Cheese and sausage go together like bread and butter. Hell, add some bread and butter to the equation and you have a pretty great meal—especially when you add the right beer or wine.
They’re best friends for a reason: rich, savory notes that click the moment they meet. The perfect pairing of cheese with…well, anything (sausage, fruit, whatever) can be a tiny flavor revelation. And when The Sausage Project’s juicy chicken links enter the chat, the possibilities are endless.
Pairing isn’t as complicated as some might lead you to believe, either. Think about it like you’re setting the ingredients up on a blind date. If they have similar qualities, great. If they can complement each other—one provides a brightness the other needs—well, that’s even better. It’s basically the culinary equivalent of the grumpy lumberjack falling for the witty big-city workaholic in your favorite Hallmark movie. They’re different, but they just click. Cheese pairings are the same.
So what cheeses bring out the best in The Sausage Project’s juicy, bold flavors? We’re glad you asked! Check out some of the best cheeses to pair with chicken sausages below. You can show them off as an epic holiday appetizer or charcuterie board, or gatekeep the flavors for a quiet dinner at home. Let the matchmaking begin.
Classic Roasted Brings Is a Canvas For Cheese Flavor
Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage tastes like a perfect roast chicken without the roasting. Because it’s more neutral and versatile, it’s basically a canvas for bolder cheeses.
Maple Leaf Smoked Gouda or Idiazábal, both smoked cheeses, can add an extra layer of depth to the bite. You can also use a washed rind cheese as a pre-made dip here, by letting it come to temperature and cutting off the top, making it into a dipping bowl of sorts.
Cheeses like Harbison or Greensward can act as a fondue without any extra work—and are made even more gooey if you warm them in the oven. Accompaniments here can range from savory, like a caramelized onion confit, to sweet, like a sour cherry spread. Or, to keep the holiday flavors going, make use of some tart cranberry sauce.
Italian Herb Works Well With Mellow and Bold Cheeses Alike
Italian Herb is loaded with basil, fennel, and Calabrian chiles—so it’s not lacking in personality. Mozzarella or burrata will work, but they’ll play a supporting role. If you want the cheese to hold its own, reach for something to match Italian Herb’s boldness.
Try a marinated feta-style cheese like Meredith Dairy Marinated Feta, steeped in olive oil, peppercorns, and thyme. Herb-forward cheeses such as Boursin or a more artisanal cheese like Hudson Flower—a bloomy rind cheese covered in chervil and lemon thyme—also shine here.
Sheep’s milk cheeses, like a young Pecorino or a Manchego, would also stand up to the sausage’s rich flavors, without overpowering it.
As for accompaniments, keep the Mediterranean throughline running, with a side of excellent olive oil, pesto, or roasted eggplant or red pepper spread.
Melty Cheddar Pairs Great with MORE Cheddar
Well, this one’s easy. Melty Cheddar already comes loaded with creamy, sharp goodness, so matching it with a quality cheddar is a no-brainer. Just skip the rubbery block in the dairy aisle (you know the one). Look for cheddars from Cabot, Tillamook, or Keen’s for better flavor and fewer preservatives in the grocery aisle.
You can also opt for Alpine-style cheeses, such as Gruyère or Comté, which share a similar flavor profile to cheddar thanks to their rich nuttiness.
The accouterments here are what will really make the pairing sing. Serve with caramelized onion confit, French onion dip, or mustard on the side. The sweetness of the onions and the sharp bite of the mustard will cut through the pairing’s savory intensity.
Cheese Pairings Don’t Stop at the Board
Great cheese pairings might have their meet-cute at the charcuterie board, but incorporating them into dishes is like the big wedding. Our Melty Cheddar Mac & Cheese leans hard into comfort, our Buffalo Chicken Dip brings big game-day energy, sausage pizza turns weeknight dinner into a crowd-pleaser, and our Sausage, Brie & Cranberry Bites prove that cheese and sausage can absolutely be the life of the party. However you plate it, cheese + sausage is a power couple that always shows up ready to impress.