Soups, Sprouts, and Stews: 13 Chorizo Recipes To Try Right Now

Have you found yourself with a surplus of chorizo sausage? Did you go a little bit nuts at the grocery store? If so, you’re a lucky person: The popular pork sausage is far more versatile than you might expect. Just read this Reddit thread, where many users stopped by to share their chorizo recipe ideas.

You already know you can add it to tacos, breakfast burritos, and nachos, but what else can you do with delicious, smoky chorizo? The list never ends. Here are 13 of our favorite recipes with chorizo, inspired by Redditors.

As long as you’ve got rice, red pepper, saffron, and smoked paprika, you’re in business. Spanish chorizo is slightly different from Mexican chorizo, so you’ll want to get your hands on some of the Spanish stuff for this. 

Also: This is a one smoky son of a gun, so you may want to do this outdoors. At least, that’s what I learned when I set off every smoke detector in my apartment trying to make some.

Recipe: BBC Good Food

Jambalaya is kind of like Paella’s Creole cousin. Though the meaty rice dish has origins in West African and Gullah culture, it’s best known as one of the central pieces of Louisiana’s culinary identity. "I fry up chorizo and then use the grease in the pan as a starting point," says one Redditor.

Recipe: Skinny Spatula

Regular ol' queso is so last year. Melt your queso over chorizo and you’re playing in a whole different ball game. This recipe from Budget Bytes is a cinch and will deliver fresh, bubbling queso fundido in less than 30 minutes.

Recipe:Budget Bytes

There are countless soups that make great use of chorizo, but this Spanish stew is a lot heartier. This recipe is a cheap meal hero and uses very few ingredients, all of which are easy to find.

Recipe: The Spanish Chef

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You’ve probably had every ingredient you can think of piled on top of Brussels sprouts at this point, but don’t sleep on chorizo. Its fatty, smoky graininess can really make those sprouts sing.

Recipe: NYT Cooking

Related: 17 Delicious Tex-Mex Recipes Your Family Will Love

Minestra di pane, more commonly known as the beloved Olive Garden soup Zuppa Toscana, is a prime vessel for ground Italian sausage. 

"Try the Natasha's Kitchen Olive Garden zuppa Toscana knockoff recipe and sub in the chorizo for the sausage," says one genius Redditor. "It's incredibly delicious!"

Recipe: Natasha’s Kitchen

Related: Unhinged Etiquette Rules From the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council

Because chorizo is such a great substitute for ground beef, chili is an obvious dish. Whether you’re making your own or adding it to a store-bought can, this is a great move.

Recipe:Isabel Eats

"I've made an Italian Pasta sauce with Chorizo instead of Italian Sausage and it was really really good," writes user u/SasparillaTango.

Bolognese, risotto, a hearty ragu, you name it — any time a pasta recipe calls for Italian sausage, you can probably get away with subbing chorizo. 

Recipe: Jamie Oliver

You can add just about anything you want to a tasty breakfast hash. Chorizo and poblanos are a natural pair, and the same goes for sweet potatoes. 

Recipe:Tasting Table

Meatballs come in many shapes and varieties, but some of the best are made out of chorizo and served in a soulful, rich soup. "I like my meatballs 50% chorizo and 50% hamburger with rice as a binder," advises one Redditor.

Recipe:Food.com

Spicy chorizo, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese are a wildly popular combo when it comes to breakfast burritos or tacos, but there’s another route you can take to enjoy chorizo and eggs.

Grab your best cast iron pan, a can of crushed tomatoes, and whip up some shakshuka with fried eggs for a little bit of Israeli flair.

Recipe:Tasty

There aren’t many better uses for a whole chorizo sausage than this classic Argentinian sandwich. Grill up your sausages, add chimichurri (Trader Joes makes a great one if you’re in a hurry), spice it up with a fresh tomato salsa, and close your eyes. Welcome to nirvana.

Recipe:GrillSeeker

You’ll often see mussels served with grilled bread and ‘nduja, so why not chorizo? Check out this incredibly simple recipe from Food Network. According to one user, this combo works really well in ramen, too.

Pro tip: Mussels are actually really easy to cook. When they open up, they’re ready.

Recipe:Food Network