Sausage Apple Skillet Recipe (Honey Chili Apple Sausage Bake)
This sausage apple skillet recipe is a quick, flavorful one-pan dinner made with juicy sausage, crisp apples, caramelized onion, garlic, ginger, honey, lemon, and chili flakes. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and the apples stay slightly crisp after a quick bake.
Sweet, tangy, salty, spicy, crispy, and soft, this sausage apple bake is packed with contrasting flavors and textures. And because everything starts in one oven-safe skillet, cleanup is easy too!
If you’re looking for a quick dinner with sausage and apples, this is one to add to your weeknight rotation. It’s also delicious enough to serve as a holiday side dish or an easy Thanksgiving side dish.
A Quick Glance At This Sausage Apple Skillet Recipe
Here’s why I keep coming back to this dish:
- Quick: You can have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes.
- One pan: The sausage, onion, apples, and aromatics all come together in one oven-safe skillet.
- Packed with flavor and texture: Honey adds sweetness while lemon and chili flakes balance it with tang and heat. And, for texture-lovers, this dish has crunchy and soft elements.
- Diet-friendly and easy to customize: Use turkey, chicken, pork, or your favorite fully cooked sausage. This easy protein-packed meal can be gluten-free and dairy-free.
And while this recipe feels like a fall dish, you certainly don’t have to wait for cooler evenings to make it. Unless you want to use seasonal Lucy™Rose apples.
What Are Lucy™Rose Apples?
Lucy™Rose apples are a cross between Honeycrisp and Arlie Red apples and originated in Central Washington. They have bright red skin and a gorgeous pink-red flesh on the inside.
Lucy™Rose apples are crisp, sweet, and tangy, with subtle berry notes. They are delicious eaten fresh, added to salads, or served on a cheese board.
But one of my favorite ways to enjoy them is in this honey chili sausage apple skillet.
The crisp apples are a wonderful contrast to the savory sausage and slightly caramelized onion. And because they hold their texture so well when heated, they don’t turn into mush during the short baking time.
Why Pair Sausage and Apple Together?
If you’ve never paired sausage and apples before, you might be wondering whether the combination actually works.
And, I’m here to tell ya – it does!
The savory, salty flavor of the sausage pairs beautifully with the natural sweetness and tartness of the apples. Caramelized onion adds another layer of sweetness, while garlic and ginger bring warmth and depth.
Then there’s honey, lemon, and chili flakes.
The honey ties everything together, the lemon brightens the dish, and the chili flakes add just enough heat to keep every bite interesting.
My daughter and I couldn’t get enough of this combination. The perfect bite was a little sausage, a piece of crisp apple, a bit of caramelized onion, and all those honey, chili, garlic, and ginger flavors coming together.
Ingredients for This Sausage Apple Skillet
You only need a handful of everyday ingredients to make this easy sausage apple dinner.
Sausage
I used turkey sausage, but you can use your favorite sausage, like chicken or pork sausage. Even a kielbasa or spicy Italian sausage would work well in this recipe. For even more apple flavor and a fun spin, use some apple chicken sausage.
Apples
I used Lucy™Rose apples because they are crisp and slightly tart, and they hold their texture beautifully during baking.
If you can’t find Lucy™Rose apples, use another crisp apple that isn’t overly soft when cooked. Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, and Granny Smith are good options that will do not usually get mushy when baked for 10 minutes. In my experience, gala apples tend to become slightly softer than the others mentioned.,
Aromatics: Onion, Garlic and Ginger
A regular yellow or white onion works beautifully. Fresh garlic and ginger add plenty of flavor without requiring a long list of spices. For this recipe, I would not substitute onion, ginger, or garlic powder for the fresh versions of these.
Honey
A tablespoon of honey adds just enough sweetness to complement the apples and balance the savory sausage.
Chili Flakes
Chili flakes add a little heat. Use less if you prefer a milder dinner.
Lemon
Fresh lemon juice brightens all the flavors right at the end.
Parsley
Fresh chopped parsley adds a pop of color and freshness before serving.
You will also need some salt and black pepper to season this easy one-pan meal.
Instructions
The beauty of this sausage apple bake is that you start everything on the stovetop and finish it in the oven.
1. Prep the ingredients
Peel and chop the onion, garlic, and ginger.
Wash and chop the apples, leaving the skin on. The skin adds color and helps the apple pieces hold their shape.
Slice the sausage into bite-sized pieces.
2. Sauté the onion, garlic, and ginger
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Place an oven-safe large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
Add the chopped onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion begins to soften.
3. Brown the sausage
Add the sliced sausage to the skillet.
Sauté for 2-3 minutes, then flip the sausage pieces and cook for another 2–3 minutes, until lightly browned.
4. Add the honey and apples
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir the honey into the sausage and onion mixture.
Add the chopped apples and toss everything together.
5. Bake
Transfer the skillet to your preheated 375°F oven.
Bake for 10 minutes.
That’s all the baking this recipe needs. The apples soften slightly but retain a delicious crunch.
6. Finish and serve
Carefully remove the skillet from the oven—the handle will be hot!
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over everything, then toss in the parsley.
Finish with the chili flakes and serve warm.
A Few Tips for Making the Best Apple Sausage Skillet
Don’t overbake the apples. The short 10-minute bake is intentional. You want the apples slightly softened but still crisp.
Use an oven-safe skillet. This lets you move the recipe directly from the stovetop into the oven without dirtying another pan.
Leave the apple skin on. It adds color, texture, and helps the apple pieces maintain their shape.
Adjust the chili flakes to your taste. The honey and apple provide plenty of sweetness, so a little heat creates a delicious contrast.
Finish with fresh lemon juice. It may seem like a small step, but the acidity helps balance the sweetness of the honey and apples and brings the whole dish together.
Variations
This is one of those real food dinners that’s perfect for a busy evening.
And, it can be easily customized to your preferences.
Not only can different types of sausage be used such as pork, chicken, or beef sausage. But chicken can be used instead of or even with sausage in this, the latter resulting in a chicken apple sausage skillet. Or, add some cooked crispy bacon for even more flavor.
In addition to or instead of the apples, feel free to use cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, or a mix of them.
Place the ingredients in a serving dish and use a couple of tablespoons of chicken stock or chicken broth to deglaze the skillet used to cook the ingredients in. Then add in a tablespoon butter and cook this for about a minute and pour this sauce over the sausage and apple bake.
Add some chopped thyme and basil at the end for even more flavor.
What to Serve With Sausage and Apples
This sausage apple skillet recipe can work as a complete light dinner on its own, but you can also serve it with:
- Roasted purple sweet potatoes or grilled vegetables
- Quinoa or rice
- A simple green salad
- Crusty bread
For a holiday meal, it also makes a wonderful savory-sweet addition to a larger spread.
Can I Use a Different Type of Sausage?
Absolutely.
I used turkey sausage, but you can use chicken sausage, pork sausage, or another sausage you enjoy.
The main thing to keep in mind is that cooking time can vary depending on the type of sausage you use. If you’re using raw sausage rather than fully cooked sausage, make sure it reaches a safe internal temperature before serving.
What Apples Are Best for a Sausage Apple Skillet?
Look for apples that are crisp and firm enough to hold their shape when heated.
Lucy™Rose apples are especially delicious in this recipe, but Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith or Braeburn are other excellent choices.
The goal is an apple that becomes slightly tender during the 10-minute bake while still retaining some crunch.
How do I store leftovers?
Add the leftovers to an airtight container and store them in a fridge for up to 5 days.
More Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes
If you love quick, flavorful meals that don’t require a sink full of dishes, check out some of my other easy dinner recipes here on Savory Spin.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1- inch piece of ginger
- 13 oz sausage 2 large links BTW – I used turkey sausage
- 1 ½ Lucyrose apples
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp chili flakes less if you want it milder
- ½ a lemon
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup frozen green peas (thawed)
Instructions
- Peel and chop onion, garlic cloves and ginger.
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Add oil to an oven-safe pan or skillet and add in the onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring often.
- Slice the sausage and add it to the pan with the onion + ginger + garlic and sauté about 2-3 minutes until sausage is lightly browned, flip and sauté another 2-3 minutes.
- Wash and chop the Lucyrose apple with the skin on.
- Remove the pan with sausage and onion mix off the heat and add in the honey and mix well.
- Then toss on the chopped Lucyrose apples.
- Place pan in 375-degree oven and bake for 10 minutes – the apples will be slightly baked but still crisp.
- Remove pan from oven – be careful with the handle.
- Then, sprinkle with salt and pepper (to taste) and squeeze the lemon onto the bake. Mix the ingredients together well.
- Toss on the parsley and mix well.
- Then add the thawed green peas (if using), sprinkle on the chili flakes, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use less chili flakes for a milder sausage apple bake.
- Honeycrisp or another firm, crisp apple can be substituted for Lucy™Rose apples.
- Turkey, chicken, or pork sausage can be used.
- For a gluten-free meal, check the sausage label to ensure the sausage you choose is gluten-free.
- The apples are intentionally baked for only 10 minutes so they retain some of their crisp texture.
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Nutrition
And if you make this sausage apple skillet recipe, I’d love to know what you think!
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Enter your email and I’ll send you this recipe to you. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of those apples! Look neat — gotta get some. Love apples and sausage together — this is a terrific dish. Thanks!
Wow, what an interesting apple! We live smack in the middle of apple country, but I don’t think I’ve come across the Lucy Rose. (To be fair, I haven’t really looked as I always stop dead in my tracks at the Honeycrisp!) I do enjoy the combination of apple and sausage, and this sounds like a delicious recipe. Love the photo of Lil S, too!
This looks comforting, delicious and fall perfect!
yum