Cold-Weather Comfort Foods

What pairs well with cold weather? Soul warming comfort foods and sausage, of course.

Nothing is more comforting than hot stews, soups, and chowders this time of year.

Adding sausage to these already hearty dishes makes for a flavorful twist.

These recipes are warming, delicious, and easy to make.

They are also budget-friendly, and many of the ingredients are already in your pantry.

These recipes also utilize in-season winter veggies.

The cold weather doesn’t have to have you wishing for summer.

Using sausage in some unexpected ways is a great way to enjoy the season.

Bring more warmth into your dinner routine with these heartwarming winter dishes the whole family is sure to love.

Black-Eyed Peas, Sausage, and Kale Stew

Stew, soup’s chunkier cousin, doesn’t get enough spotlight. That’s about to change. The sausage in this stew is loaded with star potential. This is the kind of recipe you will want to make for potlucks, family get-togethers, and Sunday dinners because it has something for everyone. Plus, this dish tastes like it took all day to make.

• 4 Sweet Italian Sausages or

12 Italian Sausage Meatballs

• 4 Slices of Bacon, Diced

• 1 Medium Onion, Diced

• 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced

• 2 Cans Diced Roasted Tomatoes

• 4 Cups Chicken Broth

• 2 Cups Black-eyed Peas, Rinsed

• ½ Tsp. Dried Thyme

• ¼ Tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

• Salt and Pepper to Taste

• 1 Bunch of Kale, Roughly Chopped

• 1 tsp. Vegetable Oil

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and bacon. Cook until the sausage has browned and the bacon is crispy. Once cooked, remove and set aside.

Keep the leftover grease and drippings in the pot. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and cook for another minute.

Next, add the canned tomatoes, black-eyed peas, chicken broth, thyme, red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer. Cover loosely and cook for an hour or until the black-eyed peas are soft.

Add the sausage and bacon back to the soup and add in the kale. Once the kale has wilted, you are ready to serve.

Sausage Mac and Cheese

Nothing says comfort food quite like a large bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese. You know the kind with the crunchy top and creamy center. This traditional recipe gets even more indulgent with added sausage. You can use hot or mild Italian sausage for this recipe depending on your mood. We recommend going spicy to compliment the creaminess of the dish. Make sure you make this recipe in large batches if you have guests over because this one won’t last long.

• 5 Mild or Hot Italian Sausage Links, Casings Removed

• 4 tbsp. Butter

• 3 tbsp. Flour

• 3 cups Milk

• 8 oz. Cream Cheese

• 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, Shredded

• 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated

• 1 lb. Elbow Macaroni

• ½ cup Breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees while you prepare the dish.

In a skillet brown the sausage until cooked through, drain and set it aside.

Next, combine the elbow macaroni with the milk in a large pot. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil. Let cook, stirring frequently for 12-15 minutes or until noodles are cooked to desired tenderness.

In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and then whisk in the flour. Next, add all three kinds of cheese and stir until melted together. Once the cheese has melted, add in the milk and cooked elbow macaroni.

Stir all the macaroni ingredients together. Add the sausage to the macaroni and cheese and mix.

Pour your sausage macaroni into an oven-safe casserole dish. Evenly spread the breadcrumbs over the macaroni and bake for about 20 minutes.

Hearty Potato and Sausage Chowder

Yes, we said chowder. We wanted to grab your attention early. Did it work? Here is a creamy, carby, sausagey, yummy dish just for you. On even the coldest winter day, this hearty potato and sausage chowder will warm you to the core.

• 4 Mild Italian Sausage Links, Casings Removed

• 1 Medium Yellow Onion

• 4 Cups of Chicken Broth

• 10 Red Potatoes, Quartered

• ½ Cup Heavy Cream

• ½ Tbsp. Rosemary

• 1 Tbsp. Thyme

• ¼ Tsp. Black Pepper, Ground

• 1 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil

Heat a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil, sausage, and onion and sauté for 10-15 minutes or until the sausage has browned.

Remove the sausage and place on a paper towel to remove the excess oil.

To the pot add the chicken broth, potatoes, rosemary, and thyme and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes.

Once the potatoes are soft, add the sausage and onions back to the pot. Next, add the heavy cream and mix the chowder well to combine. Bring the chowder back up to a boil, before removing from the heat.

