These little nuggets were a total surprise hit in my house. I made them for a midweek dinner thinking theyโd be โjust another sausage recipe,โ but they vanished before the red pepper sauce even cooled down. Crispy, golden, and packed with flavour, theyโve now earned a spot in my party food rotation too.
The first time I made them, I overcrowded the pan and ended up with pale, steamed meatballs instead of crisp nuggets. Lesson learned: batch frying is your friend. And the sauce? Donโt skip it. I almost didโand itโs what takes this from kidsโ tea to proper grown-up worthy.
WHY THIS ONE WORKS SO WELL
Youโre blending all the good stuff right into the sausage meatโonion, cheese, peppers, crackersโso each bite is packed. Theyโre like little savoury flavour bombs. And the red pepper sauce brings brightness and tang that balances out the richness of the nuggets.
Most recipes would have you dip in plain ketchup or mayo. Maryโs sauce is a level up. Roasted peppers, shallots, tomato, and just a touch of sugarโitโs velvety, savoury, and slightly sweet.
INGREDIENTS + WHY THEY MATTER
For the nuggets:
- Good-quality sausages (6) โ Flavour matters. Donโt skimpโget ones youโd happily eat plain.
- Red onion (ยฝ small) โ Adds bite and colour.
- Crushed cracker biscuits (55g) โ Bind the mix and add texture. I used water biscuits onceโit worked!
- Parsley (1 tbsp) โ A little freshness.
- Grainy mustard (2 tsp) โ Gentle heat and tang.
- Roasted red peppers (55g) โ Bring sweetness and moisture.
- Cheddar (55g, grated) โ Melts into the mix, adding richness.
- Plain flour (30g) โ For dredgingโhelps them crisp in the pan.
- Sunflower oil (2 tbsp) โ For frying.
For the sauce:
- Olive oil (1 tbsp) โ Base for sautรฉing.
- Shallots (2, sliced) โ Milder than onions, perfect for sauces.
- Garlic (1 clove, grated) โ Adds warmth.
- Roasted red peppers (200g) โ Sweet, smoky base.
- Tinned chopped tomatoes (ยฝ tin) โ Adds acidity and body.
- Tomato purรฉe (1 tbsp) โ Deepens the tomato flavour.
- Caster sugar (ยฝ tsp) โ Balances acidity.
- Parsley (1 tbsp) โ Bright finish.
MAKING IT YOURS (WITHOUT RUINING IT)
- No crackers? Use breadcrumbs. Iโve used panko beforeโitโs slightly crunchier.
- Different sausage flavours? I tried apple and porkโbit too sweet. Stick with savoury.
- Cheese swap? You could use mozzarella, but Cheddar gives more flavour.
- Make it spicy? Add chilli flakes to the nugget mix or hot sauce to the dip.
MISTAKES IโVE MADE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)
What Went Wrong | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
---|---|---|
Nuggets steamed, not crisp | Overcrowded the pan | Fry in batches with space between each piece |
Sauce too thick | Simmered too long | Add a splash of water to loosen before blending |
Mix too sticky to shape | Didnโt chill before rolling | Chill mixture for 10โ15 mins before forming |
Undercooked centres | Made them too large | Keep them bite-sized for even cooking |
HOW TO MAKE MARY BERRYโS SAUSAGE NUGGETS WITH RED PEPPER SAUCE
- Make the sauce
Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Sautรฉ shallots for 2โ3 mins. Add garlic and peppers, cook 2 more mins. Stir in tomatoes, purรฉe, sugar, parsley, and 100ml water. Simmer 15 mins. Blitz smooth and set aside. - Make the nuggets
Remove sausage skins and place meat in a food processor. Add red onion, crackers, parsley, mustard, peppers, Cheddar, salt and pepper. Blitz until combined. Shape into 40 small nuggets. - Dredge in flour
Roll each nugget lightly in plain flour to coat. - Fry the nuggets
Heat sunflower oil in a frying pan. Fry nuggets in batches over medium heat for 8โ10 mins, turning until golden and cooked through. - Serve
Pile nuggets onto a serving platter with the warm red pepper sauce in a bowl for dipping.
TIPS FROM MY KITCHEN
- I always chill the nugget mix before shapingโmuch easier to handle.
- I blend the sauce until velvety smooth, then taste and adjust salt at the end.
- I use roasted peppers in oil from a jarโmore flavour and easier than roasting your own.
STORAGE + SERVING
- Keeps โ 3 days in the fridge (sealed container).
- Freezes โ Both sauce and nuggets freeze well for up to 1 month.
- Reheats โ Oven at 180ยฐC for 10 mins or pan-fry gently.
- Serve with โ As finger food, or over couscous with extra sauce.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Can I bake the nuggets instead of frying?
A: Yesโbake at 200ยฐC for 20 minutes, turning halfway. They wonโt be as crisp, but still tasty.
Q: Can I use veggie sausages?
A: I tried with veggie sausages once. Texture was trickier, but adding an egg helped it hold.
Q: Can I make the sauce ahead?
A: Absolutelyโkeeps in the fridge for 3โ4 days. Just reheat gently before serving.
Q: Can kids eat these?
A: Definitely. Just skip the mustard if theyโre not into it.
Try More Recipes:
- Mary Berry Stuffed Chicken Thighs With Lemon Sauce
- Mary Berry Cannelloni With Double Cheese Sauce
- Mary Berry Peppered Roast Beef Fillet
Mary Berry Sausage Nuggets With Red Pepper Sauce
Course: Side DishesCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy40
servings20
minutes28
minutes70
kcalGolden, bite-sized sausage nuggets full of cheese and roasted peppers, served with a tangy, creamy red pepper sauce. A fun, family-friendly snack or light meal.
Ingredients
- For the nuggets:
6 good-quality pork sausages
ยฝ small red onion, cut into wedges
55g cracker biscuits, crushed
1 tbsp chopped parsley
2 tsp grainy mustard
55g roasted red peppers, diced
55g mature Cheddar, grated
30g plain flour
2 tbsp sunflower oil
- For the sauce:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 shallots, sliced
1 garlic clove, grated
200g roasted red peppers, chopped
ยฝ tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato purรฉe
ยฝ tsp caster sugar
1 tbsp chopped parsley
Directions
- Heat olive oil, cook shallots 2โ3 mins. Add garlic, peppers. Cook 2 mins more.
- Add tomatoes, purรฉe, sugar, parsley, and 100ml water. Simmer 15 mins. Blitz until smooth.
- Blitz sausage meat with onion, crackers, parsley, mustard, peppers, and cheese. Season.
- Shape into 40 nuggets, roll in flour.
- Fry in oil in batches for 8โ10 mins until golden and cooked through.
- Serve warm with the red pepper sauce.
Notes
- Chill nugget mix before shapingโitโs easier to handle.
- Donโt skip the flour coatingโit helps them crisp up.
- Taste the sauce before servingโadd salt if needed.