20 Best Italian Sausage Recipes (2024)

Ok, so you want to know how to make any recipe taste better? You can do two things: Add garlic or add sausage. Garlic is kinda cheating though. Also, sausage can be added to anything. (Hot tip: If you're not using the meat inside the casing, make sure to cook the sausage meat in a super hot cast-iron skillet so you get it nice and charred.) Sausage is crazy versatile: the classic fennel and chili spices meld together to elevate any sauce or rice dish. If you're making a

tomato sauce that's falling flat no matter how many herbs you add, throw in a little sausage and you'll have yourself a ragu worth gloating about.

Let's not forget about the Southern sausage recipe that is the kahuna of all hangover cures—that's right, we're talking about biscuits and sausage gravy. Bonus points if you make the biscuits from scratch—it's half the magic.

Sausage, salami and cured meats are preserved using old salting, brining and smoking techniques which make them ideal for longer storage times. Even these days, sausage stores really well in the freezer, so if you're in a pinch and need an Italian sub or want to up your pasta game on any given night, reach for your new fave ingredient. It thaws quickly and won't take up too much room. Plus: pre-portioned links make it easy to use the right amount.

Just in case you don't have enough nonna inspo—here are 49 Italian Dinner Recipes to keep this party going!