This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
We will show you How to Cook Italian Sausage in the oven, on the grill, and on the stovetop. These easy, simple steps will have you enjoying the hearty meat in no time.
How to Cook Italian Sausage:
We love to cook Italian Sausage. It is good in so many different recipes or sliced to enjoy on its own. There are also different ways to cook this hearty, tasty sausage.
There are many different types of sausage, depending on your recipe and your taste, on which one to choose. We cook and eat sausage for breakfast or as part of a main dish.
We will show you 3 step-by-step process on different ways to cook Italian Sausage. My personal favorite is grilling Italian Sausage and hot dogs then slicing with some bell peppers. You can even bake Italian Sausage with Marinara Sauce.
What is Italian Sausage?
Seasoned ground pork that is stuffed into a casing shell make up Italian Sausage. The links are usually about 6 inches long. Italian sausage is made up of fennel seeds and red pepper flakes. These ingredients combined with the ground pork make up Italian Sausage.
Ingredients:
- Italian Sausage Links
- Water
How to Cook Italian Sausage on the stove:
- Place the sausage in a large skillet. Add approximately 1/2″ of water to the bottom of the pan.
- Bring the water to a simmer.
- Cover, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10-12 minutes. This will ensure that the sausage has an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure Italian Sausage is done.
- Remove the lid. Continue to cook on medium high heat until all the water evaporates and allow the sausage to brown slightly.
- Continue to turn the sausages while they are cooking to brown them evenly.
- Then remove them from the heat, serve warm and enjoy!
How To Make Italian Sausage on a Grill:
- Preheat the grill to 350 degrees F. Place the sausages on the grill.
- Close the lid and grill sausages for 15-20 minutes until they have reached an internal temperature for 160 degrees F.
- Cook time may vary as it could take up to 30 minutes depending on your grill.
- Turn the sausages occasionally to allow them to brown evenly.
How To Make Italian Sausage in the Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the sausages on a baking sheet lined with foil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until they have reached an internal temperature for 160 degrees F.
- Turn the sausages occasionally to allow them to brown evenly.
How to Pan Fry Italian Sausage:
When cooking sausage, make sure that the sausage reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Italian Sausage is raw ground pork that needs to be cooked. Smoked sausage is already cooked.
We recommend frying Italian Sausage slowly. If you fry it to fast then the outside gets dark, almost burnt but the insides are still undercooked.
Frying Italian Sausage in an iron skillet with water, really helps the Italian Sausage to come out perfectly.
Tips for the best Italian Sausage:
Cooking sausage may seem a little hard at first. When I am preparing to cook the sausage, it all depends on the recipe I am making. Here are few tips to help ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible:
- Buying Italian Sausage – We recommend buying fresh italian sausage as it has more flavor.
- When to cook – When purchasing Italian Sausage, plan on cooking it within 2 days. If not, place in the freezer so that it stays fresher longer.
- Thawing Frozen Sausage – When you are ready to cook your sausage remove from freezer. We recommend thawing Italian Sausage in the refrigerator. Then immediately cook it after it has thawed.
- Pick the Right Sausage – There are many different types of sausage including spicy italian sausage and sweet italian sausage. It will depend on the recipe you are making so make sure you choose the right one.
- Meat thermometer – Purchasing a meat thermometer is a must when cooking any meat.
Do you Pierce the Skin?
It is not necessary to pierce the skin of the italian sausage. To keep the Italian Sausage juicy and full of flavor, we recommend not piercing the skin.
That is the purpose of the sausage casing to keep the juicing intact.
Can I bake Italian Sausage?
Yes, baking Italian Sausage is an easy way to ensure to get the full flavor of the sausage.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Prepare your baking dish by spraying the pan with cooking oil or olive oil.
- Place sausage in the baking dish and make sure they do not touch each other.
- You can add some seasoning if you prefer. We like using some salt and pepper.
- Cover the sausage with foil and bake for about 45 minutes.
- To get them brown on the surface, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy by themselves or with a side.
What to serve with Italian Sausage:
We love to cook with Italian Sausage. Our favorite way to cook it is on the grill when we are grilling out for friends and family. It is so yummy to make. Here are our favorite sides to serve Italian Sausage with:
- Steamed Broccoli
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- White Rice and Vegetables
How to store leftovers:
Italian Sausage leftovers are so good if store properly. Store them in an airtight container or wrap in foil. Italian Sausage will stay good for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, place in the microwave and slowly heat. I usually store in individual containers with rice so it is an easy lunch the next day.
Print Recipe here for How to cook Italian Sausage:
How to Cook Italian Sausage
Ingredients
- 5 Italian Sausage Links
- water
Instructions
- Place the sausage in a large skillet. Add approximately 1/2″ of water to the bottom of the pan.
- Bring the water to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 10-12 minutes until the sausage has an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
- Remove the lid. Continue to cook on medium high heat until all the water evaporates and allow the sausage to brown slightly. Continue to turn the sausages while they are cooking to brown them evenly.
- Then remove them from the heat, serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
More Italian Sausage Recipes:
- Crock Pot Italian Sausage Rigatoni Recipe
- Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe
- Easy Cheesy Pasta and Sausage Skillet Dinner Recipe
