This easy sausage casserole recipe is the ultimate fuss-free comfort food. Made with tender sausages simmered in a rich, thick gravy, it's a warming one-pot dinner that's perfect for weeknights when you want something hearty without a lot of effort. You might also like my easy sausage hotpot recipe.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Easy Sausage Casserole
🕒 Ready In: 50 minutes
👪 Serves: 4
🍽 Calories: 651 per portion
🥣 Main Ingredients: Sausages, Red Onion, Garlic, Carrot, Pepper, Tomato Puree, Chicken Stock, Thyme, Smoke Paprika, Salt, Black Pepper
📖 Dietary Info: Good source of protein, kid-friendly (mild flavours, soft vegetables, and smooth gravy make it suitable for children).
👌 Difficulty: Easy
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I make this sausage casserole for kids regularly because it's mild, comforting, and packed with familiar flavours they love. The smooth gravy and soft vegetables make it easy to eat, and it pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes or rice.
When the weather turns chilly, this is one of those easy winter dinners I rely on. It's adaptable, budget-friendly, and ideal for using store cupboard staples.
Serve it with seasonal greens like roasted Tenderstem broccoli and air fryer asparagus and you've got a wholesome, comforting meal the whole family will enjoy with very little effort on your part.
Love easy sausage recipes? You might also like my easy slow cooker sausage casserole, sausage stroganoff, and sausage curry.
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✔️ Why you'll love this simple sausage casserole
- Rich, thick gravy and tender sausages make this a hearty winter warmer that's pure comfort food on cold evenings.
- A wonderfully family-friendly sausage casserole that's ideal for kids and fussy eaters.
- Made with everyday, simple ingredients you probably already have in the cupboard.
- Incredibly versatile - serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread.
- Perfect for batch cooking.
🥘 Ingredients
A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Pork Sausages - chipolata sausages are smaller in size and are a good option if you want to make this casserole more kid-friendly. However, if you prefer a heartier texture, you can use thick sausages instead.
Olive oil - for frying the sausages and cooking the vegetables. You could also use vegetable oil or sunflower oil.
Red onion - added to the casserole for its natural sweetness and texture. It provides a good contrast to the savoury flavour of the sausages and helps to balance out the dish.
Garlic - fresh garlic cloves are added for flavour.
Carrots - for sweetness and extra nutrients. They also provide a nice texture to the dish.
Red Pepper (Bell Pepper) - a great addition to this casserole as it adds a bright and colourful element to the dish. You can also use yellow or orange peppers if you prefer.
Flour - to thicken the sauce and create a rich and delicious gravy.
Thyme - a herb that's commonly used in casseroles and stews. It adds a distinct earthy flavour to the dish and pairs well with the other ingredients. You could also use rosemary or oregano.
Smoked Paprika - adds a smokiness to the casserole. You can use normal paprika if you don't have smoked.
Tomato Puree (tomato paste) - for a rich tomato flavour. It also helps to thicken the sauce and create a nice consistency.
Chicken stock - use a stockpot or stock cube, or even homemade chicken stock if you have it on hand.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.
📖 Variations
- Swap pork sausages for veggie sausages to make a vegetarian sausage casserole.
- Change up the veg: mushrooms, courgettes, leeks, spinach, peas, sweetcorn or a tin of chopped tomatoes all work well.
- Add diced Granny Smith apple for a classic sausage and apple casserole (you might also like my slow cooker pork and apple casserole).
- Stir through cooked diced potato at the end for a sausage and potato casserole.
- Boost the protein and make it stretch further with butter beans, cannellini beans or lentils for a sausage and bean casserole. You could also use chicken sausages.
- Make it spicy with 1 teaspoon chilli powder alongside the smoked paprika.
- Use beef stock for a richer gravy, or vegetable stock for a meat-free version.
- Adapt it for the slow cooker for an even more hands-off easy slow cooker sausage casserole.
🔪 How to make sausage casserole for kids
One: Heat the oil in a non-stick shallow casserole (or large skillet) and brown the sausages. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Two: Add the onion and garlic and cook on a medium heat for 4-5 minutes until the onion becomes soft.
Three: Stir in the chopped carrot and sliced pepper and cook for a further 3-4 minutes.
Four: Add the flour, thyme and smoked paprika and stir for 1 minute on a medium heat.
Five: Pour in the stock and squeeze in the tomato puree. Bring everything to a boil then turn down the heat to low. Place the sausages back into the sauce.
Six: Simmer with a lid on for 30 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent the sausages from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
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Top Tips
- Brown the sausages well on all sides before simmering. This adds colour, flavour, and helps them hold their shape in the gravy.
- Use a heavy-based casserole dish or pan so the sauce cooks evenly and doesn't catch on the bottom.
