Beer-Braised Sausages With Warm Potato Salad Recipe (Video)

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

50 mins

Total Time:

1 hr

Servings:

4

This recipe for beer-braised sausage and potatoes proves that one-pot meals don’t have to be boring. Cooking the sausages and potatoes together in a mixture of beer and sautéed onions infuses them with plenty of flavor and cuts down on dishes. After cooking, the potatoes are tossed with olive oil, red-wine vinegar, and fresh parsley for the easiest potato salad ever. Keep the sausages warm while you reduce the braising liquid into a savory sauce, which you’ll pour over the meat and potatoes just before serving.

Simple, satisfying, and perfect for a cozy fall or winter night, this one-pot wonder dinner is sure to please.

A plate of beerbraised sausages served with steamed redskinned potatoes and garnished with fresh herbs — Credit:
Kelsey Hansen

Ingredients for Beer-Braised Sausage and Potatoes

Sausages: We love this dish with Italian sausage, but you can use another type of pork sausage like bratwurst or swap in your favorite turkey or chicken sausage. To ensure they stay moist and juicy, use raw sausages rather than pre-cooked ones.

Potatoes: Small, waxy potatoes cook through in the time it takes to braise the sausages and hold their shape well. You can use small yellow potatoes instead, just don't swap in a starchy option like russets.

Onions: One thinly sliced yellow onion lends deep flavor to the braising liquid. If all you have on hand is a white or red onion, you can use either here in place of yellow.

Beer: A pale ale or lager is our pick for braising—it will contribute plenty of flavor without overpowering the dish the way a very hoppy IPA or rich stout might.

Vinegar: A tablespoon of red-wine vinegar lends a tangy lift to the warm potato salad. If you don't have any handy, you can use apple cider vinegar or white-wine vinegar instead.

Parsley: For a touch of crunch and bright freshness, we add a couple of tablespoons of chopped parsley to the potato mixture. An equal amount of fresh chives or sliced scallions would also work.

Why You Should Braise Sausage

There are countless ways to cook sausage, but one of our favorites is braising. The gentle cooking technique keeps the meat inside the casings moist and juicy and ensures an even cook throughout. For this recipe, we sear the sausages before simmering to streamline the steps and lend depth to the sauce, but you can also braise the sausages first, then sear or grill them before serving.

Directions

Ingredients for beerbraised sausages with warm potatoes including sausages potatoes onion parsley beer oil and seasonings — Credit:
Kelsey Hansen

Brown sausages and cook onion:

In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add sausages and cook until brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add onion and cook until softened, about 7 minutes.

Credit:
Kelsey Hansen
Add beer, potatoes, and water, and cook:

Add beer, potatoes, and 2 cups water; season with salt and pepper and press to submerge potatoes in cooking liquid. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook until potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.

Credit:
Kelsey Hansen
Make dressing and toss potato mixture:

Transfer sausages to a serving platter and keep warm. In a large bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon oil, vinegar, and parsley. With a slotted spoon, transfer potato mixture to dressing (reserve cooking liquid) and toss to combine.

Credit:
Kelsey Hansen
Reduce cooking liquid and warm sausages in it:

Return pot to high heat; boil cooking liquid until reduced to 1 cup, about 12 minutes. Return sausages to pot and cook until heated through, 2 minutes.

Credit:
Kelsey Hansen
Assemble and serve:

Place sausages and dressed potatoes on serving platter; drizzle half the sauce over top. Serve sausages and potatoes with remaining sauce alongside.

Credit:
Kelsey Hansen

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerate leftover sausage and potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The potato salad can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature (we don't recommend rewarming it, though). To reheat sausages, place them in a skillet with enough sauce and/or water to reach halfway up to sides; bring to a gentle simmer and cook, covered, until hot throughout.

What to Serve With Braised Sausages and Potatoes

This one-pot dish is hearty enough to stand on its own, but you can certainly add an easy vegetable side to round out the plate. Our roasted cabbage wedges or sautéed red cabbage would be a fitting accompaniment, as would these simple boiled Brussels sprouts with dill butter.