4 Healthy Sausage Recipes That You’ve Never Heard of

Every culture has its own special type of sausage, from hot Italian to knockwurst to chorizo. Regardless of your choice, they all make for a delicious meal. 

Sausage is usually served in breakfast sandwiches, but the following recipes indicate it can also be a great option for dinner. For example, a pasture-raised, non-GMO sausage is perfect for omelets, pizza, burritos, meatballs, lasagna, soup, burgers, and stuffing, among many other things.

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Although a dish made with turkey or chicken sausage is leaner than pork sausage, it’s just as flavorful! So, whether you like savory or spicy, these healthy sausage recipes may surprise you.

#1. Italian Sausage Veggie Skillet

Who doesn’t love a good old Italian sausage sandwich? They are healthy, taste good, and fairly easy to make. However, the bread may not be diet-friendly for some. Thus, we’ve created a special recipe to satisfy your craving.

Pro Tip: If you want some heat, consider using hot peppers instead of sweet peppers.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Italian turkey sausage (without casings)
• 4 c. uncooked whole-wheat spiral pasta
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1 chopped medium-size onion
• 2 chopped medium-size zucchini
• 1 chopped large yellow pepper (sweet/hot)
• 1 chopped large red pepper (sweet/hot)
• 28 oz. diced tomatoes (make sure they are drained)
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

1. Follow the package directions to cook pasta; drain
2. In the meantime, in a large skillet, cook onion and sausage over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until it’s no longer pink
3. Add garlic
4. Cook for another minute
5. Add peppers and zucchini
6. Continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, until crisp-tender
7. Add salt, pepper, and tomatoes
8. Stir for at least 5 minutes, until vegetables are tender and start releasing the juices
9. Serve with cooked pasta

Key Nutrition Facts:

• 251 calories per cup
• 28 mg. cholesterol
• 6 g. fat (1 g. saturated)
• 35 g. carbohydrate
• 16 g protein
• 417 mg. sodium
• Diabetic exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 2-lean meat, 2-vegetable

#2. Chorizo Pumpkin Pasta

This sweet-spicy pasta makes an awesome quick dinner. On top of that, the recipe works even on a larger scale to feed all your friends and family members!

Ingredients:

• 3 c. uncooked spiral or Gemelli pasta (12 oz)
• 1 c. half and half cream
• 1 c. canned pumpkin
• 1 c. shredded Monterey Jack or Manchego cheese
• 12 oz cooked chorizo chicken sausage links, sliced
• 3/4 tsp. Salt
• 1/4 tsp. Pepper

Direction:

1. Follow the package manual for cooking pasta. Make sure to drain, reserving around 3/4 cup of the pasta water
2. Meanwhile, take a large skillet and sauté sausage in it over medium heat
3. Once lightly browned, you can reduce the heat
4. Add cream, salt, pepper, and pumpkin
5. Stir until fully heated through
6. Throw in pasta with some pasta water; stir in cheese
7. Lastly, you can sprinkle with fresh cilantro, but that’s optional

Key Nutrition Facts:

• 471 calories per cup
• 847 mg sodium
• 20 g. fat (11 g. saturated)
• 48 g. carbohydrate
• 26 g. protein

#3. Sausage-Egg Burritos

Finding new breakfast meals can be challenging. By adding spinach, garlic, and tomatoes to egg whites, you can make a dish that’s both healthy and delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. bulk lean turkey sausage
• 3 eggs
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tsp. Olive oil
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 2 c. chopped spinach
• 2 chopped plum tomatoes, seeded
• 1/4 tsp. Pepper
• 6 warmed whole-wheat tortillas

Directions:

1. In a nonstick skillet, cook the sausage for 4 to 6 minutes over medium heat, breaking into crumbles; remove from the pan
2. Whisk the large eggs and egg whites in a relatively small bowl until blended. In the same pan, put the eggs; cook over medium heat, make sure they are thickened and there’s no sign of liquid egg. Remove from the pan
3. Clean or wipe the skillet if necessary
4. Heat oil over medium heat in the skillet. Add garlic, spinach, and tomatoes; cook for 2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Also, stir in eggs and sausage; heat through. And don’t forget to sprinkle with some pepper.

Key Nutrition Facts:

• 258 calories per burrito
• 134 mg. cholesterol
• 10 g. fat (2 g. saturated)
• 24 g. carbohydrate
• 20 g. Protein
• 596 mg. Sodium
• Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 fat, 1/2 starch, 2 medium-fat meat

#4. Sausage-Topped White Pizza

Pizza is one of the best dishes you can prepare. If you’re a pizza lover, you can switch up the recipe and turn it into something healthier and even more exciting!

Ingredients:

• 2-hot Italian turkey sausage link (no casings)
• 1 c. ricotta cheese, reduced-fat
• 2 c. arugula spinach
• 1/2 c. part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 julienned sweet red pepper (medium)
• 1 thinly sliced onion (small)
• 1/4 tsp. ground pepper (alternatively, you can toss in 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 450-degree
• Cook and crumble the sausage in a large skillet for 4 to 6 minutes over medium-high heat. Mix garlic powder and ricotta cheese
• Place crust on a nice baking sheet; spread evenly with ricotta cheese mixture. Don’t forget to top with red pepper, onion, and sausage; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and then with seasonings
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes on a lower oven rack until the cheese is melted and the edge is slightly browned.
• Lastly, top with baby spinach or arugula spinach

Key Nutrition Facts:

• 242 calories per slice
• 8 g. fat (4 g. saturated)
• 504 mg. sodium
• 30 mg. Cholesterol
• 16 g. Protein
• 28 g. carbohydrate
• Diabetic Exchanges: 2 medium-fat meat, 2 starch

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it; 4 delicious, easy-to-make healthy sausage recipes that are guaranteed to please your whole family. Make sure to follow the directions as mentioned above and also take notes of the necessary ingredients.

If one recipe doesn’t seem appealing enough, feel free to move on to the next. Don’t forget to leave a comment below and share your own recipe with us!