The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Chorizo Sausage in the Oven

Chorizo sausage is a tasty and versatile cured pork sausage that originated in Spain but is popular worldwide. With its characteristic smoky, spicy flavor it can add a delicious punch of flavor to many dishes. But to get the most out of your chorizo, it’s important to know the best ways to cook it. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to cook chorizo sausage to perfection in the oven.

What is Chorizo Sausage?

Chorizo is a style of pork sausage that gets its distinctive red color and smoky, spicy flavor from the addition of paprika and other spices like garlic, oregano and chiles during the curing process. There are many regional varieties of chorizo throughout Spain and Latin America but they are broadly categorized into two main types:

• Spanish-style chorizo – This is a hard, cured sausage that is meant to be sliced or chopped before cooking It has a deep red color and intensely smoky flavor.

• Mexican-style chorizo – A fresh, uncooked sausage that has a softer texture and is seasoned with vinegar and chile peppers for a spicier kick of flavor It crumbles easily when cooked

While Spanish chorizo is more commonly found in Europe, Mexican chorizo can be readily found in grocery stores in North America and is a tasty alternative to bulk breakfast sausage. When cooking chorizo in the oven, it’s important to choose the right variety for your desired preparation.

Why Cook Chorizo in the Oven?

Cooking chorizo sausage in the oven has several advantages over stovetop cooking:

• Even cooking – The indirect heat of the oven cooks the chorizo evenly all over without the need to stir or flip frequently.

• Great for batches – The oven has space to cook larger batches of chorizo at once for meal prepping or big gatherings

• Less mess – Chorizo released a lot of oil when cooked. Containing it in the oven reduces splatter issues.

• Easy to combine – Roasting chorizo in the oven makes it easy to add vegetables, potatoes or other ingredients partway through cooking.

• Intensifies flavor – The dry heat helps intensify the smoky spices and render the fat, developing deeper flavor.

So if you want tender, juicy chorizo with an intense smoky richness, the oven is definitely the way to go.

Tips for Oven-Cooking Chorizo

Cooking chorizo sausage properly in the oven does take some technique. Follow these tips for the best results:

• Use a rimmed baking sheet – This contains any rendered fat and juices. Line with foil for quick clean-up.

• Brush with oil first – This helps promote browning and prevents sticking. Olive or avocado oil work well.

• Start with a hot oven – Preheat to 400-425°F. The initial blast of heat helps sear and crisp the exterior.

• Flip halfway through – Turn the sausages over about midway during roasting for even cooking.

• Cook fully – Chorizo is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 160°F. The sausage should firm up and juices will run clear.

• Let rest before slicing – This allows juices to redistribute so they don’t escape when you slice into the sausage.

• Add veggies later – Harder veggies like potatoes can roast from the start but delicate ones like asparagus should be added halfway through cooking.

Oven Roasting Methods

There are a few different easy methods for roasting chorizo sausage in the oven:

#1 – Direct on a Baking Sheet

• Arrange raw chorizo links on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with oil.

• Roast at 425°F for 12-20 minutes (depending on size) until browned, and juices run clear. Flip halfway through.

• Optional: Add sliced onions, potatoes or peppers and roast for 10 more minutes.

#2 – Cast Iron Skillet

• Heat oven to 400°F. Sear chorizo in a cast iron skillet over stovetop to brown.

• Add sliced onions and garlic around sausages. Transfer to oven for 12-15 more minutes until cooked through.

#3 – Roasting Pan

• Toss cubed potatoes and other veggies in oil on a roasting pan. Top with chorizo links.

• Roast at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, stirring vegetables halfway through.

Combining Chorizo with Other Ingredients

One of the great advantages of oven-roasting is how easy it makes preparing a whole meal at once. Here are some delicious ingredients to mix and match with chorizo:

• Potatoes – Roasted red or russet potatoes, cut into chunks or wedges

• Onions – Sliced or quartered red, yellow or sweet onions

• Peppers – Diced bell peppers, sliced poblanos or jarred peppers

• Garlic – Whole garlic cloves roasted in the oil

• Corn – Kernels cut from the cob

• Asparagus – Trimmed, chopped asparagus spears

• Brussels sprouts – Halved or quartered sprouts

• Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered

• Olives – Sliced green or Kalamata olives

• Beans – Chickpeas, kidney or pinto beans

9 Delicious Oven-Roasted Chorizo Recipes

Now that you know the best techniques, here are some mouthwatering oven chorizo recipes to try:

1. Chorizo Breakfast Hash

Jumpstart your day with roasted russet potatoes, peppers and onions topped with baked eggs and spicy chorizo.

2. Chorizo and Chickpea Sheet Pan Dinner

A simple yet satisfying meal with chickpeas, cherry tomatoes and spinach roasted alongside chorizo.

3. Roasted Chorizo Quesadillas

Crisp tortillas stuffed with melty cheese and rich oven-roasted chorizo sausage.

4. Chorizo and Corn Nachos

Pile roasted corn, peppers, and chorizo atop crunchy tortilla chips for fun oven-baked nachos.

5. Sheet Pan Chili Mac

Macaroni and kidney beans roasted on a sheet pan with spicy Mexican-style chorizo and cheesy topping.

6. Chorizo Pizza

A fun twist on pizza night – make the crust, top with tomato sauce, mozzarella and baked crumbled chorizo.

7. Chorizo Empanadas

Bake empanada pastry pockets stuffed with roasted chorizo, onions, potatoes and olives.

8. Chorizo and Shrimp Paella

This classic Spanish rice dish gets fantastic smoky flavor from oven-roasted chorizo.

9. Chorizo Frittata

Eggs get cooked into an easy oven-baked omelette filled with roasted chorizo, peppers and cheese.

Cooking Times for Chorizo

To cook chorizo sausage right in the oven, follow these approximate cooking times by type and thickness:

• Fresh Mexican chorizo links – 12-15 minutes

• Fresh Mexican bulk-style chorizo – 7-12 minutes

• Hard cured Spanish chorizo, 1-inch thick – 15-20 minutes

• Sliced Spanish chorizo – 8-12 minutes

• Chorizo ground meat – 6-10 minutes

These cooking times are for chorizo roasted at a temperature of 375-425°F. Always check for doneness by cutting into the sausage to confirm it has reached 160°F internally. Adjust cooking times as needed if combining with other ingredients.

Safety Tips for Handling Raw Chorizo

Since fresh chorizo contains raw pork, proper food safety is important:

• Wash hands before and after handling raw chorizo. Avoid cross-contamination.

• Store fresh chorizo tightly wrapped below 40°F and use within 1-2 days. Frozen, it will keep for 1-2 months.

• When roasting multiple batches, refrigerate cooked chorizo within 2 hours.

• Reheat cooked chorizo to 165°F. Bring sauces containing chorizo to a full boil before serving.

Follow these tips and you can safely enjoy deliciously roasted chorizo sausage.

Common Questions about Oven-Roasted Chorizo

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Can I roast frozen chorizo in the oven?

Yes, from frozen the roasting time may need to be extended by 5-10 minutes since it will take longer for the center to come up to temperature.

What are the best side dishes for roasted chorizo?