Are you looking for delicious, easy Keto Recipes with Smoked Sausage? Whether you’re new to the keto diet or a seasoned low-carb pro, finding tasty recipes that fit your lifestyle can be challenging. Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to use smoked sausage in your low-carb meal plan.
One of the benefits of smoked sausage is that it’s already cooked, which means it’s a quick and easy protein for busy weeknights. Plus, it’s packed with fantastic flavor! From casseroles to skillet meals, plenty of keto-friendly recipes feature smoked sausage as the star ingredient.
I’m going to share some of my most popular, easy smoked sausage recipes. Whether you’re in the mood for something cheesy, spicy, or packed with veggies, I’ve got you covered. Enjoy delicious meals that keep you satisfied and on track with your low-carb goals.
Keto Diet Guidelines Overview
When beginning on a ketogenic diet, the goal is to reach and maintain ketosis – a metabolic state in which your body switches to burning fat as the primary fuel source instead of carbs. This helps promote sustainable weight loss and mental clarity.
How does it work? By significantly limiting carbohydrate intake from foods like grains, starchy vegetables, and sugars to 50g or less per day, your body enters ketosis. With carb intake drastically reduced, your cells begin converting fatty acids into ketones. This puts your metabolism into fat-burning mode!
To hit the carb threshold needed for ketosis, focus primarily on very low-carb vegetables, high-quality proteins like grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, pasture-raised poultry, and fats from whole food sources. This includes olives, avocados, nut butter, and rich extra virgin olive oils.
With ketosis as your goal, you can ditch the sugar crashes and enjoy steady, clean-burning energy by tapping into your body’s stored fat reserves. Combining flavorful ingredients like a smoked sausage with vegetables, zoodles, and other creative veggie swaps makes hitting macros satisfying, too!
Adapting even one or two very low-carb recipes weekly helps you start leveraging the power of ketosis more often. Over time, fat adaption creates better energy, easier weight management and glowing health.
What Foods to Eat / Avoid on the Keto Diet
When selecting the right ingredients for your easy smoked sausage recipes, you need to be careful. Some sausages contain fillers such as breadcrumbs and other ingredients high in carbs. You should look for sausages made with high-quality meats and natural ingredients to avoid this.
Be mindful when selecting other ingredients, such as vegetables and spices. Some vegetables like potatoes and carrots are high in carbs and should be avoided. Instead, focusing on low-carb vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini would be best.
In addition, you should use spices and herbs to add flavor to your dishes instead of relying on high-carb sauces and marinades. Some good options include garlic, ginger, cumin, and paprika.
By following these tips, you can create delicious keto sausage recipes that are both healthy and satisfying.
Different Smoked Sausage Varieties
There are many types to choose from when it comes to smoked sausage. Some popular choices include Andouille, Kielbasa, and Chorizo. Each type has its unique flavor profile and texture.
Types of Smoked Sausage
- Andouille Sausage: A spicy smoked sausage that originated in Louisiana. It is made with pork and has a coarse texture. Andouille is often used with a cajun flare in dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya.
- Kielbasa Sausage: A smoked sausage that originated in Poland. It’s made with pork and beef and has a slightly sweet flavor. Kielbasa is often used in dishes such as stews and casseroles.
- Chorizo Sausage: A spicy smoked sausage that originated in Spain. It is made with pork and has a crumbly texture. Chorizo is used in Spanish and Mexican dishes such as paella and tacos.
Best Brands to Buy
When following a low-carb diet, choosing sausage brands that are low in carbs and free from additives and fillers is essential. Here are a few keto-friendly sausage brands to consider:
- Pederson’s Farms: This brand offers various smoked sausages free from sugar and additives. Their products have high-quality ingredients, such as pastured pork and grass-fed beef.
- Applegate Farms: This brand offers various smoked sausages free from antibiotics and added hormones. Their products are made with simple ingredients such as pork and spices.
- Aidells: This brand offers a variety of smoked sausages that are free from nitrites and nitrates. Their products have high-quality ingredients such as chicken and applewood smoked bacon.
When selecting smoked sausage for your keto recipes, read the labels and choose products that are low in carbs and free from additives and fillers.
Keto Smoked Sausage Recipe Collection
If you’re on a keto diet, smoked sausage can be a great ingredient to add to your meals. It’s high in protein and fat and low in carbs, making it a perfect fit for a keto lifestyle. Here are some delicious, easy, low-carb recipes with smoked sausage that you can try:
Savory Sausage Skillet Meals
Smoked Sausage and Cabbage Recipe
This simple, flavor-packed Keto-Smoked Sausage and Cabbage Skillet will satisfy your craving for warm comfort food. Bursting with savory, smoky sausage flavor perfectly balanced by sweet caramelized cabbage and onion, it’s an easy, low-carb, family-friendly one-pan smoked sausage and vegetable recipe. You’ll love how quickly it comes together for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- Smoked Sausage – This recipe features smoked sausage as the protein. I opted for a nitrate-free beef sausage, but feel free to substitute it with your favorite variety, like chicken, kielbasa, or turkey.
- Butter – Adds additional flavor and fat to the dish.
- Diced Onion & Minced Garlic – Garlic enhances the aroma and depth of the recipe, while the onions add a delicious, rich flavor.
- Fresh Cabbage – Cabbage is a great partner with many proteins, especially smoked sausage.
- Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce – Here is my homemade keto BBQ sauce for a sweet, smokey flavor with a little kick.
- Water – Used for steaming the cabbage.
Keto Smoked Sausage with Peppers and Onions Skillet
This will be a home run for your entire family! Use only one skillet and a few simple ingredients to create a healthy meal for busy nights. I guarantee this easy keto 30-minute meal will become a favorite.
