Ways to Cook Sausage in Every Season
Because sausage is so versatile, it makes a fantastic recipe addition any day of the year. From soups and salads to pasta dishes, there are countless ways to incorporate this treat into your favorite seasonal delights. We’ve rounded up the best seasonal sausage recipes below to give you some ideas!
Fall Sausage Recipes
As chillier temperatures and vibrant leaves make their debut, it’s time to start crafting your list of fall dinners. Consider these tasty concoctions the whole family can enjoy:
1. Butternut Squash Risotto
When autumn is in full swing, colorful gourds, pumpkins and squashes line the shelves in grocery stores and markets. Though you can find butternut squash year-round, this beloved vegetable is usually harvested in late summer and early fall. What better time to savor an irresistible butternut squash risotto?
Cook a package of sliced mild Italian sausage, fennel seeds, red pepper chili flakes and olive oil in a large pan. Remember — always cook sausage to a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Add two diced onions and half a cup of butternut squash, and cook for 20 minutes.
Grab another pan and pour in 5 cups of chicken stock. Let it simmer while you add a 1/2 cup of Chianti to the original pan. Stir in 1 and 1/2 cups of risotto rice. Slowly add the chicken stock to the risotto mixture, cooking it for another 20 minutes. Lastly, stir in a healthy dollop of cottage cheese and garnish with fresh thyme and parmesan.
2. Hot Italian Chili
Welcome the crisp fall season with a steamy bowl of hot Italian chili. Sauté a pound of ground beef and a package of hot Italian sausage in a pan with olive oil. Add the meat mixture to a warmed slow cooker.
Add some more olive oil to your original pan. Sauté green pepper, celery, onion and garlic over medium heat. Add your veggie mixture to the slow cooker. Pour in black beans, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, cumin and chili seasoning. Cook all the ingredients on low for four hours, then serve your chili with sour cream, shredded cheese and crackers.
Winter Sausage Recipes
Stay warm throughout the chilly season with these mouthwatering sausage recipes!
1. Sausage and Bean Soup
Nothing says winter quite like a hearty bowl of soup. This sausage and bean soup is the perfect remedy for a cold day. Cook onion and garlic in a saucepot over medium-high heat for two minutes. Add 6 ounces of sweet Italian sausage to the pot, cooking until the meat is brown.
Stir in white and black beans, olive oil, chopped red peppers, dried oregano, chicken broth and escarole. Boil the mixture, reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for five minutes. Top your creation with parmesan cheese.
2. Sausage With Sauerkraut
For generations, Germans have enjoyed sauerkraut and pork on New Year’s as they believe it brings good luck, or viel glück. Naturally, people in the Midwest have adopted this tradition. That’s why this dish commonly makes an appearance at the table in winter.
This kielbasa and kraut is a quintessential dish for any New Year’s gathering. Sauté your sausage with olive oil, then cook and stir your sauerkraut in a hot pan. Lower the heat and return your kielbasa to your original sauté pan. Continue to cook it for 20 minutes.
Spring Sausage Recipes
It’s time to swap heavy comfort foods for light, crisp recipes. Cook up these swoon-worthy springtime dishes!
1. Grilled Sausage and Vegetable Sandwich
If you have a hankering for fresh bread and veggies, this grilled sausage and vegetable sandwich might be just what your palate calls for. This recipe blends grilled Italian sausage, squash, tomato, onion, peppers and eggplant, all nestled in a warm Semolina roll. That first bite is sure to greet your tastebuds with fresh springtime flavors.
2. Sausage, Mushroom and White Bean Soup
Thick stews are all the rage for winter. However, you might prefer a lighter, creamier soup as we roll into spring. This sausage, mushroom and white bean soup may be what your appetite requires.
Start by cooking four strips of bacon in a large skillet. Remove and crumble the bacon, then set it aside. Next, sauté 12 ounces of mushrooms and a 1/2 cup of chopped onion. Put the mixture aside and cook a package of sweet Italian sausage until brown. After letting it cool, slice it up and set the pieces aside.
Add your cooked mushrooms and onions to a Dutch oven or large stock pot. Mix in a box of chicken stock and a can of beans, bringing the medley to a boil. Pour in a cup of milk and blend everything with an immersion blender. Finally, add your sausage, bacon strips and another can of beans. Garnish with salt, pepper and basil, and you’re good to go!
Summer Sausage Recipes
We’re wrapping up our list with these delectable warm-weather sausage recipes. Consider breaking out these dishes for summer:
1. Hot and Spicy Summer Salad
Are you craving a light, refreshing dish that thrills your tastebuds with some kick? This hot and spicy summer salad brings the best of both worlds.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and roast eight shallots with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cook a package of spicy Italian chicken sausage, then slice and set aside. Whisk together olive oil, orange juice and lemon juice, then toss this dressing with sliced apples, watercress and fennel. Reserve some dressing to use at the end.
Arrange the apple mixture in a serving dish, topping it with the sausage and shallots. Drizzle the salad with your remaining dressing.
2. Summer Veggies With Chicken Sausage
Colorful veggies and chicken sausage are the prime way to ring in summer. Plus, this recipe is the perfect excuse to bust out the grill.
Whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a bowl and put aside. Add yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, onions and red pepper in a separate large mixing bowl. Coat these veggies with the vinegar mixture, tossing everything together.
Grill a package of chicken sausage on medium-high for 10-12 minutes and slice up the meat. Add the pieces to the bowl of marinated veggies and stir well.
Line a large baking pan with aluminum foil and spread the mixture in a single layer across the surface. Grill the baking sheet for four to eight minutes. Garnish your dish with fresh basil leaves.
Find Sausage for Every Season With Premio Foods
These recipes only scratch the surface of seasonal dish possibilities. With Premio Foods’ full recipe gallery, you’ll never run out of ideas. And don’t forget to find a store near you to pick up our delicious sausage products. From classic Italian and chicken to ethnic varieties, we have everything you need to create palate-pleasing dishes for every season.
Try out one or more of these recipes and let us know how they turned out in the comments. Happy cooking!