- Don't rush the onion and carrot stage - softening them properly builds a sweeter, richer base for the gravy.
- Stir the gravy occasionally as it simmers to stop it sticking and to help it thicken smoothly.
- If the sauce looks a little thin, simmer uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes to reduce and thicken.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning at the end; sausages and stock can vary in saltiness.
🍴 Serving suggestions
This easy sausage casserole recipe is delicious served with cheesy mashed potato, roast potatoes, boulangere potatoes, sweet potato, carrot and swede mash, or turmeric rice.
You can also serve it with a portion of seasonal vegetables for a balanced meal. Roasted tenderstem broccoli, honey roasted carrots and parsnips, or slow cooker red cabbage all pair beautifully with this easy sausage casserole.
Leftovers can be served on a baked potato the next day for lunch, or stirred through pasta (just slice the leftover sausages up into bitesize pieces).
Storage
Store - The sausage casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days (in an airtight container) and reheated in the microwave until piping hot.
Freeze - The casserole can also be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Flour can be added to the casserole before you add the liquid, or alternatively, you can thicken the casserole at the end of cooking with a cornflour slurry, gravy granules or thickening granules.
Sausages are browned mainly for aesthetic reasons, so you don't have to brown the sausages beforehand if you don't want to. If you would prefer not to brown them first, just pop them into the pan after you have softened the onion and garlic and carry on with the recipe.
This recipe requires the sausages to be fresh or defrosted from frozen.
Yes, you can use different types of sausage in the casserole. Try using Italian-style sausage, chorizo, or even vegan sausages for a vegetarian option.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Gravy is too thin and watery | Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes to reduce, or stir in a cornflour slurry (1 tablespoon cornflour mixed with 2 tablespoon cold water) |
| Sausages are pale and lacking flavour | Brown them well at the start to add colour, texture, and depth of flavour to the casserole. |
| Casserole tastes bland | Adjust the seasoning at the end with salt, pepper, or a splash of Worcestershire sauce to boost the flavour. |
😋Related recipes
More family-friendly comfort food to try:
- Smoky Chorizo Bolognese
- Chicken Goulash
- Leftover Roast Beef Stroganoff
- Creamy Sausage Pasta
- Mild Chilli Con Carne for Kids
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Recipe
Easy Sausage Casserole Recipe
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Equipment
- Chopping Board
- Knife
- Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 12 Pork Chipolata Sausages or use 8 thick pork sausages
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Red Onion peeled, halved and sliced
- 2 Garlic Cloves peeled and chopped
- 1 Carrot peeled and chopped
- 1 Red Pepper sliced
- 1 teaspoon Thyme
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Plain Flour (All-purpose Flour)
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste)
- 600 ml Chicken Stock
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large shallow casserole with lid and brown the sausages on a medium heat. Remove to a plate and set aside.12 Pork Chipolata Sausages, 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Add the sliced red onion and garlic and cook on a medium heat until the onion has softened (about 4-5 minutes)1 Red Onion, 2 Garlic Cloves
- Add the chopped carrot and red pepper and cook for a further 3-4 minutes.1 Carrot, 1 Red Pepper
- Add the flour, thyme and smoked paprika and stir for 1 minute.1 teaspoon Thyme, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika, 1 tablespoon Plain Flour (All-purpose Flour)
- Pour in the stock and add the tomato puree. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to low. Put the sausages back into the pan at this point.2 tablespoon Tomato Puree (Tomato Paste), 600 ml Chicken Stock
- Simmer with a lid on, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper before serving.Salt and Pepper
Notes
- Brown sausages first for extra flavour and colour.
- Use a heavy-based pot to prevent sticking and cook evenly.
- Simmer gently until gravy thickens; stir occasionally.
- Adaptable: swap veg, add beans, or use veggie sausages.
- Great for kids: mild, soft veg, and smooth gravy.
Michelle Boule says
This was a great meal and we are already planning on making it again next week. Your photos are gorgeous too!
Jessie says
We have a few more cold days on the way and this sounds like an amazing way to warm up. running to the store tonight to get everything.
Gail Montero Raines says
We absolutely love sausage casserole and I am looking for a new one to try and this is totally perfect!
Maria says
Seems like a great simple recipe! It's good to have go-to family-friendly ideas.
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain says
Could this casserole look any prettier? Love your photography! Will try this with smoked turkey sausage!
Gina says
Such an easy dinner and everyone loves it! We serve with some mashed potatoes or cauliflower for a complete meal.
Danielle Wolter says
A casserole is the perfect winter food. Love how great this came out and how easy it was to make!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I make a lot of sausage bakes or casseroles and you are so right, kids love them.
Anjali says
I can see this being a totally kid-friendly recipes! Can't wait to make this for my family soon!
Dannii says
We love sausage casserole. We always add a can of beans to ours to bulk it out.