Creating a satisfying meal involves more than just a great main course; it’s about finding the perfect side dishes to complement and enhance the flavors. If you’re planning to serve sausages, you’re in luck! Sausages are incredibly versatile, pairing well with a wide array of side dishes that can transform a simple meal into a culinary delight. Let’s explore some of the best side dishes to serve with sausage, ensuring your next meal is a memorable one.
Understanding Your Sausage: The First Step to Perfect Pairings
Before diving into side dish options, it’s crucial to consider the type of sausage you’ve chosen. The seasoning and flavor profile vary significantly between different sausages, impacting which side dishes will harmonize best. For instance, the robust spices in chorizo will call for different accompaniments than the milder flavors of bratwurst. Understanding these nuances is key to creating a balanced and delicious meal.
To give you a better idea, here are five common types of sausage, each with its unique character:
- Andouille Sausage: Originating from France and popular in Louisiana, Andouille is known for its smoky and spicy flavor, making it a bold choice for those who enjoy a kick.
- Italian Sausage: A grilling favorite, Italian sausage comes in sweet, hot, and mild varieties, offering versatility depending on your spice preference.
- Chorizo Sausage: With roots in Spain and popularity extending to Mexico and Argentina, Chorizo is characterized by its smoky paprika and often spicy flavor profile.
- Bratwurst Sausage: A German staple, Bratwurst is typically made from pork and veal, seasoned with spices like caraway and nutmeg, offering a milder, savory taste.
- Kielbasa Sausage: The Polish word for “sausage,” Kielbasa encompasses various types, often smoked and garlicky, providing a hearty and flavorful experience.
Take a moment to taste your chosen sausage. Identifying its dominant flavors—spicy, sweet, smoky, or savory—will guide you in selecting side dishes that complement and elevate your sausage meal. Once you’ve chosen your sausage, the exciting part begins: exploring the multitude of side dish possibilities.
Discover Delicious Sausages
Looking for high-quality sausages to start with? Logan’s Sausage offers a fantastic selection of smoked sausages for sale, including flavorful kielbasa, classic Italian sausage, and traditional bratwurst. Whether you crave the smoky heat of chorizo or the savory sweetness of Italian sausage, you’ll find the perfect sausage to build your meal around in their online shop.
Top 10 Side Dishes to Serve with Sausage
Choosing the right side dish becomes straightforward once you’ve decided on your sausage. Some flavor combinations are simply magical, while others might clash. To help you create the perfect sausage-centric meal, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the most popular and delicious side dishes:
1. Mac and Cheese
Who can resist the creamy comfort of mac and cheese? This classic side dish is a universal crowd-pleaser and an excellent partner for virtually any type of sausage. The richness of mac and cheese provides a delightful contrast to the savory sausage, creating a satisfying and comforting meal.
For a spicy chorizo, consider enhancing your mac and cheese with smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper to echo the sausage’s heat. If you’re serving Italian sausage, a touch of garlic powder in your cheese sauce can beautifully complement the sausage’s Italian herbs. Experiment with different cheeses like Gruyere or sharp cheddar for added depth of flavor.
2. Coleslaw
Coleslaw offers a refreshing counterpoint to the richness of sausage. Its tangy dressing and crisp texture cut through the savory flavors, especially pairing wonderfully with bratwurst. The slight sweetness and acidity of coleslaw create a balanced and palate-cleansing side dish.
Consider different coleslaw variations. A vinegar-based coleslaw will offer a sharper tang, while a creamy coleslaw provides a richer, more decadent experience. Adding ingredients like shredded carrots, red onion, or even a hint of pineapple can customize your coleslaw to perfectly match your sausage.
3. Spaghetti
When serving sweet or spicy Italian sausage, spaghetti is an exceptional choice. The classic combination of Italian sausage and tomato-based pasta sauce is a comforting and satisfying meal. The acidity of the tomato sauce complements the richness of the sausage, while the spaghetti provides a hearty base.
You can serve the sausage alongside a generous portion of spaghetti, allowing guests to enjoy them separately, or slice the sausage and incorporate it directly into the pasta sauce for a more integrated dish. Consider adding vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms to your spaghetti sauce for added nutrition and flavor complexity.
4. Potatoes
Potatoes are incredibly versatile and consistently rank as one of the best side dishes for sausages. From simple to elaborate preparations, potatoes offer a comforting and familiar flavor that pairs well with almost any sausage.
