Warm Hearth Keto Skillet (Printable)
A savory skillet combining smoked sausage, fresh vegetables, and melted cheddar cheese.
# List of ingredients:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, chopped
05 - 5 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Dairy
07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Pantry
08 - 2 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Garnish
13 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
# Steps:
01 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and sauté for 3–4 minutes until browned. Remove sausage and set aside.
02 - Add the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the skillet. Add onion and garlic; cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Stir in bell pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until vegetables are just tender.
04 - Return sausage to the skillet. Add smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for 2 more minutes.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Cover skillet with a lid and let cheese melt for 2–3 minutes.
06 - Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- One skillet means one cleanup, which honestly might be the best part of dinner.
- It's ready in under 45 minutes, so your weeknight stress disappears faster than the cheese melts.
- The sausage brings so much flavor you won't miss anything, and it fits perfectly into keto without any compromise on taste.
02 -
- Don't skip browning the sausage separately; it's the difference between a good skillet dinner and one that tastes like everything was just mixed together.
- The vegetables need to be roughly the same size so they finish cooking at the same moment—uneven cuts mean some pieces are soft while others are still firm.
- Melt the cheese covered so it stays creamy and doesn't brown too much; rushing this step by cooking uncovered can dry it out.
03 -
- Buy whole cremini mushrooms and slice them yourself; they stay firmer and absorb less oil than pre-sliced mushrooms.
- Let your skillet rest for a moment after adding the cheese and before serving; it gives the flavors a chance to settle and the cheese time to set just enough to hold together.