Ingredients
- Butter – Gives the sauteed garlic additional flavor and can help keep the ingredients from sticking.
- Smoked Sausage – I used beef smoked sausage in this recipe. Pork or chicken are also options.
- Green Bell Peppers, Onion, and Garlic – The perfect blend of veggies.
- Braggs Aminos – This soy sauce is a healthier alternative and adds flavor to this recipe!
- Seasonings – Season to taste with your favorite seasonings.
Keto Sheet Pan Meals
Keto Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies
This Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies Recipe is your new weeknight best friend. Juicy smoked sausage and veggies are roasted perfectly on one pan, drastically cutting clean-up time. It all happens in the oven or air fryer in less than 30 minutes, meaning you’ll be eating soon! And the best part? You barely have to wash any dishes! Now that’s a win.
Ingredients
- Smoked Sausage – My favorite sausage to use for this dish is smoked sausage or kielbasa. It has excellent flavor and seems to be easier to slice.
- Vegetables – Use low-carb vegetables in this keto sheet pan meal, like zucchini, green or red bell pepper, broccoli, squash, and onions.
- Seasoning – My family loves Old Bay seasoning. The bold, well-balanced flavor reminds us of summer.
Low-Carb Smoked Sausage Soups
Low-Carb Cheesy Smoked Sausage Soup
Easy cheesy smoked sausage soup will instantly become a fave! This low-carb soup packs huge flavor into every bowl using simple ingredients. This recipe proves soups can be comforting, not boring!
Ingredients
- Olive Oil – Coconut Oil or Avocado Oil are also options.
- Smoked Sausage – The ball is in your court. Pick your favorite type of smoked sausage.
- Radishes chopped into cubes – Wash, clean, and cube. Great substitutes for potatoes.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted butter will work here; butter adds fat and flavor to the soup.
- Onion, Celery, Garlic Cloves – Fresh veggies add depth and taste.
- Chicken Broth – This soup has a broth base. Bone broth is another option.
- Heavy Whipping Cream – Adding the soup becomes creamier with additional fat.
- Cheddar Cheese & Gouda Cheese – Many cheeses work, but I like using various cheese types to play with the flavor.
- Xanthan Gum – A keto-friendly thickening agent.
- Paprika, Parsley, Salt & Pepper – Seasonings for flavor.
Sausage Appetizers
Low-Carb Sausage Platter with Cheese and Pickles
This fun, tasty appetizer is a total winner! This low-carb sausage platter combines savory sliced sausages, cheddar, and perfectly crunchy pickles. It’s perfect for a party or even just snack time at home. And no worries – it 100% fits the plan for your low-carb lifestyle.
Ingredients
- Smoked Sausage — I prefer all-beef sausage in this recipe. You will need approximately 14 oz. of smoked sausage. You can substitute chicken or pork sausage.
- Cheese Cubes — Cheese makes everything better, right? You can pick your favorite type of cheese, but I used Monterrey Jack cheese cubes and halved each cube to make them a little smaller.
- Pickles — Pickles add a vinegary punch that balances the richness of the sausage and cheese. I prefer dill pickle spears chopped.
- Banana Peppers — The banana peppers give an acidic bite to the sausage platter. This is an optional ingredient.
- Old Bay Seasoning — Old Bay is an excellent compliment to the ingredients’ smoky, cheesy, salty, and acidic flavors. You can substitute your favorite seasoning (cajun, chili powder, or smoked paprika) if you do not have any.
Smoked Sausage in the Air Fryer
Prepare to bite into the tender, juicy, air-fried sausage wrapped in unbelievingly crisp, caramelized smokiness. Kielbasa, Andouilli, Chorizo – use your fav! The air fryer transforms the sausage in just minutes flat. Whether enjoying it as a hearty, healthy snack or serving a batch to friends or family, these crave-worthy smoked sausages will become your next go-to dish.
Ingredients
- Smoked Sausage – This air fryer recipe can use any smoked sausage. Use 12 – 24 oz. of your favorite sausage.
- Seasoning – Use the seasoning of your choice.
- Olive Oil – The slices can crisp up without drying out bybrushing a light layer onto the sausage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is smoked sausage keto-friendly?
Good news! Most popular smoked sausages perfectly fit into a keto lifestyle, providing hearty protein and fat to fuel you without carby fillers. I look for quality sausage picks without sugars or starches. Enjoy classic smoked kielbasa, summer sausage, andouille, chorizo, and poultry links.
How much smoked sausage can I eat per day on keto?
Smoked sausages can be enjoyed in moderation when doing keto. I recommend keeping portions around 4 ounces to align with your daily macros. Focus on listening to your body’s healthy hunger cues rather than overdoing it.
What are the best ways to cook with smoked sausage on keto?
Smoked sausage is so versatile for keto and low-carb recipes! Slice it up and cook in healthy fats like olive oil or avocado oil, serve with low-carb veggies for sheet pan meals, stir sausage crumbles into egg scrambles or casseroles, mix into a soup or cheesy skillet bake, or enjoy sausage snacks paired with nuts and low-glycemic fruits. With so many tasty options, there’s no shortage of delicious ways to enjoy smoked sausage and stay within your low-carb goals.
I hope you’ve discovered some mouthwatering new ways to enjoy your favorite smoked sausages while maintaining your keto or low-carb lifestyle. With options from easy skillet meals to tempting appetizers and everything in between, you can keep your family happy and stay on track with your goals.
As you try these recipes, feel free to tweak them to suit your tastes – add a little more heat, mix up the veggies, or adjust seasonings based on your preferences.
