This baked Italian sausage is cooked on a sheet pan with perfectly seasoned potatoes and onions. It's an easy, budget-friendly meal that's satisfying and delicious. Sheet pan dinners are a go-to for busy weeknights because they're so convenient. You'll love how everything comes together in one pan for a tasty meal.
What's great about this recipe
- Simple ingredients: This recipe uses common, easy-to-find ingredients like onions, red potatoes, and Italian sausage, making it budget-friendly and convenient.
- Customizable flavor: Choose mild, hot, or sweet Italian sausage to suit your taste, and use fresh or dried herbs for convenience.
- Minimal cleanup: Since everything is cooked on a single sheet pan, cleanup is a breeze, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- Sausage – Use fresh Italian sausage in its casing. Choose mild, hot or sweet sausage depending on your taste.
- Vegetables – Yellow or white onion and small red potatoes.
- Oil – Oil is used to grease the sheet pan and to season the potatoes. Use olive oil or choose your favorite.
- Herbs and spices – the potatoes get a ton of flavor from garlic powder, salt, rosemary, thyme and black pepper. For the rosemary and thyme use fresh if you have it on hand, if not dried herbs will do just fine, just cut down on the amount.
- You will also need: Sheet pan at least 13x9 inch (referred to as a quarter sheet pan), kitchen thermometer
Prep work
Preheat the oven to 400°F and brush a sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of oil.
Cut the potatoes into halves or quarters.
If you're using fresh herbs mince the rosemary and thyme.
Cut the onion into 8 wedges.
Measure out the spices.
How to make baked Italian sausage
- Combine the potatoes, onions, 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic powder, salt, rosemary, thyme, and black pepper to a large bowl. Stir gently to combine and coat the potatoes with the seasonings.
- Arrange sausages on the greased sheet pan leaving space between them for the vegetables.
- Arrange the potatoes and onion mixture around the sausages.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. Flip the sausages, return them to the oven and cook an additional 15-20 minutes or until the Italian sausage has a golden-brown color.
Test if the sausage is done with a kitchen thermometer. Take the temperature of at least two links, one from the center of the pan and one from along the edge of the pan. Make sure the internal temperature is at least 160°F. If it’s not, continue baking for 5-10 minutes and test again.
Storing and reheating instructions
Refrigerator: Let the baked Italian sausage and vegetables cool to room temperature within 2 hours of cooking. Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezer: Let the leftovers cool completely, place them in a freezer-safe container(s) or freezer bag. If using a freezer bag, remove as much air as possible before sealing. Label the container with the contents and date. Store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating: Always heat leftovers to a temperature of at least 165°F. If the food is frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place the sausage and vegetables on a baking sheet and cover with foil. Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Microwave: You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Skillet: Place a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Arrange the sausage and vegetables in the skillet, then add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water or broth. Cover and heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes or until warmed through.
For more information on food storage and safety guidelines visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
Recipe tips and notes
- Use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic because it burns quickly.
- Cut the potatoes roughly the same size so they cook at the same rate.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the sausage is cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F for food safety.
- The cooking time will depend on the oven temperature, the size (thickness) of the sausage, and how many (and how close together) they are on the pan. For this recipe, it took 35-40 minutes to get the sausages over 160°F and achieve a golden-brown color.
Italian sausage recipes are great for quick and easy dinners. The sausage brings a ton of flavor to the party so you can cut down on the number of ingredients, saving both time and money. Try this Italian sausage sandwich, baked ziti with sausage, and Italian sausage lentil soup for ways to use this versatile ingredient.
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📖 Recipe
Baked Italian Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 - 1¼ pound Italian Sausage in their casings (about 4-5 links) use mild, hot or sweet Italian sausage depending on taste
- 1 pound Small Red Potatoes washed, patted dry and cut in halves or quarters (about 8 small potatoes)
- 1 Medium Onion cut into 8 pieces
- 3 tablespoons Olive Oil divided (1 tablespoon to brush the sheet pan and 2 tablespoons for the potatoes)
- ½ teaspoon Fresh Rosemary woody stems removed and minced (or ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary)
- ½ teaspoon Fresh Thyme woody stems removed and minced (or ¼ teaspoon dried thyme)
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt we use kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- Add the cut potatoes and onions to a large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic powder, salt, rosemary, thyme and black pepper to the potatoes and onions. Stir gently using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to combine and coat with the seasonings.
- Brush a sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of oil.
- Arrange sausages on the sheet pan.
- Arrange the potatoes and onion mixture around the sausages.
- Bake the Italian sausages for 20 minutes.
- Turn each sausage so that the paler side is now up.
- Bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the sausages are a golden-brown color.
- Test if the sausage is done with an instant read thermometer. Take the temperature of a couple of links, specifically, one in the middle of the pan and one that’s along the edge. Make sure the internal temperature is at least 160°F; if it’s not, continue cooking for 5-10 minutes and check again.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
Colleen B.
I added in 1 frozen bag of peppers and onion. Served with green salad and garlic bread Wonderful dish. A person could even add some fresh green beans to this mixture.
elizabeth
i need to make this for a baby shower with about thirty people do i triple the ingredients
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
It depends, will there be other dishes provided? This recipe has 5 sausages to serve 4-5 people. The sausages can be cut into smaller pieces, plus the potatoes, etc. If there are other dishes provided then yes. If this is the only offering then no, triple the recipe will not be enough for 30 people. As far as doubling or tripling the recipe the ingredients should be the same.
Ellie
Can you use a different potato?
Elizabeth
Yes, except I would avoid russet (Idaho) potatoes because they can break apart.
Renée
Wow, this was really good! I added half a sweet red pepper, chopped, and it turned out really well. Saving this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
Thanks Renée. It's my pleasure, happy to hear you enjoyed it.
Lisadee
Was wondering do you cover the pan with foil or just leave uncovered
Elizabeth
Hi, bake uncovered. Thanks for stopping by.
Chelsea
Thanks for this great recipe! Easy to follow directions and delicious dinner!
Elizabeth
Thank you, happy you enjoyed it!
Carole
Do you prick the sausage before baking?
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Hi Carole, I don't, it works out.