By Every year after the peas and the greens, Mama would bring out something sweet and warm to close the meal — a reminder that abundance isn’t just about what you need, it’s about what you’re grateful for. This Hot Fruit and Sausage dish carries that same energy: the savory weight of sausage grounded by the bright, tender sweetness of warm fruit, all of it sitting together in one pan like family around a table. It’s the kind of recipe that asks you to slow down and believe — in the year ahead, in the people beside you, in the meal in front of you.
Hot Fruit and Sausage
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 25 min | Total Time: 35 min | Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 lb pork sausage links
- 1 can (15 oz) sliced peaches in juice, drained
- 1 can (15 oz) pineapple chunks in juice, drained
- 1 can (15 oz) mandarin orange segments, drained
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup maraschino cherries, drained (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the sausage. In a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat, cook sausage links 8—10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease and set sausage aside.
- Combine the fruit. In a large baking dish, combine drained peaches, pineapple chunks, and mandarin oranges. Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg over the fruit and stir gently to coat.
- Add the sausage. Nestle the browned sausage links into the fruit mixture, pressing them down slightly so they rest among the fruit. Scatter cherries over the top if using.
- Bake. Bake uncovered at 350°F (175°C) for 15—18 minutes, until the fruit is bubbling and the sugar has formed a light glaze over the sausage.
- Rest and serve. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm alongside cornbread, rice, or biscuits.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 290 | Protein: 11g | Fat: 17g | Carbs: 25g | Fiber: 1g | Sodium: 510mg