Simple Sausage and Potato Traybake: Your Go-To Recipe for Effortless Dinner
In the quest for delicious, stress-free weeknight dinners, few recipes hit the mark quite like a classic traybake. Our simple sausage and potato traybake is a true culinary champion, designed for anyone seeking maximum flavor with minimal effort and cleanup. Imagine mixing a handful of fresh ingredients with a fragrant oil and herb blend, spreading it all onto a single baking tray, and letting your oven do the rest. That’s the magic of this dish! It’s not just incredibly easy and quick to prepare; it’s also remarkably budget-friendly, making it an ideal choice for busy families, students, or anyone looking to enjoy a wholesome meal without the fuss.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Sausage and Potato Traybake
Are you yearning for a dinner that’s both hearty and incredibly straightforward to prepare? This delightful traybake, featuring tender potato wedges, savory smoked sausage, sweet carrots, and a fragrant blend of herbs, is exactly what you need. It’s a perfect solution for those evenings when you want something satisfying on the table without spending hours in the kitchen.
The beauty of a traybake lies in its simplicity. Everything cooks together on one pan, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully and creating those coveted crispy edges and tender interiors that only roasting can achieve. From start to finish, the active preparation time for this meal is remarkably short. You can have it ready for the oven in about 10 minutes, then simply sit back and let your oven work its magic. This means more time for you to relax and less time scrubbing pots and pans!
For those mindful of their grocery budget, preparing your own potato wedges from whole potatoes is a fantastic and cost-effective option, taking only a few extra minutes. If convenience is your top priority, feel free to use pre-cut potato wedges. Once your potatoes are prepped, simply clean and slice the carrots and the smoked sausage. Then, toss everything together with a vibrant garlic herb marinade, and slide it into the oven. It truly couldn’t be easier to achieve such a delicious result.
If you’re constantly seeking other budget-friendly and easy meal ideas, you’re in luck! Try this spaghetti with broccoli, a flavorful pilaf with ground beef and peach, or a quick Bami Goreng with Ham and Egg for more hassle-free dinner inspiration!
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Essential Ingredients for Your Sausage & Potato Traybake
To create this incredibly simple and delicious Sausage Traybake, you’ll need just a few key ingredients. The exact measurements are conveniently listed in the comprehensive recipe card located at the bottom of this page.
- Potatoes – For the best texture in this traybake, we recommend using floury potato varieties like Russet, Yukon Gold, King Edward, or Maris Piper. These potatoes become wonderfully fluffy and tender on the inside while crisping up beautifully on the outside. For a quicker preparation, you can opt for pre-cut ready-made wedges. Alternatively, small baby Dutch potatoes, simply halved, also work exceptionally well and offer a charming presentation.
- Carrots – Fresh carrots add a touch of natural sweetness and vibrant color to the dish. Be sure to wash and peel them thoroughly, then cut them into thin, uniform slices. This ensures they cook evenly and become tender at the same rate as the potatoes, preventing any tough, undercooked pieces.
- Onion and Garlic – These aromatic powerhouses are non-negotiable for building a deep, rich flavor base. The onion caramelizes beautifully as it roasts, adding sweetness, while fresh garlic infuses the entire dish with its pungent, savory notes. Don’t skip these; they truly elevate the overall taste.
- Olive Oil – Since this recipe uses a minimal number of ingredients, the quality of each component becomes even more crucial. Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. Its fruity, robust flavor will coat the vegetables and sausage, helping them roast to golden perfection and contributing significantly to the dish’s deliciousness.
- Salt – A fundamental seasoning, salt is essential for enhancing and balancing all the flavors in the traybake. It draws out moisture, aiding in the caramelization process, and ensures every bite is perfectly seasoned.
- Kielbasa – Also known as Polish sausage, Kielbasa is a star ingredient here. Traditionally made with pork and often smoked, it offers a wonderfully rich and savory flavor profile. There are many varieties available, but a good quality smoked pork kielbasa is ideal for this recipe. If Kielbasa isn’t readily available, a good quality smoked sausage (like a Dutch Rookworst if you can find it, or another hearty smoked pork or beef sausage) can be an excellent substitute.
- Italian Herbs – This versatile spice mix, typically containing parsley, oregano, chives, and basil, provides an aromatic and savory backdrop that complements the other ingredients beautifully. It ties all the flavors together, creating a comforting and incredibly tasty meal. You can use a pre-made blend or create your own with dried individual herbs.
How to Prepare Easy Sausage and Potato Traybake
Preparing this traybake is remarkably straightforward, perfect for a busy schedule. The core idea is to combine all your ingredients with a flavorful oil and herb mixture, spread them out on a baking sheet, and let the oven do the heavy lifting. For a complete, printable recipe with a detailed step-by-step description, please refer to the recipe card at the very bottom of this blog post.
