Twenty Five Delicious and Healthy Sausage Recipes

These tasty and healthy sausage recipes are the perfect solution for an easy weeknight dinner. They are quick, packed with veggies, and versatile.

I often get asked if there are things that I always have on hand for quick and healthy dinners. This is a terribly hard question for me to answer since my pantry and freezer are often overflowing with ingredients.

After much thought, I realized that my favorite ingredients to have in the freezer are lean chicken and turkey sausage. Not only does sausage cook quickly and have tons of flavor, but it's also surprisingly versatile. Seriously, it can be used in so many dishes from soups to stews and pasta.

Not quite sure how to shop for sausages or how to use them, not to worry we’ll give you all the details. Plus with under 200 calories (sometimes as little as 100 calories per link depending on the brand) per serving, it's an ingredient that can work with almost any diet.

Why We Love Cooking with Sausages

Here are just a few reasons why we like to cook with sausages.

• Versatile: Sausages can work as an ingredient in almost any diet and they can be used in many different ways.
• Inexpensive: Less expensive than pure ground beef, chicken, or turkey and they are quite filling.
• Freeze well: Sausages will keep well in the freezer for up to 4 months so stock up the next time they are on sale.
• Easy: You can eat sausages as they are or add them to dishes, season them, fry them, bake them, or grill them, the options are endless.
• Low in calories: Some sausages contain less than 200 calories (sometimes as little as 100 calories per link depending on the brand) per serving.
• Flavorful: Pump up the flavor of any dish made with ground turkey or ground chicken by substituting sausage. Sausages add a ton of flavor that can take a bland recipe to a whole new place.

Looking for recipe ideas for only chicken sausage? Don't miss these healthy chicken sausage recipes plus our favorite brands, cooking techniques, side dishes, and more.

Healthy Sausage Recipes

Sheet Pan Sausage, Sweet Potatoes, and Green Beans

305 CAL 40 MIN

Sheet Pan Sausage, Sweet Potatoes, and Green Beans cooked together on one single pan for the easiest one dish meal.

Slow Cooker Sausage Gnocchi Soup

292 CAL 6 HOURS, 10 MIN

Slow Cooker Sausage and Gnocchi Soup is the perfect way to kick off the fall season. Made with chicken sausage, gnocchi, and tons of flavorful veggies, this delicious slow cooker soup guarantees to have you begging for more.

Butternut Squash Breakfast Casserole With Sausage

243 CAL 45 MIN

This Butternut Squash Breakfast Casserole made with eggs, lean turkey sausage, butternut squash, spinach, and red onion is a filling and nutritious breakfast that is great for meal prep. Easy to make and full of flavor.

One Pan Sausage, Potato, and Vegetable Bake

299 CAL 35 MIN

This One Pan Sausage, Potato, and Vegetable Bake is the perfect easy weeknight dinner! Packed with veggies and tons of flavor, this one dish meal is always a hit.

One Pan Sausage and Acorn Squash

301 CAL 40 MIN

One Pan Sausage and Acorn Squash with tender acorn squash, savory savory chicken sausage, bell peppers, onions, and Italian seasoning is a quick and easy 6 ingredient recipe that is cooked on just one sheet pan.

Turkey Breakfast Sausage

216 CAL 15 MIN

Homemade turkey breakfast sausage made with ground turkey, spices, and a touch of maple syrup. Healthy, unprocessed, and more delicious than store-bought.

Chickpea Stew with Sausage and Butternut Squash

363 CAL 40 MIN

Chickpea Stew with Sausage and Butternut Squash is a hearty, tasty soup that is filling and full of flavor. Easy to make and freezes great!

Sausage and Pepper Pasta Shells

379 CAL 25 MIN

Sausage and Pepper Pasta made with lean turkey sausage, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and a quick and easy tomato sauce is an easy, tasty weeknight dinner.

Grilled Chicken Sausages and Vegetables

285 CAL 20 MIN

Grilled Chicken Sausages and Vegetables is the perfect healthy 15 minute summer dinner with delicious balsamic veggies.

