10+ Italian Sausage Recipes for Dinner That Are Easy and Delicious

Italian sausage is a tasty, flexible ingredient that instantly boosts the flavor of your dinners. You can toss it into pasta, bake it into casseroles, or just sauté it with veggies—plenty of easy, delicious options here.

You don’t need to be a chef to whip up a great meal with Italian sausage. Whether you like it spicy or sweet, there’s always a recipe to match your mood and schedule.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage (sweet or spicy)
• Pasta or rice
• Vegetables (peppers, onions, broccoli—whatever’s on hand)
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Cheese (optional)
• Tomato sauce or cream (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Brown the Italian sausage for about 5-7 minutes.
3. Toss in chopped vegetables and garlic, cook till they soften.
4. Add your sauce of choice or cook pasta separately and combine.
5. Let everything heat through, about 5 minutes more.
6. Serve hot—cheese on top if you’re feeling it.

1) Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

This pasta is simple, cozy, and full of flavor. Cook Italian sausage with garlic and roasted red peppers, then stir it all into a creamy parmesan sauce.

It’s done in 20–30 minutes, so it’s perfect for a weeknight. Use mild or spicy sausage—whatever you’re into.

Cream cheese and parmesan make the sauce rich and smooth. Toss it with penne or bowties for a comforting meal.

If you want, toss in some spinach or fresh herbs for color and a little freshness.

Ingredients

• 1 pound mild or spicy Italian sausage
• 8 ounces penne or bowtie pasta
• 1 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
• 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook pasta, drain, set aside.
2. In a pan, brown sausage; set aside.
3. Add garlic to the pan, sauté a minute.
4. Stir in cream cheese and parmesan until melted.
5. Add roasted red peppers and spinach; cook until spinach wilts.
6. Return sausage to the pan and stir to combine.
7. Toss pasta with the sauce, season, and serve warm.

For more ideas, check out the Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta recipe.

2) Baked Rigatoni with Italian Sausage

Baked rigatoni with Italian sausage is pure comfort food. Cook the rigatoni until it’s just shy of done.

Brown the sausage, breaking it up as you go. Mix the sausage with marinara and stir in ricotta and mozzarella.

Combine everything with the pasta, then bake until it’s bubbly and golden. Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping.

Throw in spinach or cherry tomatoes if you’re feeling fancy. The cheese melts into everything, making it creamy and irresistible.

Ingredients

• 1 box rigatoni (about 14 ounces)
• 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Optional: fresh spinach or cherry tomatoes

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook rigatoni, drain, set aside.
3. Heat olive oil, brown sausage until cooked through.
4. Stir in marinara, heat through.
5. Mix pasta, sausage sauce, ricotta, and half the mozzarella.
6. Pour into a baking dish, top with remaining mozzarella.
7. Bake 25-30 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

3) Italian Sausage and Peppers

Italian sausage and peppers is a classic, no-fuss dinner. Sausage, sweet bell peppers, and onions all cook together in one pan.

It’s quick to prep and even easier to clean up. Eat it as is, toss it with pasta, or pile it onto a sandwich.

The peppers and onions get soft while the sausage browns, making a great mix of flavors. Toss in crushed tomatoes and garlic for a little extra oomph.

Ingredients:

• Italian sausages (4-5 links)
• 2 bell peppers (red and green), sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes (optional)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a big pan over medium.
2. Brown sausages on all sides, about 10 minutes.
3. Remove sausages, set aside.
4. Add peppers, onions, garlic. Cook 5-7 minutes till soft.
5. Return sausages to pan, add crushed tomatoes if you want.
6. Cover and cook on low 10-15 minutes until sausages are cooked through.
7. Season and serve.

4) One-Pan Italian Sausage and Potato Skillet

This one-pan sausage and potato skillet is a weeknight lifesaver. Brown the sausage first to crank up the flavor.

Add potatoes, onions, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, stirring now and then so nothing sticks.

You only need one skillet, so cleanup’s a breeze. Add peppers or garlic if you want to switch it up.

It’s hearty enough for dinner or even a late breakfast.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage links
• Potatoes, chopped
• Onion, sliced
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown sausage in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Remove sausages, add potatoes, onion, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook, stirring often, until potatoes are soft (about 20 minutes).
4. Put sausages back in, warm through, and serve.

Easy One Skillet Meal: 30-Minute Hearty Italian Sausage and Potatoes

5) Spicy Italian Sausage Tomato Cream Pasta

Spicy Italian sausage, tomatoes, and cream—what’s not to love? The sausage brings the heat, the cream chills it out.

Brown the sausage with garlic and onion. Toss in tomatoes and a splash of cream.

Let it simmer until the sauce thickens. Spoon it over your favorite pasta, and top with parmesan and basil.

It’s easy, fast, and the flavor is honestly hard to beat.

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Fresh basil and parmesan for garnish
• 8 oz pasta

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium.
2. Brown sausage, breaking it up.
3. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes; cook till soft.
4. Stir in tomatoes, simmer 10 minutes.
5. Pour in cream, cook till sauce thickens.
6. Boil pasta, drain.
7. Toss pasta with sauce, top with basil and parmesan.

