Autumn Harvest Sausage and Sweet Potato Bake

This savory casserole combines sage sausage, sweet potatoes, and apples with warm spices for a cozy and flavorful autumn-inspired dish.

This Autumn Harvest Sausage and Sweet Potato Bake brings together the comforting flavors of sage pork sausage, tender sweet potatoes, and tart apples, all seasoned with warm cinnamon and nutmeg. Sautéed onions and garlic add depth, while a splash of chicken broth or apple cider enhances the dish with extra flavor. Baked to perfection in a casserole dish, this hearty meal is perfect for fall, offering a balance of savory, sweet, and spiced notes, topped with fresh parsley for a vibrant finish.

Servings

2-4

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Total Time

55-60 minutes

Ingredients

Meat

  • 1 pound Jimmy Dean’s sage ground pork sausage

Vegetables and Fruits

  • 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 2 large apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings and Spices

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Fats

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Liquids

  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or apple cider (for added flavor)

Garnish

  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat Oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Cook the Sausage

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the Jimmy Dean’s sage ground pork sausage. Cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Once done, remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.

Sauté the Vegetables and Apples

In the same skillet, add olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. Add the cubed sweet potatoes to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften. Stir in the diced apples, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the apples begin to soften.

Combine and Transfer to Casserole Dish

Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and mix everything together. Pour in the chicken broth or apple cider, stirring to combine and deglaze the skillet. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish.

Bake

Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Serve

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the Jimmy Dean’s sage ground pork sausage.

Cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Once done, remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet, add olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until softened, about 3-4 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.

Add the cubed sweet potatoes to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften.

Stir in the diced apples, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the apples begin to soften.

Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and mix everything together.

Pour in the chicken broth or apple cider, stirring to combine and deglaze the skillet.

Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish.

Cover the casserole dish and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness.