I usually pan fry my breakfast sausage patties. Sometimes I’ll cook them in the oven, but I prefer pan frying. I don’t like the mess, though. The splatter. The grease. So, when I came across this approach to cooking up sausages using a waffle iron I just had to try it. Waffled sausage patties… who knew?
Crunchy Delicious Patties
In about 3 minutes you will have perfectly cooked waffled sausage patties, with a little bit of a crust to them. You know what I mean. GBD. Golden Brown Delicious. I don’t trust sausages that don’t have a bit of crust to them. It’s just not normal. It’s hard to get that crust if you bake your sausages. Well you can get it, but you’re going to have to bake them for a while or have them spend some time under the broiler. This is easier.
I can cook four sausages at a time on our little round Cuisinart waffle maker, which is perfect for the two of us. Cleanup was very easy, too!
I found the original recipe for this great breakfast-for-dinner idea over at Amy’s Cooking Adventures. Putting an egg on top of batter in a waffle iron sounded like a pretty nifty approach to me, so I dove right in and made some waffle iron eggs and biscuits. This really is breakfast-in-a-bite. Everything you need. Everything you want. I thought these were a really fun idea. And they really hit the spot, too. I didn’t really need help loving waffles any more but these certainly made that happen.
Expect A Little Mess. It’s Worth It.
I have to warn you, you’re going to make a mess making these waffle iron eggs and biscuits. There’s really no way around it. No matter how gently you close the iron lid, somewhere along the line you’re going to pop a yoke and it’s going to run out. That’s ok, though. It’s worth the mess.
Putting an egg on top of batter in a waffle iron sounded like a pretty nifty approach to me, so I dove right in and made some waffle iron eggs and biscuits.
Preheat you waffle iron as directed by the manufacturer and spray with non-stick spray as needed
Combine biscuit mix and milk until a dough forms.
Lightly dust a cutting board with more baking mix. Roll the dough out using a rolling pin until it is about 1/4″ thick. Cut into shapes slightly smaller than your waffle iron. (Our waffle iron is round. I found a saucer that was just smaller than the iron and used that as my template for cutting the dough).
Working in batches, place the dough pieces onto your waffle iron. Sprinkle with some bacon and cheese and top with a single egg each. (If you sprinkle the cheese in a circular pattern, creating a sort of ‘well’, the egg will not slide off as easily).
Very, very gently lower the top of the waffle iron and cook until done.
Serve topped with butter, sprinkled with the breakfast sausage crumbles, and drizzled with pure maple syrup.
Welcome to my version of the standard stuffed pasta shells. Glorious large pasta stuffed with tons and tons of ooey-gooey cheeses. Mushroom-laden sauce. No one is going away hungry after devouring some of this goodness. This makes a big batch, enough for a big get-together. I served these stuffed pasta shells with plenty of my gotta-have-it garlic bread. It is definitely the perfect combination. Ok, I threw in a green salad too to keep things on the healthy side. A bit.
Spice It Up. Just A Bit.
For a kicked-up version use spicy Italian sausage. I did. And I might have slipped in a few good pinches of red pepper flake too.
I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.
I have been a diehard fan of Chile Pepper magazine for years. Despite what the name might suggest to you, it’s not a magazine about over-the-top way-too-hot peppers and foods and sauces. Instead, it has a variety of recipes and articles, catering not only to chile heads, but also people that just want a little kick to their foods. Everything I have made from the magazine has turned out absolutely fantastic. They aren’t playing around. Grab yourself a copy off the news-stand or order a subscription online. Or do what I did and have a subscription for years. And years. And make some of their great recipes like this spicy sausage and sun-dried tomato penne rigate.
A Plate Of Spicy Happiness
This spicy sausage and sun-dried tomato penne rigate dish is creamy, with just a little heat, thanks to spicy sausage, red pepper flake and hot cheese. The original recipe used sliced chicken breast, but I went with chicken sausage for a little more spice. Any chicken would work in this dish, though.
The sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach add a great twist to what would be a great meal by itself. This doesn’t take long to make and will wow your guests with great flavors.
I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this dish and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!
This sausage and pasta dish is creamy, with just a little heat, thanks to spicy sausage, red pepper flake and hot cheese. The original recipe used sliced chicken breast, but I went with chicken sausage for a little more spice.Â
Cook pasta per package instructions. When done, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain and reserve the pasta.
Drain the sun-dried tomatoes but save the oil. Chop or slice the tomatoes.
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the sun-dried tomato oil over medium-high heat.
Add the onion, and mushrooms and cook until they start to soften, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook another minute.
