Cheesy Stuffed Keto Italian Sausage Bake (Flavorful & Simple!)
Elevate your dinner with these incredibly delicious Cheesy Stuffed Keto Italian Sausage Bake! Plump Italian sausages are skillfully sliced and filled with gooey string cheese, then generously topped with a rich, sugar-free Arrabbiata sauce and a medley of Italian seasonings. Baked until bubbly and golden, this dish is packed with savory flavor and cheesy goodness. This low-carb, high-protein, and naturally gluten-free meal is a delightful addition to your health journey, perfect for a hearty and satisfying dinner right here in beautiful Puerto Vallarta!
Yields: 4 servings (assuming 4 sausages) Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 35-40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 4 links Italian sausage (mild or hot, casing removed if bulk sausage, or left on if preferred, but easier to slice if casing is removed from the stuffing area)
- 4-6 sticks string cheese (or low-moisture mozzarella cheese cut into sticks)
- 1 (24-ounce) jar Rao’s Arrabbiata Sauce (or your favorite keto-friendly marinara/Arrabbiata sauce; KETO NOTE: Ensure no added sugar)
- 1 tablespoon Flavor God Garlic Lovers seasoning (or 1 tsp garlic powder + 1 tsp onion powder + ½ tsp dried herbs)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Optional: Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Equipment:
- Sharp knife
- Small baking dish (e.g., 8×8 inch or 9×9 inch, depending on sausage length)
- Spoon or small spatula
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven & Prep Sausage: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Take each Italian sausage link and carefully slice it lengthwise down the middle, creating a pocket, but do not cut all the way through to the other side. You want it to open like a book.
- If using bulk sausage, you can form it into log shapes first.
- Stuff Sausage with Cheese: Take 1 to 1 ½ sticks of string cheese (or cut mozzarella sticks) and place them into the sliced pocket of each sausage link. Gently press the sausage around the cheese to secure it.
- Arrange & Season: Place the stuffed sausage links in a single layer in your baking dish.
- Generously sprinkle the stuffed sausages with Flavor God Garlic Lovers seasoning (or your preferred garlic blend), ensuring it covers the exposed sausage.
- Add Sauce & Italian Seasoning: Spoon the Rao’s Arrabbiata Sauce evenly over the sausages, making sure to spread it out to cover all the sausages and fill the bottom of the dish.
- Sprinkle the entire dish generously with Italian seasoning.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the sausages are cooked through (internal temperature reaches 160°F / 71°C for pork sausage), the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the sauce is simmering. For extra browning on the cheese, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes (watch carefully!).
- Serve & Enjoy! Remove from the oven. Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired. Enjoy your delicious and cheesy stuffed Italian sausage!
Tips for Success:
- Sausage Choice: You can use mild, sweet, or hot Italian sausage depending on your preference.
- Keto Sauce is Key: Rao’s is a great choice as it’s typically sugar-free. Always double-check the ingredient list of any jarred sauce for hidden sugars or high-carb thickeners.
- Cheese for Stuffing: String cheese melts wonderfully, but any low-moisture mozzarella cut into sticks will work. Provolone is another good option for a sharper flavor.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Ensure sausages are in a single layer in the baking dish for even cooking.
- Internal Temperature: Always use a meat thermometer to ensure pork sausage is cooked to at least 160°F (71°C).
- Serving Suggestion: This dish is fantastic on its own, but also pairs well with a side of steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or a simple side salad for a complete keto meal.
Recipe Analysis & Dietary Classification:
This Stuffed Italian Sausage Bake is a delightful addition to your health journey!
- High Protein: Yes, from the Italian sausage and cheese.
- High Fat: Yes, from the Italian sausage and cheese.
- Low-Carb: Yes, this recipe is very low-carb due to the use of sausage, cheese, and sugar-free sauce.
- Keto: Yes, this recipe is keto-friendly. All listed ingredients are suitable for a ketogenic diet, provided the Italian sausage has no added sugars/fillers and the sauce is sugar-free.
- Gluten-Free: Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free.