Here are just a few potato side dish ideas:
- Baked Potatoes: Topped with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, or chives, baked potatoes are a hearty and customizable option, especially delicious with bratwurst.
- French Fries: Crispy and salty, French fries are a universally loved side that provides a satisfying textural contrast to sausage.
- Roasted Potatoes: Tossed with herbs like rosemary and thyme, roasted potatoes offer a rustic and flavorful side dish that complements savory sausages beautifully.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy and comforting, mashed potatoes are a classic side that soaks up sausage juices and creates a harmonious pairing.
- Homemade Chips: For a lighter option, homemade potato chips offer a satisfying crunch and can be seasoned to complement your sausage.
- Potato Salad: Whether creamy or vinegar-based, potato salad is a picnic and BBQ staple that pairs excellently with grilled sausages.
- Fried Potatoes: Simple fried potatoes, perhaps with onions and peppers, provide a home-style comfort food side that is hard to resist.
Tailor your potato preparation to match your sausage. For spicier sausages, consider cooling potato salads or creamy mashed potatoes. For milder sausages, roasted or herb-infused potatoes can enhance the overall flavor profile.
5. Applesauce
Applesauce brings a touch of sweetness and a smooth texture that beautifully complements sausage, particularly grilled sausage. The sweetness of applesauce provides a counterpoint to savory and smoky sausage flavors, creating a balanced and surprisingly delightful combination. Applesauce is especially well-suited to pair with German sausages like bratwurst.
Choose between smooth or chunky applesauce based on your preference. For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg to your applesauce.
6. Baked Beans
Baked beans are a barbecue and cookout classic, making them a natural partner for grilled sausage. Their smoky sweetness and hearty texture create a satisfying and crowd-pleasing side dish. Baked beans are incredibly versatile and can be customized with different beans, sauces, and seasonings to match your sausage.
Whether you prefer classic Boston baked beans or spicier versions with chili powder or jalapeños, baked beans offer a robust and flavorful side that stands up well to the richness of sausage.
7. Sautéed Onions (and Peppers)
Sautéed onions and peppers are a quintessential sausage topping and a fantastic side dish in their own right. Their caramelized sweetness and slight char from sautéing provide a savory and aromatic complement to almost any type of sausage. This combination is particularly authentic when serving kielbasa, creating a classic Polish-inspired meal.
Tasty Tip: Onion Rings Upgrade
Elevate your sautéed onion side dish by transforming them into crispy onion rings! Simply slice your onions into rings, batter them, and fry them to golden perfection. Alternatively, air frying offers a healthier way to achieve crispy onion rings.
8. Cornbread
Similar to applesauce, cornbread introduces a touch of sweetness and a contrasting texture that pairs well with sausage. Cornbread’s slightly crumbly texture and subtly sweet flavor make it a comforting and versatile side dish. For a spicy sausage like chorizo, consider adding jalapeños and cheese to your cornbread for an extra layer of complementary flavors.
Cornbread can be served warm with butter, alongside chili, or simply as a delicious accompaniment to your sausage meal.
9. Breakfast Favorites
Don’t limit sausage to lunch and dinner! Sausage is a breakfast staple, and pairing it with classic breakfast sides opens up a whole new realm of delicious possibilities. Enjoy sausage with scrambled eggs, omelets, or waffles for a hearty and satisfying breakfast or brunch.
Tasty Tip: Savory Breakfast Twists
Incorporate sausage directly into your breakfast dishes for extra flavor. Try adding Andouille sausage to a savory quiche for a Cajun-inspired twist or stuffing breakfast burritos with spicy chorizo for a flavorful morning kick.
10. Grilled Vegetables
If you’re grilling your sausages, take advantage of the heat and grill some vegetables alongside them! Grilled vegetables offer a healthy and flavorful side dish that echoes the smoky notes of grilled sausage.
Excellent vegetable choices for grilling include:
- Onions
- Bell Peppers
- Eggplant
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
Grilled vegetables not only provide a nutritious side but also enhance the overall grilling experience with their smoky char and vibrant flavors.
Choosing Your Perfect Sausage Side Dish
Ultimately, the best side dish to serve with sausage is a matter of personal preference. What one person finds delightful, another might prefer something different. The key is to consider your own taste preferences and create a meal that you truly enjoy.
When hosting a gathering, offering a variety of side dishes from this list ensures that each guest can find something they love to pair with their sausage. Experiment with different combinations, explore new flavors, and most importantly, savor the deliciousness of a well-rounded sausage meal!
