Chicken sausage is such a versatile protein that pairs well with a variety of flavors and cuisines. While the sausage itself is tasty, the right side dishes can take your meal to the next level, creating a symphony of complementary flavors on your plate. So what should you eat with chicken sausage to make it a memorable and satisfying dining experience? Let’s explore some delicious options.
Crunchy and Savory Sides
Crispy and savory sides provide a delightful texture contrast to the soft juiciness of chicken sausage. Here are some tasty ideas:
French Fries
Classic french fries are a crowd-pleasing partner for chicken sausage. Their starchy crunch and mild flavor allow the savory sausage to take center stage. Fry them up crisp on the outside and fluffy inside, and serve with ketchup, ranch or aioli for dipping.
Blooming Onion
A blooming onion, also called onion blossom, offers sweet and crunchy onion layers fried up in a crisp, seasoned batter It’s a fun play on texture that pairs nicely with chicken sausage. Offer a spicy dipping sauce on the side to balance the sweetness
Roasted Potatoes
Cubes of russet or baby potatoes roasted with olive oil, garlic and herbs provide a simple but delicious side. They get crispy on the outside while staying fluffy inside. Their earthy flavor pairs perfectly with chicken sausage.
Creamy and Comforting Sides
Some creamy textures bring comfort and richness that complements sausage well Consider these ideas
Mashed Potatoes
You can’t go wrong pairing chicken sausage with creamy, buttery mashed potatoes. Russets or Yukon golds make great mashers. For an extra savory boost, top them with gravy. The velvety potatoes balance the sausage beautifully.
Mac and Cheese
A classic baked mac and cheese with gooey melted cheese is soul food at its finest. It’s a delightful partner for chicken sausage, especially if you use a blend of cheeses like cheddar, gruyere and mozzarella. The creaminess contrasts the juicy sausage texture nicely.
Polenta
Creamy melty polenta is easy to make and pairs wonderfully with sausage. For best flavor, use quality cornmeal and stir often while cooking. Finish it off with butter parmesan and seasonings. This side provides a lovely creaminess.
Fresh and Colorful Produce
Vibrant, fresh produce adds nutrients, crunch and color to your chicken sausage meal. Some tasty ideas include:
###Roasted Vegetables
Roast an assortment of veggies like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and squash tossed in olive oil and seasoning. Their natural sweetness balances the savory sausage beautifully.
Coleslaw
A tangy coleslaw with crisp shredded cabbage and carrots provides a bright, crunchy contrast to juicy sausage. Make it creamier with mayo or tangier with vinegar dressing.
Cucumber Salad
A simple salad of sliced cucumbers and red onion dressed with lemon juice and olive oil makes a light and refreshing side dish for sausage. Add parsley or mint for extra flavor.
Hearty Grains and Beans
Nutritious whole grains and protein-packed beans make satisfying sides that pair well with chicken sausage. Some excellent options include:
Baked Beans
No sausage meal is complete without side of baked beans! Their mildly sweet and tangy sauce provides delicious contrast. Make them from scratch or doctor up a couple cans for quick baked beans.
Quinoa Salad
A protein powerhouse, quinoa salad loaded with vegetables makes a hearty and healthy side dish. Toss quinoa with cucumbers, bell pepper and red onion, then dress with lemon vinaigrette.
Couscous
Fluffy couscous infused with herbs and spices complements sausage beautifully, and it cooks up fast. Try a lemon-herb or vegetable medley variation for bright flavors.
Crowd-Pleasing Favorites
You can never go wrong rounding out your chicken sausage meal with these classic favorites:
Garlic Bread
Warm, crusty garlic bread is a crowd-pleaser that enhances any meal. Spread the slices with herbed butter before toasting to perfection. It soaks up sauce beautifully.
Corn on the Cob
Grilled or boiled sweet corn on the cob is a summer staple pairing for sausage. The burst of juicy kernels complements the sausage flavor nicely. Slather with butter or spices.
Fries or Tots
For ultimate comfort food, pair chicken sausage with crispy french fries, tater tots or hash browns. Fry them up with onions for extra flavor if you like. Dip in ketchup, ranch or cheese sauce.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to side dishes for juicy chicken sausage! Try out a variety of crunchy, creamy, fresh and hearty sides to find your favorite combinations. With an array of textures and flavors on the plate, you can create amazing meals that everyone will love.
