If you are looking for an easy dinner idea, my Baked Sausage with Creamy Basil Sauce should be on the menu. With only five ingredients and a five minute prep time, it is perfect when you are crunched for time.
Baked Sausage with Creamy Basil Sauce – LOW CARB, THM S
One of my standard easy meals is dumping a pack of sausage into the crock pot and pouring in some pasta sauce. But, two of my children don’t love for dinner. I wanted to come up with a meal that was just as easy that everyone would enjoy. This was the first time we had dinner sausage that my son willingly asked for seconds and then wanted leftovers for lunch the next day.
This is as easy as baking the sausage, smearing with the sauce, covering it with cheese, and cooking a few minutes more.
Easy Baked Sausage
I use my homemade nut-free basil pesto in this dish but store-bought works just as well. I have to be careful of checking ingredients because we have a nut allergy in the house. Only a few nuts are severe, fortunately. I’m sure no one besides me has noticed that I haven’t published any new recipes using cashews or pistachios in the last year. But yup those are the two biggies on my daughter’s list.
Sausage Bake To Feed A Crowd
This recipe feeds a lot of people. Mostly because it is rich and filling. My husband served himself two sausages but ended up eating only one of them. I beat him by eating one and a half. I figured one for me and then half of one for the baby.
How to Make Basil Baked Sausage
Grab a sturdy casserole dish and spray it down with cooking spray to help prevent sticking. Then preheat your oven!
As your oven is preheating lay your sausage into the pan, and bake for thirty minutes. You want to start working on getting your sausage cooked. As it is baking, you will want to start making your creamy sauce.
Mix your cream cheese, pest, and heavy cream together. Use a whisk to help remove any clumps.
Remove sausage from the oven. Pour the mixture over the sausage and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake for around 10 minutes or until the sausage reaches the correct temperature listed below.
If you want a more golden topping to broil your once your dish is cooked. It will give it a nice crunch. Just watch it as it will go from not done to done really fast and leave you with a burned dish.
Can You Substitute The Cream in Baked Sausage Recipe
Not a fan of cream or have an allergy? Feel free to swap out for half and half, almond milk, or even coconut milk. They will vary the flavor slightly, but all should hold up nicely in the cooking process of this sausage recipe.
Will Browned Ground Sausage Work in This Bake Recipe
Yes. If you don’t have any sausage links, you can always use ground sausage that has been cooked in a skillet. We prefer links, but I am sure in a pinch ground would taste just as good!
Can I Add Vegetables to Sausage Bake
If you are looking to make your sausage bake a whole meal in one go for it. Feel free to toss in some cauliflower, broccoli, or even asparagus or diced tomatoes. This can make it a complete dinner dish, that is hearty, wholesome, and will give you a boost to get through the rest of the day.
Best Sausage to Use For Sausage Bake
This is all about preference here. Whether you enjoy a sweet Italian, spicy Italian, or maybe want a turkey sausage. Reach for what fits your taste buds in terms of sausage. You could even use a chicken sausage if you would like. This creamy sauce pairs with all the types of sausage, and you use the brand you and your family prefer.
Use Room Temperature Cream Cheese for the Creamy Basil Sauce
One big tip I want to share is to make sure you are using room temperature cream cheese. Cream cheese is very stiff, and if you go to trying to make a sauce with hard cream cheese it won’t work. Make sure to set it out ahead of time so it has time to warm up.
If you forgot, toss it in the microwave and heat for 10-second intervals and then try to stir it in between each session. As it warms up, it will begin to soften. Don’t overheat it or it won’t work for the recipe.
Once creamy it will work great for the sauce and won’t curdle as it cooks in the oven.
Sides to Pair With Baked Sausage
I get asked about which sides to eat with my entrees a lot. We just rotate between the same four or five most night. Our standards are raw veggies and dip (the kids’ favorite), non-starchy veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, Brussel sprouts, zucchini), and salad (normally Caesar). Sometimes if I make a side that is less kid-friendly (spinach salad with blue cheese and pecans, for example), I will also put out raw veggies and dip.
Best Way to Store Basil Baked Sausage
What I like to do is create single serve containers for us to eat for lunches or quick dinners for the rest of the week. Or if you want to make this dinner another time later in the week, store in the same baking pan, or transfer into an airtight container. Either way, it refrigerates really nicely!
How to Reheat Baked Sausage
You have many options for reheating baked sausage. Whether you want to warm up a sausage or two in the microwave, or even stove top. If you cook on the stove top make sure to cook low and slow so you don’t burn the sauce. If you are reheating in the microwave, ensure you have a cover to prevent splatter marks in the microwave.
Another option is warming up your sausage in the oven. If you go this route, place in a greased baking dish, and cover with aluminum foil. Then warm up at 350 degrees until the dish is warmed through. Keeping your sausage covered will help prevent it from drying out as it bakes.
If your sauce is a little thick, add a splash of milk or half and half to help thin it out as it bakes.
Give this super simple and straightforward basil bakes sausage a try. Skip the same old dinners you are used to and try something new and different with your sausage! I know for us this dish was surprisingly an instant family favorite! Those don’t happen that often, so give it a try today!
Have you made baked sausage before?
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If you are looking for an easy dinner idea, my Baked Sausage with Creamy Basil Sauce should be on the menu. With only five ingredients and a five minute prep time, it is perfect when you are crunched for time.
- 3 lb Italian sausage chicken, turkey, or pork
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup basil pesto
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz mozzarella
- Preheat oven to 400. Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray. Put the sausage in the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile stir together the cream cheese, pesto, and heavy cream.
- Spread the sauce on top of the sausage. Top with mozzarella. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the sausage is 160 degrees when checked with a meat thermometer.
- Optional: Broil for 3 minutes to toast the cheese on top. Watch it constantly. It can burn easily.
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