Every season has its produce celebrities. Fall belongs to pumpkins. Spring brings asparagus and lemons. But summer refuses to choose just a few headliners. Corn, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, peaches, plums, and nectarines all arrive at once, taking over grills, picnic tables, farmers markets, and backyard gardens across the country. If seasonal produce is a rock star, summer is its Lollapalooza.
It’s the season of corn still wrapped in bright green husks, baskets heavy with ripe stone fruit, and piles of heirloom tomatoes that look almost too good to slice. Unsurprisingly, all of it pairs beautifully with juicy chicken sausage.
So, how do you match the right sausage with the best summer produce? We’re glad you asked.
Below are a few of our favorite ways to pair The Sausage Project’s chicken sausages with summer’s greatest hits. From Melty Cheddar to Italian Herb to Classic Roasted Chicken, each flavor brings a savory bite that complements the season’s natural sweetness, acidity, and char.
Corn
Best Paired With: Melty Cheddar Chicken Sausage
Sweet summer corn and sharp cheddar are natural partners, especially when that cheddar comes melted inside a juicy chicken sausage. Our Melty Cheddar Chicken Sausage brings richness and a little salt to corn’s crisp, sugary pop, making the combination equally at home at a cookout or in a quick weeknight dinner.
We’ve paired the two in several recipes, including our Melty Cheddar Dogs with Spicy Corn Relish. For a one-pan option, slice the sausage into rounds and brown them in a skillet, then add fresh corn kernels, bell peppers, onions, and your beans of choice. Finish everything with cotija, Tajín, and a generous squeeze of lime.
Related: Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Summer Corn
Eggplant
Best Paired With: Italian Herb Chicken Sausage
Eggplant is famously good at soaking up whatever flavors surround it, which makes it an ideal match for the herbs, fennel, and gentle heat in Italian Herb Chicken Sausage.
Put that talent to work in a Sicilian-inspired caponata. Cut the eggplant into bite-size cubes and sauté it in olive oil until deeply browned, then toss it with thinly sliced celery, capers, olives, and a sweet-and-sour dressing made with red wine vinegar, honey, and salt. Fold in browned rounds of sausage and let the mixture chill for a few hours so the flavors can settle in. Serve it cold or at room temperature with grilled bread, piled onto sandwiches, or spooned straight from the bowl when nobody is looking.
Stone Fruit
Best Paired With: Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage
Ripe peaches, plums, and nectarines are excellent eaten directly over the sink, but stone fruit also deserves a place in savory summer meals. Its sweetness and acidity balance the roasted, savory flavor of Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage without overpowering it.
For a quick salad, toss arugula with sliced stone fruit, browned rounds of sausage, and a balsamic vinaigrette. Crumbled goat cheese or feta wouldn’t hurt, either. And when pizza night needs a summer makeover, try our Grilled Peach & Chicken Sausage Flatbread Pizza, which pairs charred peaches with Italian Herb Chicken Sausage.
Heirloom Tomatoes
Best Paired With: Italian Herb Chicken Sausage
A ripe, in-season tomato doesn’t need much help. There’s a reason the tomato sandwich is one of summer’s greatest lunches: juicy tomato, crisp toast, mayonnaise, salt, and very little else. But when you want to turn that simple pleasure into a full meal, Italian Herb Chicken Sausage is ready to step in.
Its basil, parsley, fennel, and Calabrian chili complement the tomato’s sweetness and acidity while bringing plenty of savory depth. For a grilled sausage and tomato sandwich, split the sausage lengthwise and grill it alongside sourdough brushed with olive oil. Once the bread is crisp, rub it with a cut garlic clove, spread on ricotta or layer on fresh mozzarella, then add a thick slice of salted heirloom tomato and the grilled sausage. Finish with good olive oil, flaky salt, and the second slice of bread.
Related: A Semi-Definitive Guide to Tomatoes: Summer’s Favorite Fruit (Yup, Fruit)
Zucchini
Best Paired With: Italian Herb Chicken Sausage
Zucchini is so abundant in summer that anyone with a garden eventually begins giving it away with the urgency of someone disposing of evidence. Fortunately, its mild flavor and tender texture make it exceptionally easy to pair with Italian Herb Chicken Sausage.
For a comforting dinner, slowly cook shredded or thinly sliced zucchini with onions until soft, sweet, and nearly caramelized, then toss it with pasta, browned sausage, Parmesan, and a little pasta water. Or, for something that lands somewhere between a state fair and nonna’s backyard, try our Corn, Zucchini, and Chicken Sausage Fritters. Crispy outside, tender inside, and packed with fresh summer produce, they prove that fried food can still taste remarkably fresh.