Savory to Sweet

 

September 2023 Issue
by Lindsay Gifford
Information, Recipes and Photography by Jimmy Dean®

Football, friends, and fires—fall is on the way! Time to whip out the comfy leggings, camping chairs and serving platters...tailgating season is upon us. When I think of tailgating and the holidays, I immediately associate them with flavorful foods—the staples that always find their way onto the table at get togethers. These party favorites usually have two things in common: 1. Jimmy Dean sausage; and 2. There's never a bite left. So whether you're making iconic Southern meatballs or sausage party dip, make sure you start with the best—Jimmy Dean.

In 1969, Jimmy Dean Meat Company was founded by Jimmy Dean—a multitalented country singer, TV show host, actor, and entrepreneur. When people asked him why he started a meat company, Jimmy often joked, “If you had ever seen my act, you would’ve realized that diversification was imperative.”

Born in Plainview, Texas, in 1928, Jimmy Dean grew up on a rural farm where he discovered his love of beautiful country mornings and making fresh sausage with his grandfather. When a successful entertainment career wasn’t enough, he went on to create and build America’s favorite sausage company. Known for his unique way with words, Jimmy often said, “Sausage is a great deal like life. You get out of it what you put into it.”

Today, Jimmy Dean is still most well-known for their original, premium pork, fresh sausage, flavored with their delicious signature seasonings. They offer savory, high-quality pork to be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch or dinner. While staying committed to premium quality, they have expanded their repertoire to include eight flavors, as well as patties and links. There is a wide variety of frozen breakfast sandwiches (or late night deadline snacks), fully cooked sausage, breakfast bowls, Simple Scrambles and much more. Whether it's a lazy Saturday with biscuits and gravy or a running-out-the-door kind of morning, Jimmy Dean makes breakfast fast, easy and delicious.

The following pages, filled with some of Jimmy Dean’s best recipes, will kick-off your palate with tastes of the season. Log onto jimmydean.com for a sensational recipe collection. In the famous words of Jimmy Dean, “You can’t change the direction of the wind. But you can adjust your sails to always reach your destination.” Words to live by, especially when you add a pan full of his signature meats.

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Sausage and Cheese Grits: Saucepan Recipe
Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins

1 pkg Jimmy Dean® Regular Premium Pork Sausage
1 tsp dried Oregano
½ tsp Salt
¾ cup uncooked Quick-cooking grits
2 cups (8 oz) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
½ cup Sour cream
4 cups Water
1 Tbsp Parsley, chopped fresh (optional)

Bring water, oregano and salt to a boil in large saucepan. Add grits gradually, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover. Cook 8-10 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1½ cups cheese and sour cream; cook 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted, stirring constantly. Serve grits topped with sausage and remaining cheese. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

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Sausage Lasagna: Hot Style
Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 45 mins

1 pkg Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Roll: Hot
1 jar (24 oz) Spaghetti sauce
1 can (8 oz) Tomato sauce
3 cups Ricotta cheese
2 cups (8 oz) shredded Mozzarella cheese
½ cup Milk
3 Eggs, lightly beaten
3 Tbsps Basil, chopped fresh
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Ground black pepper
12 Lasagna noodles, cooked

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook sausage in large skillet over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently; drain. Return to skillet. Stir in spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce.

In a separate bowl, mix cheeses, milk, eggs and seasonings until well blended. Spread 1 cup meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with 3 noodles, ⅓ of the ricotta mixture and ¼ of the meat sauce. Repeat layers twice. Cover with remaining noodles and meat sauce. Bake 40-45 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Let stand a few minutes before cutting into 12 squares to serve.

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Sausage Party Dip
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 23 mins

1 cup Jimmy Dean® Sausage Crumbles: Fully Cooked Original
1 pkg (8 oz) Cream cheese, softened
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Mexican cheese blend
½ cup Salsa
Tortilla chips or crackers

Combine sausage, cream cheese, Mexican cheese and salsa in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes stirring every minute until cheese is melted and dip is smooth and creamy. Serve with chips and/or crackers.

Sausage Cheese Balls
rep Time: 25 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins

1 pkg Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Roll: Hot
¾ cup All-purpose baking mix
2 cups (8 oz) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
¼ cup Onion, finely chopped
¼ cup fresh Jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely chopped
1 large clove Garlic, minced
½ tsp Chili powder
⅛ tsp Cayenne pepper (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix all ingredients in large bowl just until blended. Shape into 36 (1-inch) balls. Place on 2 lightly greased baking pans. Bake 12-14 minutes or until done (160°F). Serve with toothpicks, if desired.

