Food and Recipes Meat Sausage 30 Savory Smoked Sausage Recipes To Try Whether you prefer Lil’ Smokies, kielbasa, or andouille, there’s a smoked sausage recipe for everyone By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Phoebe Evans Phoebe Evans Phoebe Evans is a Southern Living summer intern who covers food and digital production. She is from Birmingham, Alabama, and has a strong passion for writing. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on July 19, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: PHOTO: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; STYLING: CAROLINE M. CUNNINGHAM Smoked sausage is a superhero ingredient. It cooks in minutes, it is a major flavor booster, and you can use it in so many different recipes—casseroles, appetizers, pastas, gumbo, and skillet suppers, to name a few. Another plus: it’s usually more affordable than other proteins, and you can substitute plant-based smoked sausage in many recipes, if you prefer. Frequently Asked Questions How Is Smoked Sausage Made? Sausage is ground meat that has been mixed with fat and seasonings. Smoked sausage is put into casings (links) and hung in a smokehouse where a fire infuses the meat with smoky flavor. Is Smoked Sausage Fully Cooked? It depends. If it has been “hot smoked” it is fully cooked, and can be eaten as-is—like the kind of sliced sausage you would eat on a charcuterie board. If it has been “cold smoked” the sausage is not fully cooked. If you’re not sure, read the label. What Are Some Types Of Smoked Sausage? Flavor-wise, not all smoked sausages are equal—there’s a world of difference between mild kielbasa and fiery andouille. Our Test Kitchen and many Southern chefs love hickory-smoked Conecuh sausage, which is made in Alabama. Southern-style andouille sausage is smoked and heavily spiced, which allows it to stand out in dishes like jambalaya and gumbo. Another Louisiana favorite is boudin, a mix of rice, pork sausage, and seasonings, and can be sold smoked or unsmoked. Country sausage links are mild in flavor, and often served for breakfast alongside eggs and grits. Kielbasa, a Polish pork sausage, is seasoned with garlic, pepper, and spices, and is typically served sliced. 01 of 30 Cabbage And Noodles With Smoked Sausage Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Lydia Pursell Egg noodles and fully-cooked smoked sausage make this recipe a weeknight winner. Even better, it reheats well, so if you have leftovers, you can enjoy it for lunch the next day too. Recipe: Cabbage and Noodles with Smoked Sausage 02 of 30 Corn And Smoked Sausage Nachos Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Creamy cheese sauce with corn, crispy smoked sausage, and crunchy tortilla chips—these are not your average nachos. What more could you want in a game day appetizer? (Or any get-together, really.) Recipe: Corn and Smoked Sausage Nachos 03 of 30 Andouille Sausage and Smoked Chicken Gumbo This gumbo recipe starts with a pound of andouille, so you know it will pack a punch. In addition to the slices of sausage throughout, the chicken is cooked in the drippings for an extra layer of flavor. Recipe: Andouille Sausage and Smoked Chicken Gumbo 04 of 30 Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers PHOTO: HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; STYLING: CAROLINE M. CUNNINGHAM This skillet baked ziti has the usual tangy tomato sauce and a layer of bubbly cheese on top, but it also has a Cajun kick in this recipe thanks to spicy andouille sausage. This pasta smells so good when it comes out of the oven that everyone will already be at the dining table before it arrives. Recipe: Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers 05 of 30 Ultimate Veggie Kebabs With Smoked Sausage Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster These colorful kebabs with a tangy herb sauce will brighten up suppertime. The recipe calls for smoked sausage, which pairs nicely with the fresh okra and peppers and makes the skewers a bit heartier. Recipe: Ultimate Veggie Kebabs with Smoked Sausage 06 of 30 Little Smoked Sausages In Grape Jelly And Chili Sauce Monica Farber/Southern Living This retro recipe is a classic for many reasons. It's foolproof to make, requires just three ingredients, and the mini sausages can be kept warm in a slow cooker if you're serving them at a party. Recipe: Little Smoked Sausages in Grape Jelly and Chili Sauce 07 of 30 Cabbage And Sausage Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cabbage and sausage is a classic Southern supper, and this one-dish meal is as colorful and flavorful as can be. It is made with hickory-smoked sausage (like Coneuch) but you could use almost any type of sausage, including Italian, chicken, hot, or chorizo. Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage 08 of 30 Sausage Stuffing Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Stuffing doesn't have to be reserved for the holidays. And after you try this sausage-filled version, you'll want to make it all the time. The recipe calls for sliced smoked sausage, but you can substitute crumbled, cooked breakfast sausage, if you prefer. Recipe: Sausage Stuffing 09 of 30 Lowcountry Shrimp-and-Sausage Muscadine Skewers Courtesy of Food Network These hearty skewers make an impressive appetizer, or you can make them the focus of a meal with the addition of some crusty bread and a salad. A glaze made from muscadine grapes gives the shrimp and sausage a hint of sweetness Recipe: Lowcountry Shrimp and Sausage Muscadine Skewers 10 of 30 Chicken And Sausage Jambalaya Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle,Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Chicken thighs and smoked sausage combine with Creole seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes, dried herbs, and other ingredients to make this fantastic one-pot meal. Feel free to replace part or all of the chicken with shrimp, if you prefer. Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya 11 of 30 Smoked Turkey-and-Andouille Gumbo Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox If you prefer gumbo Cajun-style (no tomatoes) with a kick, this award-winning recipe might be your new favorite. Shredded smoked turkey and sliced sausage make this a hearty meal, especially when served with rice—or potato salad, another Cajun touch. Recipe: Smoked Turkey-and-Andouille Gumbo 12 of 30 Sausage-And-Spinach Breakfast Casserole With Cornmeal Biscuits Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford Instead of the usual biscuits and gravy, try this similarly comforting casserole—and get a serving of greens to boot! A cheesy, creamy mix of smoked sausage and spinach bubbles under a layer of buttery cornmeal biscuits. Breakfast—or brunch, lunch, or dinner—is served. Recipe: Sausage-and-Spinach Breakfast Casserole with Cornmeal Biscuits 13 of 30 One-Pot Shrimp-And-Sausage Jambalaya Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Food Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Jambalaya is one of the finest one-pot meals in the South, and this recipe is no exception. Made with shrimp, smoked sausage, vegetables, and rice, plus Creole seasoning and hot sauce, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and it comes together in an hour. Recipe: One-Pot Shrimp-and-Sausage Jambalaya 14 of 30 Cajun Mac And Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Just when you think you've tried every mac and cheese recipe there is, another one comes along that looks just as tempting. This version, which is kicked up with andouille sausage, the Louisiana "trinity" (onion, bell pepper, garlic), and Cajun seasoning, is rich, creamy, and anything but ordinary. Recipe: Cajun Mac and Cheese 15 of 30 Slow Cooker Red Beans And Rice Photo: Howard Lee Puckett Made with smoked turkey sausage, this flavorful red beans and rice recipe is one of the easiest recipes you'll find. Simply put all of the ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it cook overnight. Serve with rice or cornbread (or both!) for a comforting, low-effort meal. Recipe: Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice 16 of 30 Skillet Corn with Shrimp and Sausage Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox When you're lucky enough to get your hands on a bushel of fresh-picked corn, this is the recipe you should make. A cross between creamed corn and jambalaya, this dish makes a lovely summer supper in 30 minutes or less. Recipe: Skillet Corn with Shrimp and Sausage 17 of 30 Creamy Andouille Pasta ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN A homemade cream sauce balances out pepper Jack cheese and spicy andouille in this satisfying pasta dish. Not a fan of andouille? Substitute your favorite smoked sausage. Recipe: Creamy Andouille Pasta 18 of 30 Leah Chase's Gumbo Z'Herbes Robbie Caponetto New Orleans' beloved chef Leah Chase left behind so many treasured recipes when she passed away in 2019. One of the most famous is her Gumbo Z'Herbs, which