Grilled Sausage Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Do you need to boil sausage before grilling? ›

You don't need to prepare sausage before you put it on the grill. But you can prepare sausage for the grill if you choose. The most common thing people do before putting sausage on the grill is to pre-cook it.

To grill sausages, preheat the grill to medium, place the sausages on the grill pan and cook for 6-12 minutes, until thoroughly cooked, turning every few minutes.

Sure, some recipes suggest that you poke or score the casings, because it might prevent the sausages from bursting at the ends, while helping the interior cook slightly faster and more evenly. However, you should skip that step and simply cook the sausages at the right temperature for the proper amount of time.

One of the healthiest ways to cook sausages is in the oven. It's super easy to do, and unlike frying or grilling, baking sausages doesn't require any extra oil.

Cooking a sausage all the way through before it burns on the outside is tricky, and flare ups from dripping fat make it even harder...if you cook them over direct heat. Sausages are a prime candidate for sear-roasting on the grill. Start them over indirect heat, and leave them there until they are cooked through.

We use a tried and true two-zone grilling method to grill the uncooked sausage on low indirect heat and finish them over high heat for a crispy charred finish – perfect grilled sausage every time. A total summertime staple!

Dry off sausage to remove any moisture. Heat a stainless steel pan to medium-low and once hot add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the sausage and cook until the links are well browned on all sides (about 10-15 minutes total). Remove sausage from pan and set aside tented with foil to keep warm.

Keep cooking for 15-20 mins, moving them around in the pan and turning them over regularly so they all cook evenly. The sausages are ready when the outside is a deep golden brown and the inside is pale, with no pink meat. Any meat juices running off should be clear.

Things You Should Know

Use a meat thermometer to make sure your sausage is between 160 and 165 °F (71 and 74 °C). If you don't have a meat thermometer, check that the sausage is firm and has clear, runny juices. Cut it open and make sure the inside is brown, not pink.

Overall, pan-frying was a low-maintenance and delicious method for cooking sausage. This is perfect for when you don't want to break out the grill but still want a moist, flavorful sausage. The smoky flavors were not as prominent as they were from the grill, however the sausage remained juicy, tender, and crispy.

Do you grill sausages open or closed? ›

It's simple. If the food you're grilling is ¾ inch thick or less, don't put the lid down. If it's over ¾ inch—you guessed it—cover that sucker up.

Arrange your sausages as far from the heat source as possible or as close the lid as you can. -Allow the BBQ to roast the meat. The sausages will cook in 10 to 15 minutes depending on their thickness. (It's very handy to have the instant-read thermometer here).

Simply cut your sausages lengthwise – about 80 percent of the way through – and lay them flat on the grill. Since you're laying your sausages skin-side up, the casing won't dry out and the sausage will cook quickly.