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Italian Sausage Bread

Published April 23rd 2013 Updated February 13th 2024

You’ll delight the bread lovers at your table with this flavorful 3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread. You can enjoy it as an appetizer or as a side dish with pasta, soup, stews and salads.

3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread

Easy 3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread Recipe

I love to make bread in any way, shape, or form. I know that it can be an intimidating process to many, however, this 3 cheese Italian sausage bread is really not hard to make even though yeast is involved. The yeast I used for this bread is a fast acting yeast formulated for pizza dough. I chose it because it doesn’t require additional “rise” time.  It’s readily available in most grocery stores on the baking aisle with the other yeast products. How to make Italian Sausage Bread: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Sausage – Cook Italian sausage and onion in a couple of drizzles of olive oil. Cook until no pink remains then drain any excess fat from the pan.
  • Seasoning – Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Taste and add salt to your personal taste.
  • Remove from skillet from heat mixing in Italian parsley. Set aside to cool.
  • Sheet Pan – Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
  • Dry Ingredients Divide the flour. placing 2 1/2 cups in a medium-size mixing bowl.
  • Bloom Yeast – In a separate bowl add 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, salt and olive oil. Add warm water. mixing until fully combined and the yeast has dissolved.
  • Combine – Add the wet ingredients to the flour in the other mixing bowl. Mix together with a large silicone spatula until fully combined. The dough will be sticky.
  • Knead – Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface turning to coat with flour until it’s not sticky. Knead for 3-4 minutes adding flour as needed.
  • Press Dough – Flatten the pizza dough pressing to roughly a 14×20-inch rectangle.
  • Assemble – Sprinkle dough with 1/2 shredded cheeses (equal parts) over dough then top with cooked sausage leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Brush the border with the beaten egg wash.
  • Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese and Parmesan cheese. Begin to roll from the widest side.
  • Transfer to Pan – Place seam side down on the baking sheet, shape and tuck the ends under to seal.
  • Melted Butter – Brush the top and sides with melted butter, and sprinkling remaining Parmesan cheese.
  • Reserve some butter to brush on top after removing from the oven.
  • Bake at 400° F for 30-35 minutes or until golden. Rest for at least 15 minutes on the counter before cutting.
  • Slice into 1-inch slices and serve as is or with pizza sauce or cheese for dipping.
3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread

How to Make the Best 3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread Recipe

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Italian Sausage Bread: To make the filling you’ll need spicy or mild Italian sausage, onion, garlic, dry Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded Provolone cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, large egg and melted butter.
  • To make the bread dough you’ll need: All purpose flour, pizza dough yeast (i.e. Fleischman’s or similar) salt, olive oil, granulated sugar and warm water or milk.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: A stand mixer, large bowl, medium bowl, small bowl, skillet, sharp knife and cutting board, sheet pan, pastry brush, whisk, cheese grater, measuring cups and spoons.
  • This recipes utilizes pizza dough yeast. The reason I used this type of yeast is, that it requires no additional rise time adding to the ease of preparation. It’s typically found on the baking aisle along with other yeast products.
  • The dough for this bread requires a few minutes of kneading by hand but, no rise time otherwise, so, it’s ready to bake as soon as it’s made.
  • You may use mild or spicy Italian sausage for the filling. Likewise, the cheese can be adapted to your liking.
  • Serve as an appetizer with a Homemade Pizza Sauce or cheese sauce for dipping as an appetizer or game day snack.
  • You can also enjoy with pasta, such as Fettuccine Alfredo or a bowl of Creamy Tomato Cheese Tortellini Soup and Spinach Salad.
  • Store baked 3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread wrapped in foil chilled in the refrigerator. Reheat in single servings gently in the microwave or air fryer.
3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread

More Easy Bread Recipes to Make

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3 Cheese Italian Sausage Bread

Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Rest time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian Inspired, Southern
Keyword: 3-cheese-Italian-bread, Italian-sausage-bread
Servings: 18 slices
Calories: 267kcal
Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 1 lb spicy or mild ground Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 medium medium onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp dry Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes adjust to taste
  • 2 Tbsp chopped Italian fresh parsley
  • salt to taste
  • Bread Dough :
  • 3 1/2 cup all-purpose or bread flour (Plus additional for kneading) divided
  • 2 (1/4 oz) packages *Fleischmann's pizza crust yeast
  • 1 1/3 cup warm water or milk [115°F]
  • 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 Tbsp olive oil
  • Additional filling ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded provolone cheese divided
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
  • 2 Tbsp butter melted
  • 1 large egg beaten

Instructions

  • Filling: In a large skillet over medium-high heat cook Italian sausage and onion in a couple of drizzles of olive oil. Cook until no pink remains then drain any excess fat from the pan.
  • Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Taste and add salt to your personal taste.
  • Remove from skillet from heat mixing in Italian parsley. Set aside to cool.
  • Dough: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
  • To make the pizza dough: Divide the flour. placing 2 1/2 cups in a medium-size mixing bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, add 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, salt and olive oil. Add warm water. mixing until fully combined and the yeast has dissolved.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the flour in the other mixing bowl. Mix together with a large silicone spatula until fully combined. The dough will be sticky.
  • Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface turning to coat with flour until it's not sticky.
  • Knead for 3-4 minutes adding flour as needed. [not to exceed 1/2-3/4 cup total]
  • Flatten the pizza dough pressing to roughly a 14 x 19-inch rectangle.
  • Assemble: Sprinkle dough with 1/2 shredded cheeses (equal parts) over dough then top with cooked sausage leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Brush the border with the beaten egg wash.
  • Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese and 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese. Begin to roll from the widest side. (Don't panic if the dough tears, it will repair itself when baking and the cheese will act as a tasty glue.)
  • Place seam side down on the baking sheet, shape and tuck the ends under to seal.
  • Brush the top and sides with melted butter, and sprinkling remaining Parmesan cheese.
  • Reserve some butter to brush on top after removing from the oven.
  • Bake at 400° F for 30-35 minutes or until golden. Rest for at least 15 minutes on the counter before cutting.
  • Slice into 1-inch slices, and serve as is or with pizza sauce or cheese for dipping.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 571mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 283IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 161mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

11 Comments

  1. Hi Michelle, this particular bread is made from scratch. Check out my Italian Sausage Stromboli for a simpler version using ready made pizza dough.

  2. Hi Michelle, this particular bread is made from scratch. Check out my Italian Sausage Stromboli for a simpler version using ready made pizza dough.

  3. Hi Gracie, even though there seem to be a lot of steps, it’s really not difficult. I hope it comes close to what you remember. Thanks for stopping by!

  4. Man I cant wait to try this..I have tried this before but it look nowhere like this…I know it was a loaf with the sausage and cheese and that alone was so good but it has been years! Sense I have ate this..and I have always wanted to make it but never have..but best believe im trying this… 🙂

  5. In the recipe for the dough, is it 1 1/2 teaspoons or tablespoons of salt? I am guessing teaspoons but I don’t want to assume.

  6. Linda, I know what an accomplished cook you are and I am 100% certain you can make this bread! I sense a post coming one day soon. 🙂 Happy baking!

  7. One of my New Year’s promises to myself is that I won’t be afraid of yeast and will make bread. Maybe this is a good place to start. Looks delicious (and a little intimidating) but I will print the recipe and let you know when I make it. Thanks for sharing Melissa.

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