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Sausage Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole

Prep TIme: 15 mins | Cook Time: 45 mins

1 pkg Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Roll: Regular
1 can (8 rolls) Cinnamon rolls with icing
4 Eggs
2 cups Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
Preheat oven to 350°F. Brown sausage in large skillet over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently; drain. Reserve 1/2 cup cooked sausage crumbles; set aside.

Open can of cinnamon rolls and refrigerate icing. Separate dough into 8 cinnamon rolls; cut each roll into 4 pieces. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.

Beat eggs, milk and vanilla in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in remaining sausage (minus 1/2 cup). Gently fold in cinnamon roll pieces. Pour into lightly greased 10x6-inch baking dish. Cover with foil; refrigerate overnight.*

To serve: Bake, covered at 325°F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean and cinnamon rolls are golden brown. Heat and stir remaining 1/2 cup sausage over medium heat for 5 minutes or until crispy. Spread reserved frosting on casserole and sprinkle with remaining sausage crumbles. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 8 servings.

Cook’s Tip: *To serve same day. Refrigerate casserole for 30 minutes before baking and bake as directed above.

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Maple Sausage and Caramelized Apple Hash
Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins

8 oz Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Roll: Maple
Salt
2 Tbsps Butter
2 Tbsps Sugar
2 small Gala apples, cut into ½-inch cubes
2 cups cubed, peeled sweet potatoes (½ inch pieces)
1 small Onion, chopped
4 Eggs, fried
Black pepper, to taste

Place potatoes in medium saucepan. Add enough water to cover potatoes by about 1 inch. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Stir in sugar. Add apples; cook 8-10 minutes or until tender and golden brown, stirring frequently. Transfer to plate; cover to keep warm. Cook sausage and onion in same skillet over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until sausage is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently; drain. Drain potatoes, and mix with sausage and apples. Top with eggs and season with salt and pepper.

 

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Sausage Gravy: Easy and Creamy

1 pkg Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Roll: Regular
Vegetable oil (optional)
6 Tbsps Flour
⅛ tsp Ground black pepper
3 cups Milk
4 split warm Biscuits, for serving

Brown sausage in large skillet over medium-high heat for 8-minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain, reserving drippings and place sausage in a bowl. If necessary, add enough oil to reserved drippings to measure 1 tablespoon. Return drippings to skillet.

Add flour and pepper to skillet; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Cook over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until browned, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in milk; cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Add sausage; cook 1-2 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Serve over biscuits.

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Sausage Stuffed Jalapeños
Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 10 mins

1 pkg Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Rolls: Regular
1 pkg (8 oz) Cream cheese, cubed, softened
2 cups (8 oz) Cheddar cheese, shredded
32 medium fresh Jalapeño peppers

Preheat oven to 425°F. Brown sausage in large skillet over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently; drain. Place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese and cheddar cheese; mix well.

Cut peppers lengthwise in half; discard seeds. (Tip: Consider using rubber gloves to do this.) Fill each pepper with a generous portion of sausage mixture; press lightly into peppers to secure. (Filling should mound slightly above top edges of peppers.)

Place on lightly greased baking sheet or in broiler pan. Bake 10 minutes or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is lightly browned.

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Maple Sausage Stuffed Chicken
Prep Time: 25 mins | Cook Time: 55 mins

1/2 pkg Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Roll: Maple
1 small Onion, chopped
1 cup Chicken broth
2 Tbsps Butter or margarine, divided
3½ cups plain dry Bread cubes
¾ cup dried Cranberries
4½ tsps Sage, chopped fresh
¼ tsp Ground red pepper (cayenne)
6 small bone-in Chicken breasts with skin
(3.75 lbs), with pocket cut in each for stuffing
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp Ground black pepper
Parsley, chopped fresh (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large saucepan on medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in broth; bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add sausage, bread cubes, cranberries, sage and red pepper; stir just until moistened.

Fill pocket in each breast with about ¼ cup stuffing. Secure openings with wooden toothpicks. Place chicken, skin-sides up, in shallow baking pan. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter; drizzle over chicken. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.

Bake 45-55 minutes or until chicken is done (165°F). Remove toothpicks. Garnish chicken with parsley, if desired.

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Mini Sausage Quiche
Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 22 mins

1 pkg Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage Roll: Regular
1 cup Mushrooms, fresh chopped
½ cup Green bell pepper, chopped
10 Eggs
¼ cup Milk
¼ tsp Ground black pepper
1 cup (4 oz) Cheddar Cheese
½ cup Green onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook sausage, mushrooms and bell pepper in large skillet over medium-high heat 8-10 minutes or until sausage is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently; drain.

Beat eggs, milk and black pepper in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in sausage mixture, cheese, and green onion. Line cupcake pans with 16 baking liners. Spoon mixture evenly into baking cups. Bake 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.