Meat and three hot links is the ultimate easy BBQ dinner when you want smoky, spicy, Southern-inspired comfort food without firing up the grill. This fun take on the classic Southern “meat and three” gives you everything I love about a relaxed barbecue spread: juicy hot link sausages, tangy pickles, creamy macaroni cheese, crunchy coleslaw and vibrant pickled onions—all piled onto one seriously satisfying plate.
The beauty of a meat and three is right there in the name. You choose one meat and three side dishes, creating a generous, casual meal that feels made for sharing. It is a beloved Southern US dining tradition because it is wonderfully flexible, hearty and unfussy. You get your main protein, surround it with comforting sides, and let everyone dig in.
This version takes that idea and gives it a seriously easy home-cook makeover. There is no charcoal, complicated barbecue setup or hours of cooking involved. The hot links bring the smoky, spicy character, while ready-made macaroni cheese and coleslaw make the meal wonderfully practical for a busy weeknight.
I especially love the contrast of textures and flavours here. The sausages are rich and savoury, the mac ’n’ cheese is creamy and indulgent, the coleslaw adds freshness and crunch, while pickled onions and burger gherkins cut through all that richness with a bright, vinegary tang.
It is basically Southern comfort food with the volume turned up.
Why You’ll Love This Meat and Three Dinner
There is something incredibly satisfying about putting together a proper Southern-style platter, and this recipe makes it ridiculously achievable.
First, the whole meal comes together in around 35 minutes. That makes it a brilliant option when you want an easy sausage dinner without spending your entire evening in the kitchen.
Second, the sides do most of the work. Rather than making everything from scratch, this recipe combines prepared macaroni cheese and coleslaw with punchy pickled ingredients. That means less chopping, fewer pans and much more time actually enjoying your dinner.
And then there are the hot links.
Hot link sausages are ideal for this style of meal because they bring plenty of savoury flavour and gentle-to-fiery chilli heat. Served alongside creamy mac and cheese and crisp pickles, they become the star of a plate that tastes much more elaborate than it actually is.
This would make a fantastic summer dinner, casual family meal, weekend comfort food spread or cookout-inspired dinner when the weather is questionable and the barbecue is staying firmly in the shed.
Meat and Three Hot Links Ingredients
For four generous servings, you’ll need:
- 3 red chillies
- 2 teaspoons caster sugar
- 40ml white wine vinegar
- 400g hot link sausages
- 400g prepared macaroni cheese
- ½ x 280g tub pickled onions, drained
- 20 burger gherkin slices, drained
- 300g prepared coleslaw
- Mustard, barbecue sauce, ketchup or hot sauce, to serve
The ingredient list is deliberately simple, which is one of the reasons this works so well as an easy BBQ recipe.
The hot links provide the meaty centrepiece, while the pickled onions and gherkins introduce acidity that keeps the plate from becoming too heavy. The coleslaw contributes cool crunch, and the macaroni cheese brings that creamy, cheesy comfort-food element everyone seems to gravitate towards.
For an extra punch, the quick chilli pickle adds another layer of sweet, sour and spicy flavour.
How to Make Meat and Three Hot Links
Start by preparing the quick chilli pickle.
Thinly slice the red chillies and place them in a small bowl or saucepan. Add the caster sugar and white wine vinegar, giving everything a good mix. Allow the chillies to sit while you prepare the rest of the meal.
This little step is worth doing because the vinegar softens the sharp chilli heat while the sugar adds just enough sweetness to balance it. You end up with a bright, punchy condiment that works beautifully with rich sausages and creamy cheese.
Next, cook the hot links according to their package instructions until they are thoroughly cooked and beautifully browned on the outside. Depending on your equipment and the sausage instructions, you can cook them in a frying pan, under the grill or using another suitable method.
The goal is a deeply savoury, browned exterior with juicy meat inside.
While the sausages are cooking, prepare the macaroni cheese. If you’re using chilled prepared macaroni cheese, simply heat it according to the package instructions until piping hot.
Drain the pickled onions and burger gherkins so they do not release excess liquid onto the plate.
Then comes the fun part: assembling your meat and three.
Divide the hot links between four plates and add a generous scoop of creamy macaroni cheese alongside them. Add a portion of crunchy coleslaw, followed by the pickled onions and plenty of gherkins.
Finish with the quick-pickled chillies and serve with your favourite condiments.
Mustard is an obvious choice, but barbecue sauce, ketchup and hot sauce all work brilliantly too.
The Flavour Profile Is All About Contrast
What makes this Southern-inspired dinner so addictive is the balance.
The hot links bring rich pork-and-beef flavour with chilli warmth and smoky barbecue character. The macaroni cheese is creamy, cheesy and comforting, creating the indulgent foundation of the plate.
Then the pickles arrive and completely wake everything up.
The gherkins are sharp, crunchy and vinegary. Pickled onions offer sweetness and acidity with a gorgeous colour that makes the whole plate look more inviting. The coleslaw adds freshness and texture, while the quick-pickled chillies deliver a spicy little kick.