Can I use Different Vegetables?
Absolutely! As I mentioned above, this recipe is very flexible and easy to customize. Feel free to switch out the sweet potatoes for Yukon gold or russet potatoes, you can use Brussels sprouts or zucchini instead of broccoli, and you can use different color bell peppers. Just make sure the vegetables are cut roughly the same size so they cook at the same pace as everything else.
This sheet pan chicken sausage dinner is great for meal prep! Just store any leftover sausage and veggies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
- 4 fully-cooked chicken sausage links (about 12 oz) ($4.99)
- 1 red bell pepper ($1.50)
- 1 small red onion ($0.42)
- 1 head broccoli ($1.57)
- 1 sweet potato (about 1/2 lb.) ($0.74)
- 3 Tbsp olive oil ($0.33)
- 1 tsp salt ($0.06)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper ($0.04)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.08)
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.10)
- 1 Tbsp chopped parsley (optional) ($0.10)
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. On a cutting board, slice the chicken sausage into medallions on a diagonal. Chop the bell pepper into 1-inch chunks. Slice the onion into ½-inch slices. Cut the broccoli into small florets. Wash, peel, and dice the sweet potato into ¾-inch cubes.
- Add the sliced chicken sausage and chopped vegetables to a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Toss sausage and veggies well making sure all of the ingredients are evenly coated with oil and spices.
- Spread the chicken sausage and vegetables onto a parchment lined baking sheet in an even single layer.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 15 minutes, then give the ingredients on the sheet pan a good stir. Place the baking sheet back in the oven and roast for another 15 minutes or until sausage and veggies are browned on the edges.
- Garnish with chopped parsley (optional), serve hot and enjoy!
- Enamelware Sheet Pan
- White Cutting Boards
- Chef’s Knife
Can I Use A Different Type Of Sausage?
Sure! You can use any type of smoked sausage for this recipe. I just so happen to love chicken sausage, but beef, pork, turkey, or even kielbasa sausage would work just fine. Just make sure you are getting fully-cooked sausage links.
Cajun Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya #onestopchop
FAQ
What is a good side dish for sausages?
A variety of sides can complement sausages, with options ranging from classic potato dishes to refreshing salads. Some popular choices include German potato salad, beer-braised sauerkraut, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and creamy coleslaw.
What can I dip chicken sausage in?
No grilled sausage fest is complete without a few dipping sauces so I’m sharing three of my favorite, super easy sauces for you today. Spicy ketchup (think SRIRACHA!), honey dijon, and creamy cajun horseradish sauce. You’ll LOVE the flavors of these simple dipping sauces!
What meals go well with sausage?
- 1Curried sausage tray bake. …
- 2Sausage, zucchini and ricotta pasta bake. …
- 3Radish, carrot, cucumber and mint salad with pork sausages. …
- 4Moroccan lamb sausage subs. …
- 5Sausage and maple pear bake. …
- 6Lamb sausage, chickpea and baby pepper salad.
Is chicken sausage actually healthy?
What side dishes go well with sausage?
From baked beans to grilled vegetables, these sides are sure-fire BBQ crowd-pleasers. WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE? Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Pair your sausage with these irresistible side dishes for the heartiest, most appetizing dinner.
What can you eat with a pack of chicken sausage?
To get you started, here are 12 easy and delicious ways to turn a pack chicken sausage into dinner, from one-skillet and one-pan meals to soups, stews, and sandwiches. Turn chicken sausage, quick-cooking orzo, and broccolini into an easy one-skillet pasta dinner with this weeknight-friendly recipe.
What kind of chicken sausage is best for a dump dinner?
While any variety of chicken sausage will work in this dump dinner, I love using andouille-style. It’s packed with a little heat and lots of flavor and is an easy way to jazz up lentils. This sheet pan dinner pairs Italian-style smoked chicken sausage with a colorful mix of chopped veggies for a satisfying 30-minute meal.
What vegetables go well with sausage?
The veggies complement not only the flavors of the sausage, but also add vibrance to your plate. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand, but I find that onions, bell peppers, eggplant, squash, and zucchini are the best with sausage. 9. Applesauce Believe it or not, applesauce pairs wonderfully well with sausage!