Add the sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Cook, stirring often, until the spinach wilts. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
Add another tablespoon of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil to the skillet. Add the sausage and cook until done and lightly browned. Remove to a plate and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium and add the cream and shredded cheese. Bring to a gentle boil then reduce heat to simmer. Stir until the cheese is melted.
Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir.
Add the red pepper flakes, cooked vegetables and sausage. Stir.
Simmer for 10 minutes. If mixture is too thick add a bit more of the reserved pasta water and stir.
Serve garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
I just wrapped up a smoke session on my Weber Smokey Mountain, and since the fire was still burning hot, I decided to toss a few fresh sausages onto the smoker. While they were cooking I stirred up a very quick, but definitely spicy, mustard dipping sauce that is loaded with Sriracha goodness. Smoked sausage with Sriracha mustard sauce…. you know it was yummy.
Mix It Up A Bit
I used Italian sausage, bratwurst and andouille sausages when I made smoked sausage with Sriracha mustard sauce. My wife’s favorite were the Italian sausages. They had a nice spicy taste to them. My favorite? Andouille, of course. I could eat andouille all day. The spicier the better and andouille always packs that nice little kick that I really enjoy.
The Sauce Is Great
The Sriracha mustard sauce definitely isn’t just for dipping sausages. It’s great on sandwiches, subs, hot dogs, and hamburgers. It is creamy smooth, with a real kick to it thanks to the Sriracha and smoked jalapenos (chipotles), which also add a bit of smoky flavor. I think you could definitely use this same sauce for dipping chicken nuggets or chicken tenders. It’s different than those usual dipping sauces that are, frankly, boring!
Add the meats once the smoker is ready and cook until the internal temperatures reach 155 F. Start testing a single sausage after 1 hour (no need in poking them all and letting all of the juicy goodness drain out). Cooking time should be 1-2 hours total.
Remove from smoker and cover in foil until ready to use.
Serve with Sriracha mustard sauce, for dipping.
For the Sriracha mustard sauce
Whisk together all ingredients.
Notes
Use a combination of sausages for a better experience.
I love grilled fresh sausages, done directly on the grates or even on a cedar plank using my Weber grills. This time, I decided to smoke a few different kinds of fresh-made sausages low-and-slow. And boy, was I ever happy with the results. Great smoky flavor. Tender and juicy. Topped with the most incredible pepper and onion mix ever. These messy smoked sausage sandwiches were a great treat.
Forget Hot Dogs
If you don’t want to take the few hours it takes to smoke the sausages, you can grill them. But the topping, that you have to do. No short-cutting that. It’s not only great on sandwiches but also takes the ever-humble hot dog to new heights. Also try my smoked sausage sandwiches with beer-braised onions.
If I’m reaching for a bottled BBQ sauce, I often go for Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Fire up your smoker for cooking at 225 F. You can also cook the sausages on a gas or charcoal grill.
Add the sausages and smoke for 2 hours or until the internal temperature is 155 F.
Toast the buns, if desired.
Assemble the sandwiches by adding the sausages to the buns and loading up on the topping.
For the topping
Note: I prefer to make this topping on a griddle insert on my grill since I’m already outside smoking the sausage. You can also make it in a large skillet on your stovetop.
Heat a large skillet over high heat.
Add onions and peppers and saute until tender and golden brown, about 6 minutes.
Add the garlic and saute for 3 minutes.
Stir in the tomato paste, beer, and BBQ sauce.
Cook for 5 minutes then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should be nice and thick. If it gets too thick add a bit more beer or some water.
Two bites into the slow cooker Delta shrimp I made the other day and I already knew I was going to make it again, but this time with sausage. Not that the shrimp version wasn’t absolutely fantastic, oh no. The vegetable mixture has such tremendous flavor, still a tad bit crunchy, and is perfect with anything from shrimp to sausage to chicken. Perfect.
I use fire-roasted diced tomatoes almost exclusively now when a recipe calls for canned diced tomatoes. They have so much more flavor.
Spice It Up A Bit
Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you can find Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal. Oh, and if the sausage you are using is fresh, not cooked, cook it thoroughly before adding it to the slow cooker.
Smoked sausage is great in this slow cooker Delta sausage dish, but if you find Andouille sausage, use it instead. It’ll add even more flavor to an already delicious meal.Â
Breakfast becomes dinner around here pretty often. Maybe not often enough, really. Who really has time to enjoy breakfast in the morning, specially during the week? You’re in a hurry, you’re on your way out the door. You don’t have time to savor biscuits and gravy or anything else. That’s why making this sage sausage biscuit gravy for dinner is special. A hint of sage with creamy gravy. Not too thick. Not too thin.
