy Chorizo-And-Pinto Bean Soup
Victor Protasio

Sausage is the perfect meaty addition to chili, where it lends an extra boost of spice to the dish. This fast and easy recipe is ready in just a half hour.

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Sausage and Fontina Spaghetti Pie

Sausage and Fontina Spaghetti Pie

Victor Protasio

This impressive looking sausage-and-spaghetti recipe is dinner party-ready in about an hour (with just a half-hour of prep!).

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Skillet Gnocchi With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Skillet Gnocchi With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Greg DuPree

Gnocchi is one of our favorite companions for dinner ideas with sausage. Here, it's paired with peppery broccoli rabe and a touch of creamy ricotta cheese to add a little creaminess.

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One-Pot Chicken Sausage and Beans

crock pot chicken with sausages and navy beans
Crock pot chicken, sausage, and white beans. Diana Rattray

Nothing's easier than a dish you can cook in a single pot, which makes prep and cleanup a breeze. This easy dinner idea with sausage comes together in just over half an hour.

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Sausage, Spinach, and Provolone Pizza

Sausage, Spinach, and Provolone Pizza
Yunhee Kim

Sausage is a fan favorite topping for pizza, and provolone cheese gives it a different flavor profile than your standard mozzarella. Use premade pizza dough to make this an easy weeknight dinner.

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Gnocchi With Sausage and Spinach

Gnocchi With Sausage and Spinach
Quentin Bacon

If broccoli rabe isn't your jam, this combo of gnocchi and sausage may be your ideal dinner idea with sausage.

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Sausage, Lentil, and Kale Soup

Lentils, Kale, and Sausage Soup in a White Bowl on Top of a Wooden Board with a Piece of Baguette Bread Next to the Bowl
Greg DuPree

If you have 15 minutes, you can have this hearty meal-in-a-bowl stew that's loaded with superfoods.

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Spanish Omelet With Potatoes and Chorizo

Spanish Omelet With Potatoes and Chorizo on a Plate Next to a Side Salad
Ngoc Minh Ngo

Eggs aren't just a breakfast dish. Pair it with spicy chorizo and potatoes for a super fast and filling dinner. (Just 15 minutes of prep required!)

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Cheesy Baked Pasta

Cheesy baked pasta served in a dutch oven.

Cream cheese is the surprise ingredient that turns marinara sauce creamy in this tasty baked pasta and sausage recipe.

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Detroit-Style Pizza With Sausage and Peppers

Detroit-Style Pizza With Sausage and Peppers
GREG DUPREE

Detroit-style pizza, which shares the same squared-off shape as Chicago but runs a little less thick, is a delicious way to shake up your pizza night. Banana peppers lend even more heat to this pizza—sub in bell peppers if your family can't take the heat.

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Hazelnut Romesco Pasta Salad

Hazelnut Romesco Pasta Salad Recipe
Jennifer Causey

This hearty (and delicious!) pasta salad contains a few surprise ingredients (think mint and raisins). Sausage plays a little bit of a supporting role that adds a little bit of heat.

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Smoky Fish Chowder

Smoky Fish Chowder
Hans Gissinger

Another 30-minutes-or-less recipe, this flavorful stew balances the spiciness of chorizo sausage with mild white fish.

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One-Pot Italian Sausage-Gnocchi Soup

Gnocchi and sausage soup served in a bowl
Jennifer Causey

Pair this Italian-style pasta soup with a loaf of crusty garlic bread or a little salad for a perfect dinner.

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Sausage, Cauliflower, and Kale Potpie

Sausage, Cauliflower, and Kale Potpie
Jonny Valiant

Who doesn't love potpie? Puff pastry tops off a hearty combo of Italian sausage, kale, and cauliflower for a hearty cold-weather dinner.

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Pesto Orecchiette With Chicken Sausage

Pesto Orecchiette With Chicken Sausage
Con Poulos

Keep the ingredients for this super-fast weeknight meal on hand for a last-minute meal—you can sub frozen green beans for the fresh, and pesto freezes beautifully.

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Lentil Soup With Sausage

Lentil Soup with Sausage
Antonis Achilleos

Sweet Polish kielbasa gives this simple soup a lot of flavor.

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Potato Tot Breakfast Casserole

Potato Tot Breakfast Casserole
Greg DuPree

You can control the heat in this breakfast-for-dinner classic. For people who can't handle the spice, skip the jalapeños and choose mild breakfast sausage.

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Easy Stovetop Shrimp Boil

Easy Stovetop Shrimp Boil
Greg DuPree

A dinner that's perfect for an outdoor party (and incredibly easy to make)? Try a quick take on the classic Cajun seafood boil, with andouille sausage mixed in with the shrimp. (Double the recipe to feed a crowd.)

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Italian Baked Eggs With Tomato Sauce

Italian Baked Eggs
Jen Causey

Eggs cooked in a flavorful, sausage-filled sauce (and some gooey mozzarella toast on the side) will definitely be a crowd pleaser for dinner.

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Skillet Spinach Lasagna

Skillet Spinach Lasagna
Greg DuPree

Want lasagna in a hurry? Starting this tasty take on the classic Italian dish on the stovetop ensures crispy edges and a gooey, cheesy top.

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Italian Sausage Burgers

0124DIN-Italian-Sausage-Burgers

Greg DuPree

This easy weeknight sausage burger is doable in just 15 minutes. All you need is 1 1/2 pounds of Italian sausage (hot, sweet, or mild), red onion (to be dipped in apple cider vinegar), provolone cheese, red peppers, and lettuce. Grab whatever type of buns you prefer, as well, and toast them if you want them to be warm and crispy. This recipe yields four burgers to feed you and some guests.

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Sausage and Pepper Hoagies with Harissa Mayo

Sausage and pepper hoagies with harissa mayo easy dinner recipe

Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Sweet bell peppers, melty onions, and Italian sausage team up in these tasty hoagies to make the perfect sandwich. Harissa-spiced mayo, made with sherry vinegar to bring in some sweetness, tops off the decadent and hearty sandwiches. If you need a shortcut, swap in jarred roasted red peppers instead of the fresh peppers.

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Sausage and White Bean Casserole

Sausage and White Bean Casserole
Jose Picayo

Comforting and delicious, this protein-packed casserole, with its spicy Italian sausage and creamy cannellini beans, is a hearty and satisfying meal. The Swiss chard, carrots, and garlic add a robust body to the dish, while a shower of breadcrumbs tossed in olive oil provides a crunchy topping. This rich casserole is best served with crusty bread, a side salad, and a robust red wine.

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