Stuffed Italian sausage with cheese inside is a quick dinner that feels a little extra but takes very little effort. With just 3 simple ingredients-Italian sausage, a mozzarella cheese stick, and marinara sauce-you've got a cheesy, saucy, high protein meal on the table in 30 minutes. Low carb and keto too.
These cheese stuffed sausages are so quick!
When you want an easy Italian sausage dinner that everyone will ask you to make again, this cheesy stuffed Italian sausage is it. 🙌 Think of it like a shortcut casserole-only the cheesy goodness being inside of the sausage instead of mixed in.
We'll show you how to make the simplest 3-ingredient low carb recipe (just Italian sausage, a cheese stick, and marinara) and teach you how to add peppers and onions for a one-dish meal. 25 grams of protein and just 3 net carbs!
Sausage with peppers and onions is one of my all-time favorite dinners and we've made it just about every way possible Whole Lotta Yum. ❤️ With over 20 Italian sausage recipes we've basically become the sausage pros on the internet. We show you how to make sausage with peppers in a slow cooker, oven, with chicken Italian sausage, and even baked into a casserole.
Any of these recipes can be made with Italian chicken sausage (and I often do!) if you're eating macro friendly and looking to reduce the fat content.
Key ingredients
- raw mild Italian sausage links - pork or chicken, they usually come in a 5 pack at the grocery store (like Johnsonville brand or similar). This recipe will work with any uncooked sausage whether it's mild Italian, sweet Italian, spicy/hot Italian, chicken sausage, or even raw bratwurst.
- marinara sauce - Rao's marinara sauce is our favorite since it's sugar free and literally tastes like homemade. You can use tomato sauce in a pinch but you'll need to season it with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- string cheese sticks - or mozzarella cheese sticks. Light cheese sticks also work, but might not be quite as melty.
- optional garnish - Italian seasoning, fresh basil, parmesan cheese
How to cook stuffed sausages
Preheat an oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 1: Carefully cut the Italian sausage links lengthwise with a sharp knife, making sure to only cut about halfway down into the sausage.
Step 2: Insert a piece of string cheese (or mozzarella cheese stick) into each sausage and then pinch the top of the raw sausage closed over the top of the cheese.
Step 3: Place the stuffed sausages into the bottom of a 9x9 baking dish or casserole dish. Pour the cup of marinara sauce over the top of the sausages.
As an optional step you can add frozen bell pepper strips and very thinly sliced onions around the sides of the pan.
Step 4: Bake the cheese stuffed sausages for 30+ minutes or until they are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can sprinkle with optional garnishes like parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, fresh basil leaves, or red pepper flakes. Enjoy!
Helpful tips
- Don't cut the sausage links all the way through or the cheese will seep out the bottom.
- Pinching the top of the uncooked sausage link helps keep the mozzarella cheese on the inside
- To add vegetables to the recipe, you'll want to stick to quick cooking options like chopped or thinly sliced onions, bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms. Use a larger baking sheet or 9x13" pan if you need more space or want to double the recipe. Frozen bell pepper strips work great too!
FAQs
Stuffed Italian sausages can be served a variety of ways. You can keep your dinner super simple and serve with cooked peppers and onions, zucchini noodles, pureed cauliflower, pasta (low carb like pelmeni or whatever you prefer), or a side salad. You can also serve these inside a bun or hoagie roll.
Store any leftover stuffed Italian sausage links you may have for up to 4 days in the fridge in a covered container.
If you need to cook 10 links rather than 5, you can easily double the cheese and marinara sauce and use a 9x13 pan! Your baking time should still be the same.
The name for sausage with cheese inside is often just called a cheese stuffed sausage or cheese filled sausage. You can either stuff it yourself with shredded mozarella, cream cheese, or add string cheese. You can also buy some varieties with cheese blended in like cheddar brats.
More Italian sausage links
- Sausage air fryer recipe
- Italian Sausages in a skillet
- Boiling Sausage
- Air fryer frozen Italian sausage
- Pressure cooker sausage peppers and onions
- Baked chicken sausage
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Recipe
Cheese Stuffed Italian Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage links pork or chicken
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 5 cheese sticks string cheese, mozzarella cheese, or light cheese
- garnishes (optional) fresh basil, parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and position the oven rack to the center.
- Carefully cut the Italian sausage links lengthwise, making sure to only cut about halfway down into the sausage.
- Insert a cheese stick into each sausage and then pinch the top of the raw sausage closed over the top of the cheese. Place the sausages into a 9x9 baking dish.
- Pour the marinara sauce over the top of the sausages. Bake for 30+ minutes until the sausage is cooked through and has an internal temp of 160+ when tested with a digital meat thermometer. Enjoy!
Bonnie Bonham says
can I used cooked sausage?
WholeLottaYum says
Hi Bonnie! I haven't tried these with precooked sausages but it should still work. You could try adding shredded cheese instead of a cheese stick since they won't take as long to cook. Jen
Rico says
Any chance this can be sped up in an air fryer?
WholeLottaYum says
Hi Rico, I feel confident this can be made in an air fryer but I haven't personally tested it. Reduce the air fryer temperature 25 degrees (F), plus the cook time will take about 10 minutes less (this is my best guess). Let us know if you try it in an air fryer! Jen
Liz says
Casing? Do I leave the susauge casing on or remove it when I cut it to put the cheese inside.
WholeLottaYum says
Leave the casing on! You can cut right through it with a sharp knife. Jen
Teri says
I tried this recipe tonight. I didn’t have marinara on hand so made my own with petite diced tomatoes, 3 T tomato paste, 1/3 c. water, diced onion, 4 chopped garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, 1scant t. baking soda. Big hit! Will be a regular here.
Kelly Myers says
Absolutely fantastic! I’m on keto and get tired of eating the same thing over and over. This hit the spot!