How to Make an Easy, Inexpensive Dinner With a Bag of Coleslaw and Turkey Breakfast Sausage (Diabetic Friendly, Skillet, Air Fryer, or Oven)
- Leigh
- Dec 8, 2025
- 2 min read
This easy, quick to make dinner is inexpensive, filling, and really good! It's also nutritious, with lots of vegetables, lean protein, and fiber. You can serve the meal straight from the pan or put the mixture into baking pans and bake or air fry it. I often serve part of the mixture from the pan and pack the rest into a disposable baking pan, which I freeze and bake later for a quick dinner. If you're on a diabetic diet or want to "eat healthy," the meal is a great, easy option. We like the dinner with a simple side salad and sometimes whole-grain bread on the side. Enjoy!
Coleslaw and Turkey Breakfast Sausage Skillet or Bake -- Serves 6+
16 ounces of turkey breakfast sausage (the uncooked type that comes in a roll)
1 medium onion, chopped (2/3-3/4 cup)
1/4 cup of chopped celery
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 cups of water
2/3 cup of whole-wheat (or whole-grain) orzo
1 1/2 teaspoons of reduced sodium chicken base (I use "Better Than Bullion")
14-ounce bag of coleslaw mix with carrots
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of white whole-wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3/4 cup of cheddar cheese
1/4 cup of light sour cream
Heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat and crumble in the breakfast sausage. Add the onion, celery, and garlic powder to the pan and saute the vegetables with the sausage for about 10 minutes or until the veggies soften and the turkey sausage is mostly cooked through. Add the water to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the orzo, chicken base, and coleslaw mix to the pan and mix them into the turkey sausage mixture. Turn down the heat to medium-low, partially cover the pan, and let the mixture cook for 10-15 minutes or until the orzo has absorbed most of the water and is done to your liking. While the mixture is cooking whisk together the milk, flour, and salt. After the orzo is mostly tender add the milk mixture to the pan and stir it in. Keep stirring for a few minutes until the mixture begins to thicken. Stir in the cheese until it melts into the sauce. Turn off the heat and stir in the sour cream. Serve the mixture from the pan or spray one or two pans with non-stick cooking spray and spoon the mixture into the pan(s). Air fry the cooked mixture in the pan(s) at 320 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until set and a little crispy and brown on the top. You can also bake the mixture in the pan(s) at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
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