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Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash

Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash

Sweet Italian sausage roasts alongside tender, caramelized delicata squash and red onions before getting finished with a zippy hot honey drizzle and peppery arugula. It delivers all the cozy, savory-sweet autumn flavors of a restaurant dinner with virtually zero cleanup.

Elena Reyes
Elena Reyes
Prep: 14 minutes
Cook: 22 minutes
4
easy
dinner
sheet-pan30-minute-mealfall-dinnerweeknight-dinner

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Timeline

38 minutes
0m10m20m30m38m
Preheat Oven
5m
Prep Vegetables
6m
Slice Sausage
Season & Spread
4m
Roast Sheet Pan
22m
Make Hot Honey
Garnish & Serve

Ingredients

  • 1 lb sweet or hot Italian sausage links(cut into 1-inch pieces; hot or sweet both work great)
  • 2 medium delicata squash(halved lengthwise, seeds scooped out, sliced into 1/2-inch half-moons; no peeling needed)
  • 1 large red onion(cut into 1/2-inch wedges)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 3/4 tsp kosher salt(divided)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper(freshly cracked)
  • 2 tbsp honey(warmed slightly if stiff)
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes(adjust to your heat preference)
  • 2 cups baby arugula(lightly packed)
  • 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese(pecorino also works wonderfully)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 425°F (220°C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

    5 min

    Tip: Preheating thoroughly ensures that squash caramelizes on the bottom instead of steaming.

  2. 2

    Wash 2 medium delicata squash, trim off the stem ends, halve lengthwise, and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Slice into 1/2-inch half-moons. Slice 1 large red onion into 1/2-inch wedges.

    6 min

    Tip: Do not peel the squash! The skin on delicata squash is completely edible, thin, and crisps up beautifully in the oven.

  3. 3

    Slice 1 lb sweet or hot Italian sausage links into bite-sized 1-inch rounds.

    3 min

    Tip: A sharp chef's knife or kitchen shears makes quick, clean work of raw sausage links.

  4. 4

    Pile the sliced squash and red onion directly onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and season with 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 3/4 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Toss with your hands until evenly coated, then scatter the sausage pieces across the pan, arranging everything in a single layer with cut sides of the squash facing down.

    4 min

    Tip: Spreading ingredients out so they have breathing room is the secret to crisp, browned edges rather than soggy vegetables.

  5. 5

    Roast for 20 to 22 minutes, flipping the squash pieces halfway through, until the squash is fork-tender with golden brown edges and the sausage is deeply browned and cooked through to 160°F.

    22 min

    Tip: If your sausage renders extra fat, the squash will soak up all that savory flavor while it roasts.

  6. 6

    While the pan roasts, whisk together 2 tbsp honey and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes in a small ramekin to create a quick homemade hot honey.

    2 min

    Tip: Microwave the honey for 8 to 10 seconds if it is too thick to whisk smoothly.

  7. 7

    Pull the baking sheet from the oven. Scatter 2 cups baby arugula directly over the hot ingredients so it wilts slightly from the residual heat. Drizzle the hot honey evenly over everything and finish with 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese. Serve straight from the sheet pan.

    2 min

    Tip: The peppery bite of raw arugula cuts through the rich sausage and sweet squash perfectly.

Chef's Notes

Italian sausage is the ultimate weeknight cheat code because it comes already loaded with fennel, garlic, and spices, which means half your seasoning work is done before you even open the package. Delicata squash is my absolute favorite fall vegetable because you never have to peel it—just scrub, slice, and roast. If you have leftovers, they reheat remarkably well in a toaster oven or skillet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash take to make?

Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash takes about 36 minutes total. That includes 14 minutes of prep and 22 minutes of cooking.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 4 servings.

What skill level is needed for Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash?

The main ingredients are: sweet or hot Italian sausage links, delicata squash, red onion, olive oil, dried oregano, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, honey, crushed red pepper flakes, baby arugula, shaved Parmesan cheese.

What type of meal is Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash?

Sheet-Pan Hot Honey Italian Sausage & Roasted Delicata Squash is categorized as: dinner.