There’s no better way to make a dish more hearty and flavorful than adding some ground Italian sausage.
And since this meat is so versatile, you can find plenty of ground Italian sausage recipes made with rice, potatoes or different kinds of pasta.
In this post, I’ve compiled some of the best dinner ideas for ground sausage you can find online.
The best ground italian sausage recipe ideas
Unlike regular pork sausages, ground Italian sausages are seasoned with fennel and garlic powder.
This gives them a unique flavor and makes them a suitable addition for soups, stews, casserole and pasta.
With that said, here are some of the tastiest dishes made with ground Italian sausage:
Italian Sausage and Potatoes
Italian Sausage and Potatoes is an easy and comforting meal you can make any day of the week.
Ground Italian sausage is browned in a cast iron skillet and rested on a dish lined with paper towels.
Potatoes and onion are then sauteed in the same pan and mixed with the cooked sausage.
The dish is finished with a sprinkling of aromatic spices and herbs.
Spaghetti Sauce with Real Tomatoes (No Tomato Paste)
In my recipe here I’m using whole Italian Sausage but you can replace it with an equal amount of the ground variety.
The recipe uses classic Italian seasoning and real tomatoes instead of store-bought tomato paste which makes it a tasty option for a thematic Italian spaghetti dinner.
Keep in mind this is one of those meals that don’t look super impressive but taste amazing.
Creamy Pasta with Sweet Ground Italian Sausage
This Creamy Pasta with Sweet Ground Italian Sausage recipe is the ultimate comfort meal.
It has a thick creamy texture that’s bursting with cheesy flavors.
The dish features sweet ground Italian sausage that’s sauteed along with bell peppers and onions and seasoned with Italian spices.
Once the meat and vegetables are done, they get combined with a rich creamy sauce and small pasta.
Before serving, the pasta gets sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese for additional flavor.
Learn more about: Does Parmesan Go Bad After Its Expiration Date?
Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
This ground Italian sausage pasta recipe will knock your socks off and satisfy your spicy food cravings.
It’s made with spicy ground Italian sausage that is browned along with vegetables and aromatic herbs.
The sausage is then simmered in tomato sauce and combined with small tender pasta such as macaroni. This recipe is a good candidate if you’re looking for an easy protein pasta recipe.
You can serve this dish with a side salad or garlic bread if you wish.
Easy Keto Baked Italian Sausage
Most recipes with ground Italian sausage are usually loaded with carbs which makes them unsuitable for anyone that’s on a keto diet.
Fortunately, this Easy Baked Italian Sausage recipe takes care of that problem.
It’s made with low carb marinara sauce and contains only 9 grams of carbs per serving.
Even though this recipe is made with sausage links, you can easily substitute them with ground Italian sausage.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Creamy, hearty and absolutely delicious, this Italian Sausage Soup is perfect for a chilly winter evening.
It can be made with both sweet and spicy ground Italian sausage and is extremely easy to cook.
Simply brown the sausage, sautee half an onion and celery and stir in chicken broth, potatoes, half and half and worcestershire sauce.
Then bring the soup to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender.
The only seasonings you need to use are red pepper flakes, black pepper and salt.
Note: I have an article on how to store the unused half of an onion, since this recipe uses only 1/2 onion.
Italian Beef and Sausage Pie
This tasty Italian Beef and Sausage Pie is a fatty delight you’ll never get tired eating.
This dish is great for large family gatherings and special occasions.
After the beef and Italian sausage are cooked, their juices get drained and reserved for later use.
Bell peppers and onion are then seasoned and cooked until tender and mixed with the juices and meat.
Next, the mixture gets scooped over a yogurt and egg batter and layered with provolone cheese and grated parmesan.
After all of the cheese and meat are layered, the dish gets baked in the oven for 45 minutes.
Ground Italian Sausage Sandwich
This flavor packed sausage sandwich is perfect for a game day party or as a casual weeknight meal.
It features ground Italian sausage that’s simmered in a hearty marinara sauce with mushrooms and bell peppers.
The meat is loaded into hoagie rolls and then baked under the broiler with some grated cheese.
The great thing about these sandwiches is that you can use ground turkey sausage instead of pork.
Italian Sausage with Peppers and Rice
The recipe for Italian Sausage with Peppers and Rice is super quick and easy to prepare.
It takes only 30 minutes from start to finish which makes it perfect for busy weekdays.
The recipe starts with browning the meat and sauteing bell peppers and garlic in the same pan.
Once the meat and vegetables are tender, the broth and rice get added to the pan.
The dish is cooked until the rice is fluffy and gets seasoned with parsley at the end.
Creamy Sausage Gnocchi
This Creamy Sausage Gnocchi is extremely delicious and perfect for the fall.
It packs a ton of bold flavors which give this dish an unforgettable flavor.
As usual, the sausage gets sauteed along with onions and garlic.
When the meat is ready, it gets covered in white wine and cooked for another minute or so.
The gnocchi, tomato sauce and cream are then added to the pot and cooked until the sauce thickens.
Before serving, the dish gets seasoned with fresh basil, grated parmesan, salt and pepper.
Hot Italian Sausage Pasta
Hot Italian Sausage Pasta can be a lifesaver when you’re out of time or you’re just feeling a bit tired.
You can make this dish in roughly 20 minutes with only a handful of readily available ingredients.
Simply brown the sausage with some onion and garlic, deglaze the pan with white wine and add some diced tomatoes and cream to make a sauce.
The original recipe is made with rigatoni, but you can use any short shaped pasta you like.
Healthy Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini
Making Stuffed Zucchini Boats is a great way to lower carbs and reduce your overall calorie intake.
To make this healthy recipe, you’ll need to cut a large zucchini in half and scoop its insides with a spoon.
After this you fill each shell with a mixture of browned Italian sausage, some of the zucchini insides, sauteed onions and garlic, breadcrumbs, tomatoes, oregano, basil and parmesan cheese.
When you fill each shell, you bake the stuffed zucchini boats in an oven for roughly 40 minutes.
What is the difference between ground sausage and Italian sausage?
Both ground sausage and Italian sausage are meat products made from minced pork.
However, when a recipe calls for Italian sausage it typically refers to the sausage links sold at butcher shops.
Ground sausage on the other hand is the meat that’s seasoned and stuffed into the sausage casings.
It’s typically sold in a separate package similarly to ground beef and pork.
In essence, both of these products are nearly identical and can be used interchangeably.
The only thing you should consider when choosing ground sausage is the way it’s seasoned.
In some cases ground sausage may be seasoned differently than fresh Italian sausage.
That’s why you should look for packages labeled as ground Italian sausage.
Find out: Should You Remove The Sausage’s Casing?
My short recap
You can incorporate ground Italian sausage in a variety of soups, stews, casseroles and pasta dishes.
However, choosing the right recipe can often be hard since there are too many options available online.
Hopefully, this list will aid you in your search for the best ground Italian sausage recipe. Don’t forget to write down a comment if you’ve liked any of the recipes on this list.