Chicken Sausage Pasta with Broccoli

422 CAL 25 MIN

Chicken Sausage Pasta with Broccoli with plenty of garlic, a hint of spice, and a creamy Parmesan sauce is ready in less than 30 minutes for an easy, comforting meal.

Roasted Italian Sausages with Potatoes, Peppers, and Onions

344 CAL 40 MIN

Roasted Italian Sausages with Potatoes, Peppers, and Onions is an easy one pan recipe that couldn't be easier to make!

Sausage Lentil Soup

345 CAL 55 MIN

Sausage Lentil Soup made with dried lentils, sausage, and lots of veggies is a hearty, healthy meal that's ready in less than 60 minutes.

Garlic Sausage Pasta with Cauliflower

342 CAL 30 MIN

The most delicious Sausage Pasta that's easy to make and packs in so much flavor with lean turkey sausage, tender cauliflower, and a quick tomato sauce.

Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers in Tomato Sauce

213 CAL 6 HOURS, 10 MIN

Slow cooker sausage and peppers is the ultimate easy, flavor-packed meal that practically cooks itself. Juicy Italian sausage, tender peppers, and a rich tomato sauce come together in the slow cooker for a hearty dish that’s perfect for busy nights.

Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Sausage

352 CAL 40 MIN

Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Sausage is a low carb dish that's filling and packed with flavor from a homemade basil pesto and lean turkey sausage. Topped with melted cheese, this dish is one you will make again and again.

Lemon Orzo with Broccoli and Chicken Sausage

377 CAL 30 MIN

Lemon Orzo with Broccoli and Chicken Sausage that's all cooked in one pan for an easy, healthy dinner that is comforting and full of flavor. All for under 400 calories!

Garlic Zucchini Noodles with Cherry Tomato Sauce and Sausage

342 CAL 30 MIN

Tasty zucchini noodles with ground turkey sausage in a delicious garlic cherry tomato sauce. Easy to make, low carb, and delicious.

Pineapple Chicken Sausages

175 CAL 20 MIN

Pineapple Chicken Sausages are a quick and healthy meal with store bought chicken sausages and a delicious homemade pineapple salsa.

Sheet Pan Sausage, Potatoes, and Brussels Sprouts

346 CAL 50 MIN

This Sheet Pan Sausage, Potatoes, and Brussels Sprouts dish couldn't be easier plus it is clean eating, gluten-free, Paleo, and Whole30 friendly.

Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta

364 CAL 25 MIN

Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta made with only five ingredients is a healthy weeknight dinner that is quick and easy to prepare. This simple pasta dish is loaded with garlic, turkey sausage, broccoli, and Parmesan cheese and still only has 360 calories per serving.

Sausage Arrabbiata Pasta with Spinach

353 CAL 30 MIN

This easy and healthier version of Sausage Arrabbiata Pasta uses lean turkey sausage, cherry tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and red pepper flakes to recreate this classic Italian dish.

One Pan Italian Sausage, Tomatoes, and Zucchini

308 CAL 45 MIN

This easy One Pan Italian Sausage, Tomato, and Zucchini dish is the perfect meal for a busy night! It's so easy to throw together, versatile, and healthy.

Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles with Sausage

317 CAL 25 MIN

These 20-minute Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles with Sausage are the perfect low-carb and keto-friendly pasta dinner. Every bite is full of flavor, packed with protein and veggies, and I promise that no one will miss the pasta.

Sausage, White Bean, and Spinach Soup

345 CAL 34 MIN

Healthy Sausage, White Bean, and Spinach Soup is a delicious, hearty soup made with turkey sausage, white beans, tomatoes, and spinach. It's full of flavor, comforting, and great for meal prep.

Healthy Cornbread Sausage Stuffing

364 CAL 45 MIN

This Healthy Cornbread Sausage Stuffing is a lightened version of the classic side dish! It's made with chicken sausage and cornbread, so it's packed with flavor but keeps the calories light.

Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs

244 CAL 6 HOURS, 20 MIN

Few things are more delicious and comforting than meatballs simmered low and slow in tomato sauce with hints of Parmesan, parsley, and sausage studded throughout

Types of Sausages

Not quite sure what sausages are all about, here’s the low down on the types of sausages you can buy.