6) Sausage, Peppers, and Onions Skillet

This one-pan wonder is all about big flavor with minimal effort. Cook sausage with bell peppers and onions—just let everything get golden and soft.

Throw in some garlic or herbs if you like. Fewer dishes, less hassle.

Red wine is optional, but it adds something special if you have it on hand. Scoop it up with bread or serve over rice.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage links or sliced sausage
• Bell peppers (any color), sliced
• Onions, sliced
• Garlic cloves, minced (optional)
• Olive oil or canola oil
• Salt and pepper
• Red wine (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high.
2. Brown sausage pieces, about 5 minutes.
3. Add peppers and onions, cook 8-10 minutes till soft.
4. Stir in garlic, cook 1-2 minutes more.
5. Add red wine if you feel like it, simmer 3-5 minutes.
6. Season and eat.

7) Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage

This is a classic Italian dish that’s somehow both simple and fancy. Cook sausage with garlic and a pinch of red pepper, then toss it with orecchiette and slightly bitter broccoli rabe.

The sausage richness and the greens’ bite balance each other out. Pork or chicken sausage both work—pick your favorite.

A sprinkle of pecorino cheese on top finishes it off. It’s special enough for guests but easy enough for a Tuesday.

Ingredients

• 1 pound orecchiette pasta
• 1 pound broccoli rabe
• 8 ounces Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup grated pecorino cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil salted water, cook orecchiette till al dente (about 9 minutes).
2. Blanch broccoli rabe 2 minutes, then drain.
3. Heat olive oil, cook garlic and red pepper till fragrant.
4. Add sausage, break it up, cook till browned.
5. Stir in broccoli rabe, cook 2 minutes.
6. Drain pasta, toss with sausage and greens.
7. Top with pecorino and serve.

8) Italian Sausage and Pepper Strata

This Italian Sausage and Pepper Strata is a casserole you can eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It’s got spicy sausage, sweet bell peppers, and plenty of eggs—definitely filling.

First, cook the sausage and peppers together. Layer those with bread cubes and cheese.

Pour the egg custard over everything and let it soak in. Then just bake it until the top turns golden and a little bubbly.

You can throw it together for dinner and it feeds a crowd. If you want to save time, assemble it the night before and bake it fresh the next day.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage (1 lb)
• Bell peppers, mixed colors (2 cups, diced)
• Large onion (1, diced)
• Bread cubes (6 cups)
• Shredded cheese, like mozzarella or fontina (2 cups)
• Eggs (8)
• Milk (2 cups)
• Olive oil (1 tbsp)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Heat olive oil in a pan. Cook sausage until browned, then set aside.
3. In the same pan, sauté onion and peppers until they’re soft, about 5 minutes.
4. Beat eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together in a big bowl.
5. Layer bread, sausage, peppers, and cheese in a baking dish.
6. Pour the egg mixture over everything and press down gently.
7. Let it rest for 30 minutes or stick it in the fridge overnight.
8. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the top looks set and golden.

9) Italian Sausage Soup with Vegetables

You can make a warm Italian sausage soup packed with veggies. It’s got zucchini, spinach, tomatoes, and potatoes—honestly, it’s pretty simple and great for a weeknight.

The flavors come together for a hearty, cozy meal. If you want, sprinkle some Parmesan on top for a little extra something.

You only need one pot, so cleanup’s easy. With all the veggies and sausage, you get a meal that feels balanced and satisfying.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage
• Zucchini
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Onion
• Garlic
• Chicken broth
• Olive oil
• Parmesan cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the sausage in olive oil in a big pot.
2. Add chopped onions and garlic, cook until they turn soft.
3. Stir in diced potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes.
4. Pour in chicken broth and bring it all to a boil.
5. Lower the heat and let it simmer until the veggies are tender, about 20 minutes.
6. Toss in the spinach and cook for 5 more minutes.
7. Serve hot, with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

For more details, see Italian sausage and vegetable soup recipes.

10) Sheet Pan Italian Sausage Dinner

This is the kind of dinner you want when you’re tired and just need something fast. Toss sausage pieces and a bunch of veggies onto a single pan—no need to overthink it.

Everything roasts together. The sausage comes out juicy, and the veggies get all soft and caramelized.

Pick your favorites: peppers, tomatoes, onions—honestly, whatever’s in the fridge. Italian seasoning gives it that zippy flavor without any fuss.

Crank the oven high, and you’re eating in about half an hour. Not bad, right?

If you want to check out the full recipe, here’s the Sheet Pan Italian Sausage Dinner.

Ingredients

• Italian sausage, cut into pieces
• Bell peppers, chopped
• Cherry tomatoes
• Red onion, sliced
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Line a baking sheet with foil.
3. Toss sausage and veggies with olive oil, seasoning, salt, and pepper.
4. Spread them out on the baking sheet.
5. Roast for 25-30 minutes. Stir once about halfway through.
6. Serve hot. Enjoy!