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Home » Side Dishes

Published: Jun 2, 2023 by Anne Aslanides

What to Serve with Sausage: 35 Perfect Side Dishes

Whether you're planning a backyard barbecue, a cozy family dinner, or a casual gathering with friends, finding the best side dishes to complement your sausages can make all the difference. Sausages, with their juicy and savory profiles, are available in so many different flavors that there are a wide variety of sides that pair well with them. From vibrant salads bursting with fresh flavors to comforting starches and vegetable medleys that will tantalize your taste buds, there's something for everyone on this list. These mouthwatering side dishes will not only complement the robust flavors of the sausage but also add some balance to your meals.

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Collage of 9 food photos with text overlayed reading "35 foods to serve with sausage".

What to Serve with Sausage

From potatoes to salads, vegetables to pasta, bread to baked beans, you're sure to find a dish here your family will love.

Potatoes

Mashed, roasted, scalloped, boiled, or fried (well, "fried"), potatoes are a classic comfort food that go great with any protein, including sausages.

Air Fryer Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes go with well, almost everything! These air fryer ones bake up in your air fryer or oven and then mash right along with the garlic you roasted with them for a great side dish that pairs with any sausage dinner.

Amazing German Potato Salad Recipe

Photo Credit: wholesomefarmhouserecipes.com

German food goes with sausage the way peanut butter goes with jelly, and this savory potato salad is no exception. If you've not had German potato salad before, it leans on mustard and vinegar rather than mayo, and it's a tangy, delicious potato side.

Garlic Butter Boiled Potatoes (How to Boil Potatoes)

Photo Credit: theforkedspoon.com

Sometimes the best side dishes are the simplest. These one pot boiled potatoes stick to classic seasonings and are an incredibly easy way to prepare baby potatoes.

Air Fryer Scalloped Potatoes (Cheesy)

Photo Credit: biteswithbri.com

Scalloped, cheesy potatoes might be the perfect compliment to your favorite sausage. Creamy and indulgent thanks to the cream and parmesan cheese sauce, the whole family is sure to love these potatoes.

Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Brown Sugar

Topped with brown sugar that caramelizes on top, these roasted sweet potato rounds are the perfect compliment to spicy Italian sausage for a sweet and spicy main course.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries I Resplendent Kitchen

Photo Credit: www.resplendentkitchen.com

If your favorite way to eat sweet potatoes is to enjoy them as french fries, these sweet potato fries are sure to become one of your favorite side dishes! Soaking them and preheating the baking tray makes them perfectly crisp without the mess of frying.

Crockpot Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Butter

Got a cookout to go to? These crockpot mashed sweets are the perfect side dish- they cook and mash all in your slow cooker for minimal dishes that are easy to transport. All without heating up your kitchen during the summer!

Vegetables

To upgrade sausages to a truly complete meal, I always try to add a veggie. Luckily there are lots of options to mix it up with!

Stuffed Mushrooms - Cheesecake Factory Copycat Recipe

A perfect appetizer for any gathering, mushrooms compliment sausage so well that many recipes include them in the stuffing! These are vegetarian and pair well with any type of sausage.

Italian Roasted Tomatoes in the Air Fryer

Sometimes the simplest things make the best sides, and that's certainly the case here! With the Italian seasoning would go especially well with spicy or sweet Italian sausage.

Air Fryer Roasted Red Peppers

Sausage and peppers are a classic combination, and you can roast your own with no extra ingredients. While the instructions are written for red, you can use green bell peppers if you prefer.

Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

Mushrooms go oh so well with sausage, and a bed of them with caramelized onions might just be one of the most delicious side dishes you could serve with your sausages.

Air Fryer Broccoli and Cheese Sauce

Cheddar cheese goes well with almost any savory dish. Here a 2 ingredient cheese sauce compliments broccoli, but you can easily double the sauce components to have extra for your sausages!

Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash

If you garden, you probably have an excess of zucchini or yellow squash on your hands. Air frying allows for crisp outsides with tender insides, making it a great way to use up some of your vegetables.

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Photo Credit: www.themagicalslowcooker.com

When you think of green beans you probably think of green bean casserole. It doesn't have to be reserved for holidays, and can be made in the slow cooker to give your oven a break.

Easy Roasted Root Vegetables

Photo Credit: littlesunnykitchen.com

Roasted vegetables are always a great addition to a meal. This mix features red onions, parsnips, carrots, and sweet potato.

Creamed Corn

Photo Credit: recipesfromapantry.com

This creamed corn can use fresh, frozen, or canned, meaning you can make it any time of the year.  Whether you're grilling hot sausages outdoors or frying some up in a large skillet in the winter, this dish is great alongside them.

Collard Greens Stir-fry

Photo Credit: simplelivingrecipes.com

If you're looking for a quick and easy side dish, stir-fried collard greens are the perfect choice. Simply slice them thinly and sauté them quickly!

Pasta, Rice, and Other Carbs

From boxed macaroni and cheese to homemade cornbread, each of these delicious dishes are a great option to serve alongside any kind of sausage.