Rustic Sausage Minestrone Soup

If you want a hearty soup loaded with vegetables, this one’s got your name all over it. Rustic sausage minestrone is full of flavor. Every spoonful delivers healthy protein and fiber. The best part is the rich flavor. The tomato-base pairs well with the savory flavor from the sausage. You can save leftovers in the fridge or freezer to reheat later. This is, of course, assuming you have any leftovers to store.

• 4 Hot Italian Sausages, Remove casings

• Dried Pasta, Small Shells Works Great

• 1 Medium Yellow Onion, Diced

• 1 Garlic Clove, Minced

• 2 Carrots, Peeled, Diced

• 10 Red Potatoes, Quartered

• 1 Bunch of Kale, De-stemmed, and Chopped

• 1 Can White Beans, Drained, Rinsed

• 1 Can Stewed and Chopped Tomatoes, Including Liquid

• 3 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth

• ½ tsp. Salt

• 3 Bay Leaves

• 1 ½ tsp. Italian Seasoning

• 1-2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil

Cook the dried pasta until desired tenderness and set aside.

Heat oil in a large stew pot on medium heat. Sauté the sausage and onion for 5 minutes. Make sure to break the sausage up into smaller pieces. Add carrots, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, and cook 5 more minutes.

Next, add canned tomatoes, chicken broth, potatoes, kale and bay leaves. Stir everything until it comes to a slow boil. Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes or until carrots are fork tender.

Add the cooked pasta and beans to the soup during the last 2-5 minutes.

Crowd-Pleasing Sausage Chili

If you are looking for a little spice, try this sausage chili. You can add more heat with hot Italian sausages and jalapenos if you would like. This chili is great by itself or paired with cornbread. Another fun idea is to set up a toppings bar. Prepare bowls of chopped scallions, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and crackers, so everyone can make their own perfect bowl of chili. This chili recipe takes very little time, making it great for surprise guests and fast weekday dinners.

• 5 Mild or Hot Italian Sausage Links, Casings Removed

• 1 Medium Yellow Onion, Finely Diced

• 2 Cans of Kidney Beans, Rinsed, drained

• 1 Can Whole Kernel Sweet Corn, Drained

• 1 Can Tomato Sauce

• 1 1/3 cups Salsa, Choose Your Favorite

• 1 1/3 cups Water

• 2 tsp. Chili Powder

• 1/2 Black Pepper, Ground

• 1/2 Cumin. Ground

• 1/4 Salt

Heat a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onions next. Cook until the sausage is crumbled into medium and small pieces. Drain the excess oil, leaving the sausage in the pot.

Next, you will stir in kidney beans, corn, tomato sauce, salsa, water, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring this chili mixture to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes uncovered.

Top your bowl of chili any which way you like and enjoy!

Sausage Breakfast Bake

Here is a delicious breakfast perfect for a house full of guests. Starting your morning with this warm dish will keep you full until lunch. Another great thing about this recipe is that it can be prepared ahead of time. Simply layer all your ingredients in the casserole. The next morning mix your eggs, pour over the layers and bake. This fast and easy comfort food will start your day right.

• 5 Breakfast Sausage Links, Casings Removed

• 1-2 tsp. Butter

• 4 cups Hash Browns or shredded potatoes, Fresh or

Frozen

• 1 Bell Pepper, Diced

• 1 Red Bell Pepper, Diced

• 1/2 Large Onion, Diced

• 10 Eggs, Whisked

• 1/2 cup Milk

• ½ tsp. Salt

• ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a large casserole dish at least 9x13 size bakeware.

In a skillet, on medium-high heat, brown the sausage until cooked through. Next, drain the sausage and set aside.

Add the butter to the skillet on medium-high heat. Next, add hash browns and cook until lightly brown. When the hash browns are finished cooking, spread them out on the bottom of your greased casserole dish.

In the same skillet, add butter if needed. Now add the bell peppers and onions. Sauté until cooked through and soft.

Layer the bell peppers and onions on top of the potatoes. Next, layer the sausage on top.

Whisk the eggs together with the milk and salt and pepper. Next, pour this mixture over your casserole.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Make sure the center is cooked through before serving.