is made with a whopping nine types of greens. Even if you don't have nine, you can substitute with what you have on hand, just make sure the total amount of greens in the same. Recipe: Leah Chase's Gumbo Z'Herbes 19 of 30 Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Enjoy all of the communal fun of a clambake on any old weeknight with this easy foil packet recipe. The combination of sausage, clams, shrimp, and corn will please everyone around the table as they roll up their sleeves and dig in. Recipe: Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter 20 of 30 Raspberry Family Shrimp-and-Sausage Gumbo Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Food Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl A good roux is essential when making gumbo. This version, with shrimp, smoked sausage, and okra, requires a roux that's cooked for 20 to 30 minutes, until it is the "color of an old penny". Don't rush this process, and you'll be rewarded with a rich, deeply flavored gumbo. Recipe: Raspberry Family Shrimp-and-Sausage Gumbo 21 of 30 Vietnamese-Cajun Fried Rice Cedric Angeles This family recipe shared by Houston-born writer Dan Q. Dao, is the kind of dish you'll need to set aside some time to make, but it is worth every minute in the kitchen. The recipe, made with smoked sausage, rice, shrimp, and chicken, feeds about 14 people (recruit your dinner guests to lend a hand), so it feeds a crowd or will leave you with plenty of delicious leftovers. Recipe: Vietnamese-Cajun Fried Rice 22 of 30 Cajun Chicken Cassoulet Iain Bagwell Our Cajun-inspired take on a classic French stew pairs chicken thighs with smoked sausage, okra, tomatoes, and cannellini beans. Don't skip the crispy herbed breadcrumbs—they make a flavorful finishing touch. Recipe: Cajun Chicken Cassoulet 23 of 30 Split Pea Soup With Sausage Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Most split pea soup recipes call for diced or cubed ham, but smoked sausage makes it even more rich and savory. This hearty soup is a meal in itself, but it pairs nicely with a pan of skillet cornbread. Recipe: Split Pea Soup with Sausage 24 of 30 Skillet Sausage 'n' Rice Southern Living Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. Made with quick-cooking brown rice (that steams right in the same pan), smoked sausage, and vegetables, this 30-minute supper might end up in your regular weeknight rotation. Recipe: Skillet Sausage 'n' Rice 25 of 30 Cajun Shrimp Boil Pasta Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay. E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Enjoy all of the robust flavors of a shrimp boil with pasta instead of the usual potatoes. Lemon and Old Bay keep add bright notes that keep this dish from being too heavy. Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Boil Pasta 26 of 30 Instant Pot Jambalaya Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Fluffy rice, tender shrimp, and savory chunks of smoked sausage make this jambalaya recipe pretty much perfect. Even better? It's made in an Instant Pot, so there's less cook time and clean up. Recipe: Instant Pot Jambalaya 27 of 30 White Bean and Sausage Soup with Pasta Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Pasta, smoked turkey sausage, Swiss chard, and white beans make this one-pot soup a complete meal in a bowl. Cylinder-shaped, spoonable ditalini pasta is ideal in this recipe but you can also use orzo or mini shells if you can't find it. Recipe: White Bean and Sausage Soup with Pasta 28 of 30 Jambalaya de Covington Jambalaya de Covington This meaty gumbo (smoked turkey, ham, and sausage) is a specialty of Covington, Louisiana. Watch the roux carefully as it cooks; when it's ready, it should be a caramel color. Recipe: Jambalaya de Covington 29 of 30 Southern Shrimp and Grits Typically made with pancetta or bacon, the shrimp mixture gets its smoky, spicy notes from andouille sausage. Whether you enjoy it for brunch or supper, it's a delicious combination with creamy cheese grits. Recipe: Southern Shrimp and Grits 30 of 30 One- Hour Brunswick Stew Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Brunswick stew in an hour? You bet. And it's still so rich and flavorful. Made with smoked chicken sausage, shredded chicken, okra, potatoes, and beans, this crowd-pleasing recipe feeds 10, so it's ideal for game day or any time you want to serve up a bowl of something easy and comforting. Recipe: One-Hour Brunswick Stew Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit