Classic spaghetti pasta made in a muffin tin pan with Johnsonville sausage, cheese and parsley. Â The perfect bite sized appetizer to serve for Game Day.
As football championship gets closer, we’re planning ahead and making this cheesy pasta and sausage appetizer packed full of tasty Italian sausage.  It’s a fun way make a meaty dish and it doesn’t take long to prepare.  Our favorite green and gold team may have not made it to final championship, but we’ll still be celebrating game day with friends!
Food is a universal language that brings people together.  It’s something we are all familiar with and it’s something that traditions can be formed from.  When it comes to hosting a party, food and good company are the most important things to keep in mind.
Food is much more than impressing someone, but rather something pleasurable we can all relate to and sausage is at the top of the list.  Everyone loves it and that’s why we’re naming this years big game day as Sausage Bowl.
Having grown up in Wisconsin, I can say that sausage is everywhere. Â In fact, we’re known for beer, brats and cheese and I promise those ingredients won’t disappoint in this recipe. Â My family has been using Johnsonville sausage since I can remember. Â Even in winter, you’ll find me tailgating at a Green Bay game with sausage in hand.
Johnsonville sausage hails from a team dedicated to making the best sausage with phenomenal flavor. Â Choice cuts of meat with added spices and flavors are mixed into the meat. Â It’s the number one sausage I use in all my recipes.
Growing up in Milwaukee, you won’t be hard pressed to find sausage. In fact, during halftime at baseballs games, we have the famous racing brat sausages.  The nostalgic ambiance of a good sausage made in Wisconsin is popular with game day guests.  Sausage has been engraved in my life since childhood and it’s something I love to cook with when hosting a party.
 I like to use Johnsonville Sausage or brats because it’s a convenient ingredient that comes loaded with herbs and seasoning.  It takes an ordinary recipe from bland to deeply satisfying and if one ingredient can do that, then I bet it pairs wonderfully with traditional appetizer recipes.  It’s so tasty, that I love to swap traditional recipes with Italian sausage for a convenient twist.  I like to think that it’s the secret to hosting a fun and delicious party.
The seasoned sausage adds a lot of additional flavor, depth and texture to these cheesy game day muffin tin bites.  In fact, only fresh parsley is used to add warmth.  Sausage is packed with flavor and added jalapenos adds some serious heat.
Johnsonville is searching for the best recipe dishes to add to their official book of Game Day recipes. Â Their quest has led to a reality show competition called The Sausage Dome. Â Contestants pitch their game day recipe to six real-life Johnsonville employees, known as “The Sausage Six.”
Each contestant fights for a chance to have their recipe live on as one of the Johnsonville’s official Game Day recipes. Â Visit http://www.sausagedome.com/ to view the latest episodes and to find the best sausage recipes to incorporate into your own football party. Â Check back to find out which recipe won the “Sausage Dome” because I know I’ll be watching!
So what are the top tips for hosting a party? Â At the top of the list is food.
 Rather than having one super difficult recipe to make, I like to have a few quick and easy food options to serve to guests.  Convenience is equally important.  Always stick with recipes that are easy to shop for.  Pick items that are already seasoned and take little time to prepare and make.  I love to swap chicken and beef with Johnsonville Italian Sausage and brats.
It goes without saying; we eat with our eyes first.  Therefore, you’ll want to include appetizing food that everyone will love.  Perhaps this is one of the most important aspects of throwing an unforgettable football party.
 Did you know Johnsonville is the number one brand of sausage in America?  What are you waiting for?  Go make this recipe for the football championship game!
Food is what brings us together.  Be sure to have plenty of it for game day!  Every game day party needs Cheesy Muffin Tin Sausage Pasta Bites.  What are your must have appetizers for game day?  Is it sausage-able?
Muffin Tin Sausage Pasta Bites
Ingredients
- 5 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese crumbs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons parsley (, finely chopped)
- 1/2 jalapeno (, finely diced)
- 2 cup pasta sauce
- 1 package Johnsonville Italian Sausage or Brats
- 2 cans beer
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese crumbs
- 1/2 tablespoon parsley (, finely chopped, to garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a medium pot set on the stove top, boil Johnsonville Italian Sausage or brats with 2 cans of beer for 10 minutes.
- In a large pot set on the stove top, cook spaghetti with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Cook according to package directions. Strain spaghetti and toss with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil or cooking spray to prevent the noodles from sticking together. Allow mixture to cool.
- Once sausage is done, remove and place in a pan on the stove top over medium heat. Brown sausage on each side then move to cutting board. Chop sausage into 1 + 1/2 inch slices, twelve total slices; set aside.
- Toss spaghetti with 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese crumbs, diced jalapenos and 1 + 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin pan well with cooking spray. Spoon noodle mixture into tins, filling it nearly to the top. Spoon 1 tablespoon pasta sauce onto each noodle cup. Slightly press sausage tips into each cup.
- Spoon 1/2 tablespoon pasta sauce over the top of each sausage then sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley.
- Cook in oven for 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly then remove by running a small spatula or knife along the edges.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Johnsonville. The opinions and text are all mine.
5 Comments
Hannah Healy
01/28/2017 at 3:05 pmThis looks so tasty!
Igor @ Cooking The Globe
01/28/2017 at 3:26 pmThat’s a super creative way of making sausage pasta. I have never thought about that, seriously! Thanks for the idea!
Holly
01/28/2017 at 3:28 pmI love this recipe idea for making pasta and sausage – so fun! And it looks absolutely delicious!! Thanks for the recipe!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
01/29/2017 at 3:49 amThose sausages look delicious, I can see why they are a good base for this recipe
Platter Talk
01/29/2017 at 8:52 amOh my goodness! These look terribly delicious. Easy, too.