Sausage Sweet Potato Sheet Pan with Apple and Sage
Enjoy the flavors of fall with my Sausage Sweet Potato Sheet Pan with Apples and Sage. Perfect for busy weeknights, this is a simple yet hearty one-pan dinner that you have to try!
What Is A Sheet Pan Dinner?
A sheet pan dinner is a simple meal where protein and vegetables roast together in one pan until tender and caramelized. While roasted potatoes and sausage are a classic pairing, my version combines bratwurst sausage and adds sweet potatoes, onions, apples, and sage.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy weeknight dinner made in a single sheet pan.
- Simple ingredients that roast together for big flavor.
- Complementary flavors: Juicy sausage balanced by sweet roasted apples and caramelized veggies.
- The roasted sausage and vegetables create a hearty and complete meal
- Gluten-free
My sauce-addicted husband wants to put sauce on everything, so when I first started testing this sheet pan dinner recipe he was skeptical. However, the roasted apples and caramelized onions added so much texture and moisture that he gave it the thumbs-up; I think you’ll agree.
Table of Contents
What Apples Are Best For Cooking?
For sheet pan dinners, you’ll want an apple that stays firm and doesn’t turn mushy while being roasted. Fuji is a great all-purpose option, but other sturdy varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady also hold their shape. Softer apples, such as Gala, McIntosh, or Red Delicious, will break down too quickly, so it’s best to avoid those.
Ingredients for Sausage and Sweet Potato Sheet Pan
- Sausage: The salty taste of the bratwurst is best, but feel free to use any uncooked sausage you like.
- Sweet Potatoes: Add natural sweetness and balance the salty sausage.
- Apples: Use sturdy apples like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady so they roast without getting mushy.
- Red Onion: Caramelizes during roasting and infuses the potatoes with deep flavor.
- Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika: Simple pantry seasonings for big flavor.
- Sage Leaves: A perfect pairing with pork and apples. The roasting leaves them buttery crisp.
Refer to the printable recipe card below for ingredient quantities and detailed instructions.
Substitutions & Variations
- Incorporate other vegetables: for example, Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes roast well together, bringing even more fall flavor to the pan.
- Swap the sausage: try Italian sausage and potatoes for a classic variation, or use chicken sausage for a lighter option.
- Try substituting fresh rosemary or thyme for sage.
How to Make Sausage & Sweet Potato Sheet Pan
1. Place sausages spaced apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. Toss sweet potatoes with oil, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
3. Scatter sweet potatoes around the sausages; drizzle with oil and roast 20 minutes.
4. Toss onions and apples in the remaining oil.
5. Flip the sausages and add the onions and apples to the pan.
6. Tuck sage leaves amongst the sausages and veggies and continue roasting until caramelized.
The Secret to Big Flavor
When the sausage, sweet potatoes, onions, and apples roast at high heat, they caramelize and develop more flavor. This is thanks to something called the Maillard reaction; the natural browning process that happens when proteins and sugars react in heat. It’s what gives you those golden edges, and layers of flavor with hardly any effort.
Make Ahead and Storage Info
Make-Ahead Tip: Prep your ingredients the day before, place them on the baking sheet, cover in plastic wrap, and chill until needed, so you can quickly roast your sausage sheet pan dinner when ready to eat.
Sprinkle sliced apples with lemon juice and cover tightly so they don’t brown when prepping these ahead of time.
Refrigerator: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer/Freezing Instructions: It’s best not to freeze this dish, as the vegetables will absorb a lot of water in the process and end up mushy when thawed and reheated.
★ Expert Tips
- Use parchment paper: Without it, the sweet potatoes will stick; cleanup is much easier when you line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Choose the right apples: Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady hold their shape when roasted. Softer apples, such as Gala or McIntosh, tend to turn mushy.
- For juicy, flavorful sausages, don’t prick them before baking. The casing locks in the fat and juices, keeping the sausage moist as it cooks. Pricking lets the juices escape, which can leave the sausage dry.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, the sweet potatoes, apples, onions, sage, and seasonings are all gluten-free on their own. Just check the sausage label, since some brands add fillers, breadcrumbs, or beer that contain gluten. In short, use a certified gluten-free sausage to ensure it’s completely gluten-free.
Yes, you can prep all the ingredients ahead of time, placing them on the sheet pan and keeping it refrigerated until ready to roast.
Definitely! This sheet pan sausage and potatoes dinner works with more than just sweet potatoes and sausage. In fact, roasted Brussel sprouts and sausage are a delicious pairing, as well as carrots, parsnips, or even bell peppers. In short, feel free to mix and match any vegetable that roasts well.
Sausage Sweet Potato Sheet Pan with Apples and Sage
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked bratwurst sausage
- 2 (500g) medium sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 (350g) medium red onion cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick wedges
- 2 (350g) Fuji apples cored and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges
- 12 fresh sage leaves
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the sausages on the baking sheet spaced evenly apart.
- Add the sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil and stir until well coated.
- Transfer the sweet potatoes to the baking sheet and scatter them around the sausages. Keep the oil marinade in the bowl and set it aside.
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil over the sausages and sweet potatoes and bake for 20 minutes until the sausages have browned and the sweet potato begins to soften.
- Meanwhile, add the onions and apples to the bowl where the sweet potatoes were and stir until they are coated in any remaining oil.
- Flip the sausages and scatter the onions and apples amongst them.
- Tuck the sage leaves around the apples and sausages and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes, or until the sausages are fully cooked and veggies caramelized.
Notes
Nutrition
For an easy fall dessert that goes well with this sausage sheet pan recipe, check out my Caramelized Air Fryer Peaches with Cinnamon Butter
This dish just feels like Fall. The roasted sweet potatoes with the apple and pork sausage pair so well together.