Sausage Fest: Best Game-Day Sausage Recipes

Set out a savory starting lineup on game day with 21 of Cooking Channel's best sausage recipes. Kick off the feast with one-bite appetizers and gain yardage with star quarterback-quality main dishes.

Mexican Potato Skin Bites

Inspired by our neighbor to the south, Aida fills crispy potato skins with Mexican chorizo and Monterey Jack cheese.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Potato Skin Bites

Smoked Turkey Kielbasa Dogs with Red Onion Sauce

Take Rev Run's secret sauce and claim it as your own. Onions sauteed with ketchup, hot sauce and a pinch of cinnamon make for a sweet, spicy and tangy topping.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Turkey Kielbasa Dogs with Red Onion Sauce

Mimi's Sausage Dip

This old-school party pleaser is a breeze to prepare with only three main ingredients: ground Italian sausage, a brick of cream cheese and a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles.

Get the Recipe: Mimi's Sausage Dip

Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms

Give stuffed mushrooms instant flair with a creamy filling of sweet Italian sausage and Parmesan.

Get the Recipe: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Chorizo-Stuffed Fried Olives

Plump and perfect for popping between plays, Kelsey's green olives are stuffed with a creamy Spanish chorizo filling, rolled in cayenne breadcrumbs and fried to a golden-brown crisp.

Get the Recipe: Chorizo-Stuffed Fried Olives

Chorizo Bites with Arugula Pesto

This super-easy bite on a stick from Chuck is a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.

Get the Recipe: Chorizo Bites with Arugula Pesto

Totally Lazy Mini Sausage Rolls

These crowd-pleasing bites put a savvy spin on pigs in blankets with herby snack-size sausages and a sprinkling of thyme leaves. To guarantee that the sausage does not escape its roll during cooking, slip off the sausage "skin" before rolling it in the pastry.

Get the Recipe: Totally Lazy Mini Sausage Rolls

Smoked Gouda-Chorizo Jalapeno Poppers

Get the party started with this sports bar staple. Sunny elevates the dish by stuffing peppers with smoked Gouda and Mexican sausage.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Gouda-Chorizo Jalapeno Poppers

Beef and Chorizo Chili Cheese Nachos

Jalapeno pickling juice brightens and gives these meaty nachos a tangy kick. The beef-and-chorizo chili in this recipe is hearty and flavorful; make it on its own for an easy weeknight dinner.

Get the Recipe: Beef and Chorizo Chili Cheese Nachos

Chorizo Corn Dogs with Grainy Maple Mustard

Corn dogs have long been favored carnival fare, but Nadia G. proves you can teach old dogs new tricks with her beer-battered spicy chorizos and maple-mustard dipping sauce. Hot dawg, these are good.

Get the Recipe: Chorizo Corn Dogs with Grainy Maple Mustard

Mortadella with Balsamico

Mortadella is an Italian cured sausage similar to bologna. In Italy, it's often studded with pistachios, which makes the nutty topping for this savory spread especially authentic. Slather the mortadella mousse on crusty bread slices and drizzle each one with balsamic when serving.

Get the Recipe: Mortadella with Balsamico

Sausage with Apple and Sage

Sweet, sour and savory, these tiny pork sausage, apple and sage bites make the perfect party starter, as they are both enticing and easy to prepare.

Get the Recipe: Sausage with Apple and Sage

Italian Sausage Sandwiches with Giardiniera

Nadia G.'s stacked sub is all about the pickled vegetable mix piled high over hot sausage. Make the colorful condiment two days ahead by submerging your favorite veggies in a hot chile-spiked, Italian-spiced vinegar brine.

Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage Sandwiches with Sweet and Spicy Giardiniera

Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Tacos

The fiery toppers for these tacos –– chipotle sour cream and quick pickled jalapenos –– can both be fully prepped in the time it takes the meats to roast in the oven. 

Get the Recipe: Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Tacos

Bratwurst Stewed with Sauerkraut

Michael Symon stews brats with spices and sauerkraut for a rib-sticking game-day meal. For utensil-free eating, he serves it up on baguettes.

Get the Recipe: Bratwurst Stewed with Sauerkraut

San Gennaro Sausage and Pepper Burgers

Form spicy Italian sausages into patties, grill them with peppers and serve them on herbed focaccia for a surprising twist on basic burgers.

Get the Recipe: San Gennaro Sausage and Pepper Burgers

Southside Slopes

Hailing from the University of Pittsburgh, this head-size hall-of-fame sandwich stuffs kielbasa, pierogi, grilled onions, American cheese and spicy mayo into a massive bun.

Get the Recipe: Southside Slopes

Turkey Sausages with Spicy Beans

In Debi and Gabriele's easy recipe, turkey sausage mingles with cannellini beans stewed in hot peppers and cherry tomatoes.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Sausages with Spicy Beans : Sausages with Fagioli All'uccelletta

Beef and Andouille Chili

Slow-braised beef chunks stand in for ground beef, and spicy andouille sausage adds a Southern kick to this comforting chili recipe.

Get the Recipe: Beef and Andouille Chili

Rosticciana (Spare Ribs) & Sausages Braised in Beer

If you're hosting a particularly carnivorous crowd on game day, this doubly meaty grilled dish will ensure that everyone gets their fair share of protein. Reserve the fragrant rosemary- and Belgian ale-infused braising liquid for serving on the side.

Get the Recipe: Rosticciana (Spare Ribs) and Sausages Braised in Beer and Olives

Sloppy Lous

Rachael swaps standard ground beef for andouille sausage and ground pork in her sloppy spinoff of the all-American sandwich. Great as a make-ahead meal for game day, Sloppy Lous taste best with plenty of spicy pickled vegetables piled on top.

Get the Recipe: Sloppy Lous