27 Italian Sausage Recipes That Will Make Your Mouth Water

It doesn't matter which variety you choose or how you cook it up, you can never go wrong with sausage. Savory chorizo crumbled into tacos, smoky kielbasa hot off the grill or miniature breakfast links served alongside eggs—there are so many ways to add sausage to the menu. One of our favorite varieties though, is Italian sausage. Whether hot or mild, the distinctive fennel flavor you'll find in Italian sausage is the perfect complement to pork—and a flavor combination we just can't get enough of. That's why we've rounded up so many great ideas for using this ingredient, starting with Ree's family-friendly pasta skillet. It's loaded with flavor and a breeze to make. In fact, the whole thing is ready in just 16 minutes!

Giada’s genius secret to cramming more Italian sausage into every bite of these delicious Italian sandwiches? Hollow out the bottom of the roll to make space for extra fillings!

Bake up breakfast, lunch or dinner with this cheesy, eggy sausage-and-pepper casserole. It makes 4-6 servings, so it's perfect for feeding the whole family.

Not a fan of red sauce? This pasta dish uses olive oil, red pepper flakes and shaved Parmesan instead.

This version of sausage balls, a traditional Southern appetizer, gets an Italian twist. Pickled cherry peppers add a touch of acid and spice that complements the richness of the sausage and the mozzarella.

Giada combines savory Italian sausage with broccoli and rigatoni for a warm, comforting baked pasta dish that will become part of your regular rotation.

Weeknight dinners just got a whole lot easier. Toss your sausage and vegetables onto a sheet pan along with a little olive oil and seasoning and roast until tender. It's that easy!

Katie upgrades her burgers by using two types of Italian sausage (sweet and hot) instead of ground beef. How do you top a sausage burger? Onion, bell pepper, banana peppers and provolone, of course!

Italian sausage is right at home with littleneck clams in Guy’s flavor-loaded pasta dish. First, he seasons and cooks the sausage until well-browned, then adds the rest of the ingredients. When the clams pop open, it’s time to reduce the sauce a little — and eat!

A mix of sweet and hot Italian sausage makes the perfect stuffing for halved zucchini — along with some Parmesan and mozzarella, of course!

A family-favorite dish with a twist! This unfussy version has all the flavor of stuffed shells – without all the work of filling the pasta. The best part? You can make this dish ahead of time and freeze for later.

Who needs a pizza oven when you can make a delicious pie in the oven, using your cast-iron skillet? Toppings like sweet sausage, chili flakes and honey give it the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.

Ina’s 5-star pasta recipe has rave reviews. Fans say that the dish has “amazing flavor” and is one “for the whole family to enjoy”. There aren’t many ingredients in this dish so be sure to use the best quality you can find. It will be worth it!

Pigs in blankets get an Italian makeover! The combo of cheese, pesto and peppers stuffed into the sausages is a winner. Use hot sausage if you like a little spice.

Skip boiling a big pot of water. This hearty pasta dinner calls for uncooked rigatoni and layers of ricotta and Italian sausage to be layered right in the casserole, so you'll have nothing to wash while it bakes.

We tried all-sausage meatballs but found them heavy and dense — adding ground pork keeps them light but still extremely flavorful. If you really want to up the umami factor in this soup, toss a Parmesan rind into the broth as it simmers.

Breakfast will never be boring with Giada’s sausage and egg bake. She nestles the eggs into a hearty sausage stuffing for a casserole-like dish to be shared with the whole family! When cracking the eggs, be sure to keep the yolks intact so they’ll still be a little runny when the whites have finished cooking.

Ree’s layered sausage-and-rigatoni dish can be cooked right away — or stored in the freezer for a night when you need a low-maintenance meal.

You might think of stuffing as a holiday side dish but this one makes a great accompaniment to many wintry meals like pork chops, roast chicken and more.

Don’t know what to do with fennel? Ina incorporates it into her rigatoni, along with Italian sausage and grated parmesan for an adult version of mac and cheese.

Got a few extra links of Italian sausage? Use them to make a sweet-and-savory stuffing for hollowed-out acorn squash. It’s the vegetable side dish we’re sure no one will be able to say ‘no’ to!

One of our favorite ways to use Italian sausage? As a filling for stuffed pasta. This recipe calls for homemade pasta and sauce. If you don’t have time to make everything from scratch, store-bought works great too.

The next time you’re making slow-cooker meatballs for meatballs subs, throw some Italian sausage in too. It will add extra flavor to the sauce and simmering meatballs — and be a welcome addition to the traditional sandwich.

When you need a quick, satisfying dinner, reach for Italian sausage. It cooks up fast and adds tons of flavor to anything you pair it with.

Want to give your stuffed mushrooms maximum flavor? Fill them with a blend of Italian sausage, fennel, mushroom and garlic.

The best way to eat your leafy greens? Stuffed into al dente pasta along with hot Italian sausage and three different cheeses!