Before you begin, ensure your oven is preheated to the recommended temperature to guarantee even cooking and a beautifully golden finish. The key to a successful traybake is allowing all ingredients to cook in a single layer as much as possible, which promotes browning and ensures everything gets perfectly tender and slightly crispy.
- First, in a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, crushed garlic, Italian herbs, and a good pinch of salt. This creates your flavorful marinade that will coat all your ingredients.
- Next, add your prepared potato wedges to the bowl. Toss them thoroughly, ensuring every potato piece is generously coated with the herb-infused oil. This step is crucial for achieving crispy, delicious potatoes.
- Then, introduce the thinly sliced carrots, chopped onion, and the sliced smoked sausage to the bowl. Mix everything once more until all the vegetables and meat are glistening with the oil and seasonings.
- Finally, spread the entire mixture evenly across a large baking tray. It’s important to arrange the ingredients as much as possible in a single layer. Overcrowding the pan can lead to steaming instead of roasting, preventing those desirable crispy textures. Slide the tray into your preheated oven and bake for approximately 50 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and golden, and the sausage is nicely browned. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips, Substitutions, and Variations to Make it Your Own
This simple sausage and potato traybake is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit your taste and what you have on hand. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Potato Alternatives: While classic potatoes are fantastic, consider using sweet potatoes cut into wedges or cubes for a sweeter profile and a boost of nutrients. You could also try parsnips or even turnips for a different root vegetable twist.
- Add More Vegetables: This traybake is an excellent vehicle for adding more veggies. Experiment with diced bell peppers (add at the beginning), broccoli or cauliflower florets (add halfway through cooking), sliced zucchini or cherry tomatoes (add during the last 15-20 minutes to prevent them from getting too soft), or even a handful of peas (stir in at the very end). Sliced red onion can replace or complement white onion for a sharper flavor.
- Protein Swaps: If you’re looking to change up the protein, the smoked sausage can easily be replaced. Try beef or pork sausage (like Italian sausage), chicken sausage, or even a plant-based sausage for a vegetarian version. If using raw sausage, ensure it’s cooked through. You could also add cooked chickpeas or cannellini beans for a protein boost.
- Spice It Up: For those who love a bit of heat, simply add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of chili flakes to your herb marinade. Smoked paprika can also add a delightful smoky depth.
- Herb and Flavor Boosts: Beyond Italian herbs, consider adding fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs to the tray for an earthy aroma. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the finished dish can brighten all the flavors. A sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese in the last 10 minutes of baking also adds a lovely salty, umami crust.
- Serving Suggestions: While this traybake is a complete meal on its own, it pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad dressed with a vinaigrette. A side of crusty bread is also perfect for soaking up any delicious pan juices. For an extra layer of flavor, consider serving it with a dollop of sour cream, a drizzle of pesto, or a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
- Meal Prep Friendly: This recipe is great for meal prepping! Cook a larger batch and divide it into individual portions for quick lunches or dinners throughout the week.
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don’t forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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baking plate
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A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs
- 2 ½ pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
- 2 pounds carrots, washed and peeled. Cut into thin slices.
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 pound kielbasa, smoked sausage, sliced
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 430 °F or 400 °F
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Combine the oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt in a bowl.3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon sea salt, 1 tablespoon Italian herbs
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Add the potato wedges and mix.2 ½ pounds potatoes
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Then put the carrot, onion and smoked sausage slices in the dish and mix all ingredients with a layer of oil.2 pounds carrots, 1 onion, 1 pound kielbasa
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Spread the contents of the bowl on a baking sheet, as much as possible, in one layer, and slide into the oven.
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Bake for 50 minutes and serve immediately.
Notes
2. Carrots – Do you want to add or replace vegetables? Use diced bell pepper, parsnips, chopped red onion, or peas.
3. Smoked sausage – Substitute with beef bratwurst or pork sausage.
4. Spicy? Add ¼ teaspoon of chili flakes to the herb oil marinade.
5. Oven – When you use a conventional oven, set the temperature to 430 °F (220 °C). In a convection oven, 400 °F (200 °C) is sufficient.
6. Storage and Reheating Tips:
- Refrigerator – Any leftover Sausage & Potato Traybake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- Freezer – For optimal taste and texture, this particular dish is not recommended for freezing.
- Reheat –
- Oven – To reheat, place your leftovers in a baking dish, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and bake at 350 °F (180 °C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until thoroughly heated through. This method helps maintain crispiness.
- Microwave – For a quicker reheat, use the microwave in 30-second intervals until the dish is piping hot. Note that potatoes may be softer using this method.
7. The nutritional value is per serving, assuming this simple sausage tray is eaten by four people.
Nutrition
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