Dinner Ideas: Maple-Orange Glazed Smoked Sausage {Easy Recipes under $2}
After a long day when you don’t have much time to cook, you need quick and easy dinner recipes! You’ve got to try this Maple-Orange Glazed Smoked Sausage recipe. It’s easy and super inexpensive. Sometimes I like taking my time and preparing complicated recipes that can take all day. But usually, for every day meals, fast and easy wins out!
Spice it up! My family loves smoked sausage. Normally I just fry it up in some olive oil, and serve with a few side dishes such as veggies and rice. But, that gets a little boring after a while. So, I decided to spice up our plain old sausage with this incredibly tasty recipe I made up.
Substitutions for Maple-Orange
The taste of this Maple-Orange Glazed Smoked Sausage reminds me of Honey Bourbon. But, that’s just the end result. There’s actually no honey or bourbon in it!
You can substitute similar tastes to get a similar dish. For example, mix something sweet with something tart and see what you get!
You can also substitute other types of meat easily, such as bratwurst, kielbasa or polish sausage. And you don’t even have to use beef! You could use turkey or pork sausage as well. Use your imagination!
Save time and money
Making it yourself from ingredients you have at home is not only frugal, it’s fun! Start with a taste in mind and hit up your cupboards to see what you have in stock. Because, using basic ingredients you already have is a great way to cook frugally. In other words, combining sweet and salty, or sweet and savory, or tangy and tart will help you invent new meals!
Price Breakdown
The cost of this meal can be very low. You can’t compare this under $2 meal for a family of five, to eating at a restaurant. That’s for sure! And, the ingredients used cost much less than a bottle of ready-made marinade. However, if you want more exquisite ingredients the cost will obviously increase. So, do what works for you!
- maple syrup – it goes without saying that imitation syrup is much cheaper than real 100% pure maple syrup. I buy locally because I live in the country and there’s nothing like real maple syrup. But, if you buy imitation (such as “Log Cabin” brand) you can get it without a coupon for around .14 per ounce. Real maple syrup can cost double that. Our recipe calls for 1/2 a cup which is 5.6 oz, or 78¢ total.
- oranges or orange juice – obviously, there are cheap varieties here too. I used real oranges that I chopped up in my Ninja blender. My daughter spit out the rind (hey, that’s fiber and it’s good for you!) So, if you’re going for cheap you can use concentrated orange juice which is as low as $1 per container that makes 2 quarts. That equates to 12.5 ¢
- apple juice or Captain Morgan spiced rum – again, figuring the $1 containers that make 2 quarts, you’re at 12.5 ¢ per cup and you’re only using 1 oz, so that’s just under 2¢ (the Captain costs slightly more at around 30¢ per ounce if you get a 1.75 L bottle for $18, like I do at Costco).
- smoked sausage – these can vary a lot! I got mine on sale for $1 each. I’ve seen them much higher and much lower in cost. Shop around!
Total = $1.92 for this whole main dish!
Maple-Orange Glazed Smoked Sausage – a Main Course or an Appetizer?
You can serve as an appetizer – smoked sausage bites, by piking them with toothpicks and passing on a tray. These are perfect to bring to parties, such as a Super Bowl Party!
Or, Maple-Orange Glazed Smoked Sausage is hearty enough to serve as a main dish for dinner or supper. Just add a few colorful sides and you’re all set.
Step by Step
Maple-Orange Glazed Smoked Sausage {Easy Recipes under $2}
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 5 1x
Description
This quick and easy recipe is perfect if you’re looking for the perfect appetizer or dinner! Add 3 simple ingredients to smoked sausage for a crazy good taste your whole family will love. Ready in 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 C maple syrup
- An orange or two, puréed (or 1 C orange juice – with or without pulp)
- 1 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum or apple juice
- Package smoked sausage
Instructions
- Cut sausage into chunks
- Mix ingredients in a bowl and add all to a frying pan
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until liquid becomes carmelized
- Serve as main dish or appetizer
Notes
To serve as appetizer, use toothpicks to spear each chunk.
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: American
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