It is a brilliant example of why balancing rich foods with acidic and crunchy ingredients makes a meal taste more exciting.
This is Southern comfort food, but it does not feel one-note or overly heavy.
Pro Tips for the Best Hot Links and Pickles
1. Don’t skip the pickled chillies.
They take only minutes to prepare but add an enormous amount of flavour. The sweet-and-sour chilli mixture gives the rich hot links a fresh, fiery contrast.
2. Brown your sausages properly.
Whatever cooking method you use, aim for good surface browning. That caramelised exterior adds extra savoury flavour and gives the sausages that barbecue-style character without needing a charcoal grill.
3. Drain your pickles well.
Gherkins and pickled onions contain plenty of liquid. Give them a good drain before plating so the vinegar does not run through your mac and cheese and coleslaw.
4. Keep the sides generous.
The whole appeal of meat and three is abundance. Don’t be shy with the macaroni cheese, coleslaw and pickles. You want every forkful to combine several flavours and textures.
5. Put the condiments on the table.
Rather than choosing one sauce for everyone, offer mustard, barbecue sauce, ketchup and hot sauce. It turns dinner into a more relaxed, interactive meal and lets everyone customise their plate.
What to Serve With Meat and Three Hot Links
Honestly, the beauty of this recipe is that it already includes its three sides, so you do not need to add much.
However, if you’re creating a larger Southern-inspired spread, there are plenty of directions you could take.
Think cornbread, potato salad, baked beans, roasted corn, green beans or a simple leafy salad. These would all fit beautifully alongside the hot links.
For a summer cookout, you could turn the recipe into a larger buffet with extra pickles, barbecue sauces and plenty of cold drinks. It would also make a brilliant casual party food idea because guests can build their own plates.
And if you’re looking for easy sausage recipes for a family dinner, simply serving the hot links with the macaroni cheese and coleslaw makes this a wonderfully low-effort option.
Easy Variations to Try
One of the best things about the meat and three concept is that you can make it your own.
For extra heat, add more fresh chilli or drizzle the finished sausages with your favourite hot sauce.
Want something sweeter? Try a smoky barbecue sauce alongside the sausages.
You can also swap the sides depending on what you have available. Potato salad, baked beans or roasted vegetables can easily replace the coleslaw or macaroni cheese.
For a more traditional cookout food feel, add warm cornbread and extra barbecue sauce to the table.
The important thing is to maintain the basic formula: one hearty meat + three contrasting sides.
Why This Is Such a Great Weeknight Dinner
There are recipes that require you to spend an afternoon cooking, and then there are recipes like this one.
This is the kind of dinner I want when I’m craving barbecue flavours but absolutely do not want to deal with charcoal, smoke or complicated preparation.
The combination of ready-made sides and quick pickled ingredients keeps everything moving quickly. You can have a colourful, generous plate of Southern-inspired comfort food on the table in about 35 minutes.
And because the meal is built around contrasts, it feels far more exciting than simply serving sausages with one side dish.
You’ve got creamy, crunchy, spicy, tangy, savoury and sweet elements all competing for attention.
That is exactly what makes a great meat and three.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “meat and three” mean?
Meat and three is a Southern US dining tradition where diners choose one meat-based main dish and three side dishes. It is known for generous portions and comforting, home-style food.
Can I use different sausages?
Absolutely. Hot links provide the chilli and smoky character associated with this version, but you could use another favourite sausage if needed.
Can I make this recipe less spicy?
Yes. Reduce or omit the fresh chillies and choose a milder sausage. You can also leave hot sauce off the table.
What makes this different from a regular sausage dinner?
The combination of creamy mac and cheese, crunchy coleslaw and multiple pickled ingredients gives it the character of a Southern-inspired BBQ feast rather than a simple sausage-and-sides meal.
Can I prepare the pickled chillies ahead?
Yes. Preparing them slightly ahead gives the vinegar and sugar more time to mellow the chillies and develop their flavour.
The Bottom Line
This meat and three hot links recipe proves you do not need a backyard smoker or a mountain of barbecue equipment to create an exciting BBQ-style dinner at home. With juicy hot links, creamy macaroni cheese, crunchy coleslaw, tangy gherkins, pickled onions and fiery chillies, every bite brings something different to the party.
I love recipes like this because they feel wonderfully generous without demanding hours of preparation. It is easy comfort food, casual cookout food and Southern-inspired cooking all rolled into one colourful plate.
So grab your favourite sausages, pile on those pickles and get the macaroni cheese bubbling. Whether you’re making this for a family dinner, relaxed weekend meal or summer gathering, this is one of those sausage recipes that practically begs everyone to dig in.
If you make this meat and three hot links at home, I’d love to hear how you served yours! Share your favourite side combinations, sauce choices or spicy twists—and don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter for more easy, flavour-packed recipe ideas delivered straight to your inbox.