Instant Pot Boxed Mac and Cheese

Is there anything easier to get on the dinner table than box macaroni and cheese? Made in the instant pot it doesn't even require standing at the stove, and while a hot dogs with macaroni have always been an easy meal, it's even better with a good sausage.

Caprese Ravioli

Caprese salad with its fresh basil and cherry tomatoes is a summery, delicious dish. Adding ravioli takes it from an appetizer to a satisfying side.

Crispy Fried Polenta Cakes

Photo Credit: saporitokitchen.com

Adding cheese to a creamy polenta base and then pan frying the cakes to golden brown is a delicious and budget friendly side dish.

Buttermilk Cornbread

Photo Credit: onmykidsplate.com

There's nothing like homemade cornbread, and this dish is sure to disappear quickly at any gathering.

Easy Air Fryer Garlic Bread

Photo Credit: agratefulmeal.com

Is there anything garlic bread doesn't go well with? Maybe dessert. Maybe. This one starts with a store bought baguette for a quick and easy side.

Gluten-Free Sourdough Garlic Bread (Vegan, Allergy-Free)

Photo Credit: strengthandsunshine.com

If you or guests need allergy free bread, this olive oil garlic mixture takes store bought gluten free bread to the next level.

Fresh and Healthy Quinoa Salad with a Simple Vinaigrette

Photo Credit: allweeat.com

This nutritious side dish has lots of protein and vegetables, along with a simple vinaigrette to tie it all together. If you haven't bought quinoa before, look for it near the rice and pasta in your grocery store.

Easy Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe

Photo Credit: whiskfulcooking.com

Mexican street corn is a tasty side- but can be hard to know how much to make if you're serving a crowd. Making it as a pasta salad makes it more filling and is a unique side you can bring to a barbeque.

Vegan veggies farfalle pasta in olive oil

Photo Credit: deliciousnutritiousfood.com

If you're looking for a dairy free and mayo free pasta salad that can hold up well outdoors, this easy dish tosses pasta with raw veggies, olive oil, and lemon juice for a refreshing and filling side.

Pasta Fresca

Photo Credit: profusioncurry.com

This vegetarian pasta leans on balsamic vinegar for a great fresh flavor that compliments the vegetables, and finishing with cream gives it a lovely creamy texture.

Pasta e Piselli - Bless This Meal

Photo Credit: blessthismeal.com

This one pot pasta with peas is made with simple ingredients, adding your favorite sausage on top or mixed in will make it a delicious, hearty meal.

Instant Pot Mushroom Rice (Pilaf) | Easy Recipe

Photo Credit: thehomeintent.com

What pairs with sausage the way earthy mushrooms do? Making a pilaf with them in the instant pot is an easy way to complete your meal.

Salads

With a hearty main dish like sausage, sometimes the best compliment is something that lightens it up a bit. This is especially true in the summer, when the hot weather can make us crave cooler foods like these delicious salads!

Favorite House Salad

Photo Credit: mytherapistcooks.com

A simple house salad is a great compliment to any meal, especially when it features an easy homemade dressing, though you can always use your favorite.

Polish Cucumber Salad {Mizeria}

Photo Credit: jamjarkitchen.com

Cucumber salads are such a refreshing side. This polish style dish has a sour cream dressing that will go great with the savory flavors in your sausage.

Delicious Berry Mandarin Tossed Salad

Photo Credit: fluxingwell.com

With strawberries, mandarin oranges, and mixed greens this tossed salad has a sweet feel, but the almonds and bacon give it some savory to balance the sweet.

Cold Green Bean Salad Recipe

Photo Credit: www.blondelish.com

This green bean salad is more vegetable than traditional salad, and makes for a refreshing side dish when you're grilling out.

The Best Chopped Salad Recipe With My Special Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

Photo Credit: www.cuisineandtravel.com

This chopped salad uses kale and broccoli for the base, making it a great way to get in your veggies!

Baked Beans

While they don't fit nicely in any other category, we can't forget about baked beans! They're a classic cookout side and this list wouldn't be complete without them.

Molasses Baked Beans with Bacon

Photo Credit: www.peelwithzeal.com

With its ideal balance of smoky essence, subtle sweetness, and an abundance of flavor, it never fails to impress and goes beautifully with sausage.

If you're looking for a one-pan meal with sausage in it, try either this sweet potato sausage skillet hash, or this curried sausage in the crock pot.

I hope this list gives you some great ideas and that you love everything you try! What's your favorite side for sausage?

More Side Dishes

  • A skillet filled with angel hair pasta, cherry tomatoes, small mozzarella balls, and fresh basil leaves, placed on a cooling rack with a brown cloth, white napkin, and cherry tomatoes on the side.
    Caprese Pasta
  • A vintage plate filled with cooked green beans mixed with crispy onion and bacon pieces, placed on a brown napkin with a white and brown towel in the background.
    Green Beans with Bacon and Onion
  • A bowl of ranch pasta salad made with cavatappi noodles, diced chicken breast and bacon, cheddar cheese cubes, and garnished with green onions. The bowl is set on blue and white striped cloth with a tiled background.
    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
  • Two plates with spaghetti, capers, and lemon zest with a lemon between them and a garlic clove behind.
    Lemon Caper Pasta

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