Easy Sausage Dinner

Lately, one of my favorite dinners has been sausage. It’s easy, it’s tasty…and, guess what, it can be healthy! The Sprouts Farmers Market that I shop at has so many varieties of pork and chicken sausages that are handmade in the store with no MSG or nitrates added, so I don’t have to feel guilty cooking them for my family once or twice a week. In general, the chicken sausages tend to have less fat and calories than the pork varieties, so I try to save the pork sausages for a special meal as a treat.

There are so many ways to cook sausages. Of course, grilled sausages on whole wheat buns are great for a weekend cookout. But lately I have been making sausages on the stove, and they have been turning out juicy and flavorful.

Here is how I make them:

Easy Sausage Dinner (serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

  • 2-4 sausages (about 1/3 lb each)
  • cooking spray or olive oil
  • 1-2 cups liquid (water, broth, beer, or apple juice)

Heat a drizzle of olive oil or a generous spray of cooking spray in a large heavy skillet/frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausages to the pan and brown on both sides (about 3 minutes each side). Then, add 1 cup of liquid to the pan and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and reduce the heat so the liquid simmers allowing the sausages to steam. Cook the sausages for at least 20 minutes (sometimes I let them cook 40 minutes) adding more liquid to the pan as necessary. I always check that the sausages are done with a meat thermometer (160 degrees for pork, 165 degrees for chicken or turkey) before I serve them.

I serve them whole or sliced, and we sometimes have mustard or horseradish for dipping. Add a salad and another veggie, and you have a great meal! They are also delicious sliced and added to spaghetti sauce.