There are over 200 different kinds of sausages available in the US that can be broken down by type of meat like pork, veal, chicken, turkey, or beef.

The meat can be fresh, cooked, or smoked. Most often the meat is flavored with herbs, seasonings, salt, and pepper and they can also contain breadcrumbs or other grains to help bind them.

The most popular types of sausages are:

• Chicken Sausage: Made with dark chicken meat and seasoned with various herbs. For a complete lowdown on different chicken sausages read this Today article.
  • Calories: Approximately 140-160 calories depending on the brand.
  • Fat: Approximately 7-10 grams depending on the brand.
• Turkey Sausage: Made with turkey breast and thigh as well as seasonings.
  • Calories: Approximately 140-160 calories depending on the brand.
  • Fat: Approximately 7-10 grams depending on the brand.
• Pork Sausage: Made with the meat from the shoulder, belly, or thigh of the pig.
  • Calories: Approximately 290-455 depending on the brand.
  • Fat: Approximately 23-38 grams depending on the brand.

The Best Healthy Sausage Brands

There are so many different brands of sausage out here. These are some of the healthiest and best-tasting options.

1. Applegate Farms makes natural and organic breakfast and dinner sausages that are antibiotic free and naturally raised. T
2. Alfresco makes all-natural fully cooked dinner sausage and breakfast sausage with no artificial ingredients.
3. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods both make a low-fat chicken sausages in many flavors.
4. Costco sells a few different healthy sausage brands including Sabatino's, Aidell's, and AmyLu.

The Best Recipes for Cooking with Chicken and Turkey Sausage

Sausages are so versatile and can be used in many different ways but here are a few options.

• Sheet pan meals: Sheet Pan Sausage, Sweet Potatoes, and Green Beans or Sheet Pan Sausage, Potatoes, and Brussels Sprouts.
• Soups: Slow Cooker Sausage Soup With Gnocchi, Sausage, Pepper, and Spinach Soup, or Sausage Lentil Soup.
• Pastas: Sausage and Pepper Pasta, Chicken Sausage With Pasta and Broccoli, or Sausage Arrabiata With Pasta
• Sandwiches: Choose your favorite sausage and lay it on a submarine bun and top it with your favorite sandwich toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sprouts or add some White Bean Hummus or this Avocado Hummus.
• Bowls: Create your own bowl by layering sausage, your favorite grain, and some veggies, and top with this Homemade Peanut Sauce, or use sausage instead of the beef in this Korean Beef Bowl, and add to this Thai Bowl as the protein.
• Casserole: Try this Butternut Squash Breakfast Casserole With Sausage.
• Grilled: Try this Grilled Chicken Sausages and Vegetables.

Tips for Cooking with Sausage

Follow these tips and tricks to choose the best sausage option for the meal you are preparing

Choose Raw, Ground, or Cooked Link Sausage

You can buy ground sausage or link sausage so choose the type that works best with your recipe. Ground sausage would work well in recipes that call for ground beef or chicken.

• Ground sausage: It is usually easier to find lean ground turkey sausage in either a sweet or spicy Italian flavor. I have found it difficult to find lean ground chicken sausage, but sometimes it's available in more specialty stores.
• Link sausage: There are way more options for links. I can find about 8 different flavors of lean chicken sausage in my local store and another 3 to 4 flavors of lean turkey sausage.
• Raw versus cooked: Some brands can be bought fully cooked while some are raw so make sure to read the label carefully.

Honestly, they are all pretty interchangeable, just make sure to pay attention to the calorie counts if you are watching your diet.

Choose the Best Sausage Flavor

Choose something that complements the other flavors in the dish.

• Spinach and feta sausages are delicious with Italian-flavored dishes and spicy.
• Jalapeno sausages work great with Asian dishes.
• Italian sausages go well in pasta, casseroles, or soups.

Make your own sausage with any ground meat

If you decide to make your own sausage you can do so by buying ground meat, seasonings, and sausage casings. If you want to make Italian sausages you can use this Homemade Italian Sausage Seasoning