Smoky grilled corn, charred zucchini, sweet peppers, and hearty Andouille sausage come together in one colorful, flavor-packed pan. It’s quick, satisfying, and finished with a cool, creamy basil-cilantro sauce that ties everything together like magic.
Whether you serve it on its own or over rice, this summer sausage skillet is the kind of meal that feels casual but tastes like you fussed all day (spoiler: you didn’t). Bonus? It all comes together with simple ingredients and just one pan.
Ingredients
For the Skillet:
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1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
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13.5 ounces Andouille sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds
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¾ cup diced red onion
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1 red bell pepper, chopped
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1 orange bell pepper, chopped
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1 small zucchini, quartered and sliced
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1 small green squash, quartered and sliced
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2 ears of fresh corn
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½ teaspoon garlic salt
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¼ teaspoon sea salt
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⅛ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
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¼ cup chopped fresh basil
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¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
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Optional: a handful of cherry tomatoes, and diced poblano or jalapeño if you like a bit of heat
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Extra sea salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Basil-Cilantro Sauce:
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½ cup mayonnaise
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¼ cup sour cream
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⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, packed
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¼ cup fresh cilantro, packed
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1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
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½ teaspoon garlic salt
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¼ teaspoon white pepper
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Juice of half a lime (about ½ to 1 tablespoon)
Instructions
1. Make the sauce
In a food processor or blender, combine all the sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside and refrigerate while you prepare the rest—it only gets better as it rests.
2. Brown the sausage
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot and shimmering, add the sausage slices in a single layer. Brown them for about 3 minutes per side, then remove and set aside.
3. Grill the corn and squash
Lightly brush the corn, zucchini, and green squash with olive oil. Grill them over medium heat, turning occasionally until lightly charred and tender. Set aside. Once the corn is cool enough to handle, slice the kernels off the cob.
4. Sauté the onion and peppers
In the same skillet used for the sausage (no need to clean it), add the diced red onion. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the chopped peppers and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, keeping the heat at medium-high to get a bit of char.
5. Add grilled veggies and seasonings
Add in the grilled zucchini and squash, along with optional cherry tomatoes if using. Season with garlic salt, sea salt, and black pepper. Let everything cook together for another 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Bring it all together
Add the sliced corn kernels and cooked sausage back to the skillet. Stir well and let it all warm through for about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it rest for another 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Finish with fresh herbs
Just before serving, stir in the chopped basil and cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if needed.
Loved this sausage skillet? Save it for later (and help others find it too!) by pinning the image below to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest. It’s the kind of meal you’ll want on repeat.
Sausage Skillet Video Recipe
Tips & Tricks
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Grill the veggies first
Pre-grilling the corn, zucchini, and squash gives this dish a deep, smoky flavor and helps them hold their texture. You can sauté them in the pan, but grilling takes it to the next level. -
Use what you have
Don’t stress if you don’t have the exact peppers listed—any combo of sweet bell peppers, Cubanelle, or even mild chili peppers will work just fine. -
Spice it up or keep it mellow
Like a little heat? Add a chopped jalapeño or poblano when sautéing the peppers. Prefer things milder? Skip it and let the creamy basil-cilantro sauce do the talking. -
Make it a meal
This skillet is hearty on its own, but it’s also great served over rice, couscous, or quinoa. Leftovers? Throw them in a wrap with a spoonful of sauce for an easy lunch. -
Don’t skip the sauce
The basil-cilantro crema ties everything together. If you make it first and let it chill while you cook, the flavors deepen and it gets even better.