The Perfect Biscuit Gravy
You can serve this sage sausage biscuit gravy over any biscuit. I did a rare thing and made buttermilk biscuits from scratch. For the first time. And I have to say, there didn’t require much more effort than opening a tube of biscuits. But hey, whichever works. I’ve done both and I’ll take either one, just give me lots of gravy!
Whisk the milk in good. Don’t think, eh, I can get away with half-way whisking it. Get in there and the milk all incorporated and get the gravy nice and thick!
These loaded Italian sausage sandwiches have become somewhat of a tradition in our house around New Year’s and the Superbowl. I make a nice big batch of them and let them slow cook either on the stove or in a slow cooker, ready to eat at any time. Perfect eats for watching football games, specially college bowl games. Spicy sausage with a flavorful tomato sauce loaded with peppers, onions, and mushrooms. All topped (of course) with ooey-gooey cheese.
My Superbowl Go-To Sandwich
I’m not sure I’ve ever made my loaded Italian sausage sandwiches exactly the same way each year. Sometimes I go the spicy route, sometimes I use sweet sausages. Sometimes I add more bell peppers, sometimes I just add more mushrooms. It just kind of depends on how I feel that day. If you don’t mind spicy, add more red pepper flake and a good amount of hot sauce.
I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.
These loaded Italian sausage sandwiches have become somewhat of a tradition in our house around New Year’s and the Superbowl. I make a nice big batch of them and let them slow cook either on the stove or in a slow cooker, ready to eat at any time.
Place the pizza and tomato sauces into a large pot over medium heat.
In a large Dutch oven, heat a splash or two of oil over medium-high heat.
Working in batches, add the sausages, browning on all sides.
Transfer browned sausages to the pot of sauce.
Add more oil to the Dutch oven and add all of the vegetables.
Saute until just starting to get soft, then transfer to the pot of sauce along with the sausages.
Season with salt and pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flake.
Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5-6 hours, stirring occasionally.
Slice the bread in half. I prefer to do this by cutting a ‘V’ down the top of the bread, making a trench for the sausages and sauce. I find that the bread doesn’t split so easily this way. I also remove some of the bread inside just to make more room for the great toppings.
Cut bread into lengths a tad shorter than the sausages.
Add meat and top with sauce and a little bit of the vegetables.
Top with cheese and place on a sheet pan under the oven broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.
For years and years I have grilled my sausages after they spent some quality time in a ‘bath’ of beer and peppers and onions. And they are great, I admit it. But these kraut-stuffed sausages, well, they’re really beyond great. Tender, moist, and just packed with flavor. Such a wonderful texture in every single bite. I couldn’t stop eating them. Topped with plenty of mustard, these are now my only go-to grilled sausages.
Sausages Are Important
You have to use the right kind of sausages to make these kraut-stuffed sausages. Get the fresh sausages, with casings. You need to be able to poke your finger inside to make a cavity for the fantastic (but easy) filling. If you don’t have casings to help keep the sausage together you might end up bursting them. Then what will you do? Cry. I would. And unless your fingers are really, really long, don’t get really, really long sausages!
I suggested to my wife that we try adding other things to the stuffing, such as chopped roasted jalapenos, or poblanos or the like and she gave me a dirty look. The “don’t mess with this” look. So I won’t.
These kraut-stuffed sausages, well, they’re really beyond great. Tender, moist, and just packed with flavor. Such a wonderful texture in every single bite. I couldn’t stop eating them.
1poundfresh sausagesItalian, Kielbasa, whichever you prefer, just make sure you get the sausages in casings. I used Johnsonville Italian sausages which come 5 to a pound
Using your fingers, make a hole down the center of each sausage, creating a cavity that runs the full length of the sausages.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add the onion, kraut, and a bit of the juice from the kraut jar.
Stir and let cook until the onions are softened.
Remove from heat and let cool completely.
Stir in the cheese. It won’t melt but it will help bind the kraut mixture together.
Fire up your grill for indirect cooking.
Using your hands, grab some of the kraut mixture and force it into the cavity in the sausages. Just keep packing it in. Don’t worry about being all pretty and what-not, just get it in there. But don’t shove so hard that you have a blowout!
Place sausages over indirect heat on the grill and cook for 30 minutes until nice and dark and done.
Toast the buns.
Add cooked sausages to the buns and top with plenty of mustard.
Notes
No worries about having your toppings fall off with these sausages!
