The Best Sides to Go With Sausage
Sausage is a delicious source of protein, whether you make it outside on the grill or inside on your stove. It’s even more satisfying when paired with the right side dishes. If you’re looking for incredible sausage sides, look no further. We’ve curated 12 tasty side dish recipes to round out your next meal.
Vegetable Sides
It’s always a good idea to serve something green at the dinner table. Vegetables contain many essential nutrients, they add color to your meal and they taste delicious when prepared properly. Skim these four recipes to find the perfect vegetable side for your next sausage meal.
Zucchini Salad
This makes an ideal side dish for a late fall cookout. Slice and grill your zucchini, or roast it in the oven if the grill is already occupied. Add the cooked zucchini to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, fresh lemon juice and your choice of seasonings. Sprinkle some feta cheese and mint leaves over the top to complete the salad. To get more greens in, layer this recipe over a bed of salad with some extra oil. You could also add pecans, walnuts or onions for a tasty crunch.
Grilled Vegetable Kebabs
Nothing says summer like eating a grilled kebab. You can cook up some vegetables alongside sausage on the grill or use your oven for a roasted version. You can cook any veggies you like — we recommend tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and red onion. Cut up all your veggies and let them marinate in a sauce of oil, garlic, vinegar and Italian spices. After a few hours of marinating in the fridge, put the veggies on kebabs and grill.
Quinoa-Stuffed Butternut Squash
This stuffed squash recipe technically calls for sausage — but you can bake it without for a fantastic side dish. Because it was originally intended to include sausage, it offers the perfect blend of flavors to complement your protein-packed main dish.
Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds and bake for 45-55 minutes at 425 degrees F. Next, whip up your filling, which is a mixture of quinoa, cranberries, chickpeas, orange juice, cooked kale and some of the butternut squash flesh. Add the mixture to the center of your baked squash. Bake for another 10 minutes at 375 degrees F.
Roasted Carrots
This simple side is sweet and delicious. Cut carrots into slanted slices and toss with olive oil. Season the carrots with salt and pepper before roasting them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 400 degrees F. You can also make these on the grill if you’d prefer!
Chip and Dip Sides
Sometimes, the perfect side involves finger food. These dip recipes are ideal for backyard barbeque side dishes. If you’ve looked through the veggie recipes and are still not sure what to eat with sausage, chips and dip are another great option.
Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa
To make this delicious salsa, cut up avocados, mangos, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and jalapenos. Add some garlic, lime juice and salt for seasoning. Lightly mix the ingredients together, being careful not to crush them.
You can serve this tasty dip with a bag of corn chips or layer it on sausage patties for a burst of flavor and nutrition. For best results, pair this side dish with grilled sausage that’s made with similar flavors and ingredients.
Stuffin’ Mushroom Dip
For a more substantial side, try this mushroom casserole recipe. Like the butternut squash, this recipe calls for sausage, but you can leave it out and enjoy your sausage separately. The first step is to saute chopped celery, onion, mushrooms, garlic and butter for a few minutes. Add shredded mozzarella, cheddar cheese, Parmesan and 1 cup of Italian bread crumbs. Put the mixture in a baking dish and add some veggie chips on top to act as the crust. Drizzle melted butter over it all, and bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Eat with chips or a fork and enjoy a side reminiscent of stuffing.
Three Cheese Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Dip
If your favorite sides always involve cheese, you’re going to love this recipe. Combine sour cream, cream cheese and sun-dried tomato pesto. Next, add feta, mozzarella, lime juice, pepper and salt. Put the combined mixture into a baking dish, then bake for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees F. Let the finished dip cool slightly, then serve with chips and the grilled sausage of your choice.
Artichoke and Bacon Dip
To make this delicious dip, start by frying bacon on the stove. Take the bacon out of the pan, then saute artichokes and shallots with garlic, salt and pepper. Put the cooked vegetables into a food processor and add sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice and mascarpone.
Pulse until mixed but still chunky. Put this mixture into a greased baking dish, then top with crumbled bacon. Bake for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees F, then serve with pita chips.
Carb-Based Sides
Carbs help you stay full and offer sustained energy so you can get everything in your busy life done. Here are four recipe ideas for delicious carb side dishes you can enjoy with grilled sausage.
Greek Couscous Salad
To make this salad, prepare couscous with chicken broth on the stove. Combine chopped tomatoes, scallions, olives, feta cheese and cucumber in a bowl. Put together a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper.
Combine all the ingredients and chill in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. This side dish is perfect for hot summer days when you want to grill sausage outside.
BBQ’d Sweet Corn
Of course, no summer cookout is complete without corn on the cob. To make this side dish for grilled food, brush whole corn with a mixture of olive oil, paprika, salt and pepper. Grill for about eight minutes, turning the corn for even cooking. To enhance the flavor, grill red peppers and season them with salt and pepper. Serve both vegetables with grilled hot Italian sausage for a delicious meal.
Mac and Cheese
If you’re craving comfort food, this side dish for sausage will satisfy your hunger and nostalgia. Cook macaroni pasta according to the directions on the package. While it’s cooking, make a sauce with butter, flour, chicken broth, half-and-half and cheddar cheese. Mix the sauce with the cooked macaroni and serve warm. For added flavor and crunch, fry some bacon, crumble it up and add it to the dish.
Pineapple Baked Beans
This delicious twist on traditional baked beans will brighten your day. Start by frying bacon in a pan, then crumbling it into small pieces. Combine two cans of baked beans with pineapple, ketchup, mustard and brown sugar in a baking dish.
Bake for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees F. Once this dish is heated, serve with grilled sausage and other sides for a delicious comfort meal.
Use the Premio Foods Store Locator to Find Delicious Sausage for Your Recipes
The next time you crave delicious sausage, use the Premio Foods store locator to find a selection near you. Premio Foods has been crafting spiced sausages for more than 40 years and offers a wide variety of chicken, pork and beef sausages to hungry customers.
Find the perfect sausage flavor for your next warm winter meal or summer cookout. When planning your sides, reference this list for side dish ideas that will taste amazing with our many delicious sausage flavors.
Did we miss any tasty sausage-friendly side dishes? Let us know below!