Italian Sausage and Tortellini

• 1 (19 ounces) package Mild Italian Sausage links, cooked and sliced into coins
• 1 sweet yellow onion, diced
• 1/2 cup carrots, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups baby spinach, fresh
• 1 (24 ounces) jar marinara sauce*
• 1 cup beef broth*
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (16 ounces) bag frozen cheese tortellini
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese*

In a large skillet, brown the Italian sausage over medium heat.

Remove the sausage from the skillet and add the onions and carrots to the skillet and cook until soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic.

Add the marinara sauce, broth, Italian sausage, and salt and stir to combine.

Stir in the tortellini and continue to cook over medium heat. Once the sauce starts to bubble, reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce covered until the tortellini is soft. 

Once the tortellini are soft, remove the lid and turn up the heat to medium and stir in the spinach. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.

Stir in the Parmesan cheese. 

*I used Prego Roasted Garlic & Herb pasta sauce

*I used 1 teaspoon beef bouillon & 1 cup water

*I used the green can Parmesan cheese

Original recipe here.

 

Mom's Sausage Rice Casserole

 Passed down from my grandma <3

• 1 pound bulk sausage
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 1/4 cup? soup can water
• 1 cup uncooked regular white rice
• Onion powder

No extra salt!

Brown sausage in skillet; drain well. Combine with all other ingredients; stir gently to mix. Spoon into a large casserole; cover and bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours. Serves 10 to 12.

 

Smoked Sausage, Potato, & Green Bean Bake

• 1 (14 ounces) package smoked sausage, sliced ¼ inch thick
• 1 (14.5 ounces) can cut green beans, drained
• 3-4 potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Dash black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Transfer to a 13x9 inch foil lined baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Adapted from this post.

Turkey Sausage

• 1 pound (16 ounces) Jennie-O ground turkey (in a roll)
• 2 teaspoons rubbed sage
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Crushed red pepper to tolerance (I used 1/4 teaspoon)

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Divide turkey sausage mixture into 8 portions. Patty out or roll into links, however you prefer.
3. In a non-stick skillet, cook until no longer pink in center.
4. Can be frozen if needed.

Nutrition information (per 2 oz. serving): 80 calories, 5.5 g fat, 195 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 10 g protein

*This is my own recipe!

Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole

• 2 pounds breakfast sausage
• 1 (30-32 ounces) package frozen tater tots
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 8 eggs
• 2 cups milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In a large skillet brown sausage until no longer pink and drain. 
3. In a large bowl, toss tater tots, cooked sausage and cheeses. Pour into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch dish.
4. Whisk together eggs, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and milk. Pour over tater tot mixture. *Cover and refrigerate at this point if baking later.*
5. Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes, or until eggs are set.

Original recipe here.

Red Beans & Rice

• 1 (8 ounces) package Vigo Red Beans & Rice
• 7 ounces smoked sausage, quartered and sliced
• 1-2 tablespoons oil or butter
• 3 1/2 cups water

1. In a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring water to a boil.
2. While you are waiting for the water to boil, brown sausage in a skillet with the oil or butter.
3. Add Red Beans & Rice mix, sausage and oil to boiling water, stirring while boiling for 1 minute.
4. Cover saucepan tightly. Reduce heat to simmer, cook for 20-25 minutes. Fluff and serve.

Microwave directions: Combine mix, 3 3/4 cups hot water, oil, and sausage in a 1 1/2 quart microwave casserole dish. Cover and microwave on high for 22 minutes. Stir, Let stand, covered for 5 minutes.

Sausage Rice Casserole

A Family Favorite!

•    1 can cream of mushroom soup
•    1 can cream of chicken soup
•    2 cans warm water
•    1 can (4 ounces) mushrooms, drained
•    1 cup rice, uncooked
•    1 pound hot or mild pork sausage
•    1 medium onion, chopped
•    ¼ teaspoon sage

1. In a 2 quart saucepan, mix soups and water; cook until smooth and warm.
2.  Add mushrooms and rice. Stir until blended.
3. Brown sausage and drain.
4. Add onion and sage and cook additional 3 minutes.
5. Pour soup mixture into a 9x13 baking dish and spoon sausage mixture on top.
6. Cook for 45 minutes at 375 degrees. You may garnish with American cheese slices after removing from oven.

Breakfast Bowls & Burritos

I cannot get enough of these...

• A roll of your favorite breakfast sausage, sausage links or patties, bacon or ham; browned, drained (if needed), cut into bite sized pieces
• A bag of frozen, diced hash brown potatoes (I use the potatoes "O'Brien", with the peppers and onions)
• Oil or butter
• Sliced cheese or shredded mild Cheddar cheese
• Scrambled eggs
• Soft Taco sized flour tortillas
• Diced Tomatoes or Salsa

1. Slowly brown the hash browns in a skillet with the oil or butter. If they get too brown before the potatoes are soft, just put them in the microwave for a couple of minutes to soften!
2. Everything else is cooked, so if you want a Breakfast Bowl, place the ingredients you like best in your bowl and enjoy!
3. For Breakfast Burritos, warm a tortilla in the microwave then layer the ingredients you like best, making sure you can roll it up when you are done!

Cook's notes: Others say to wrap the burritos in foil and freeze them. When ready to thaw them, just warm them in the oven for a few minutes.