How to Cook Sausage for the Ultimate Pizza Topping

Here’s how to make a quick and easy sausage pizza topping that will make any classic sausage pie taste even better.

As an avid pizza lover and amateur chef I’m always looking for ways to take my homemade pizzas to the next level. After plenty of trial and error I’ve learned that one of the best and easiest ways to do that is by using delicious, flavorful sausage as a topping.

Sausage adds a wonderful richness and depth of flavor that can really make a pizza sing. But like any topping, it’s important to cook the sausage properly so it lives up to its potential. Undercooked or overcooked sausage can ruin an otherwise great pie.

In this article, I’ll share all my tips and tricks for cooking sausage to pizza perfection. Whether you prefer spicy Italian sausage, smoky andouille, or zesty chorizo, I’ve got you covered on how to cook it so it’s ready to shine as the star topping on your next homemade pizza night!

How to Choose the Best Sausage for Pizza

The first step to sausage success is selecting the right variety for your pizza. Here are some of my favorite types of sausage to use:

Italian sausage – Both hot and sweet Italian sausage have an iconic fennel flavor that pairs perfectly with tomato sauce and cheese on pizza They add nice fat and texture as well
Andouille – Andouille sausage brings a smoky, spicy Cajun kick to pizza. It stands up well to bold flavors.
Chorizo – For a taste of Spain, chorizo’s paprika-forward flavor can’t be beat. It brings lingering heat.
Kielbasa – Polish kielbasa has a distinctive garlic and smoky flavor I love on pizza. It has a great snap when cooked.
Breakfast sausage – Don’t rule out breakfast sausage! Its sagey flavor balances nicely with eggs or veggies as pizza toppings.
Chicken sausage – Lower fat chicken sausage makes a nice alternative, often with flavor varieties like spinach-feta or apple.

The key is finding a sausage that will complement the other flavors on your pizza. I like to mix and match different kinds for a double dose of sausage goodness!

Prepping Sausage for the Best Results

Before you can cook that sausage, it helps to prep it properly for even cooking and maximum flavor. Here are my sausage prep tips:

Remove casings – For the best texture, I prefer to squeeze sausage from its casing before cooking. This helps it brown and crisp better.
Cut into pieces – If leaving sausage in links, slice it into rounds. For loose sausage, breaking it into smaller crumbles helps it cook faster.
Season simply – Pre-seasoned sausage likely has enough flavor as is. Just add a bit of salt and pepper to enhance natural flavors.
Chill it first – For crumbled sausage, chilling it for 30 minutes helps the texture hold together better during cooking.

With these easy prep steps, your sausage is ready to cook!

How to Cook Sausage for Pizza

When it comes to cooking sausage for pizza topping, you have a couple options for how to do it. Here are my tried and true methods:

Pan-Fry

This is my go-to for Italian sausage or chorizo I want to be crispy.

Add a teaspoon of oil to a skillet over medium-high heat.
Add sausage crumbles or slices in a single layer.
Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
Drain on paper towels before topping pizza.

Oven-Roast

Roasting makes sense if I’m making other toppings, like veggies, at the same time.

Toss sausage chunks with oil on a baking sheet.
Roast at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until browned, tossing halfway.
Drain on paper towels before topping pizza.

Grill

In summer, the grill adds delicious charred flavor.

Oil grates to prevent sticking.
Grill sausage links or patties over direct heat for 4-5 minutes per side.
Let rest 5 minutes before slicing and topping pizza.

All these methods yield deliciously browned, crispy bits that make sausage really shine!

Top Tips for Sausage Pizza Perfection

Through making many a sausage pizza over the years, I’ve picked up some helpful tips and tricks for success:

Limit wet toppings – Too many wet veggies make crust soggy, so pair sausage with things like onions, peppers, and mushrooms.
Add some spice – Red pepper flakes, chili oil, or jalapeños offset rich sausage nicely.
Precook if using a lot of sausage – Precooking helps render fat and ensures doneness.
Mix up flavors and textures – I love doing half Italian sausage, half spicy chorizo.
Finish with fresh herbs – A sprinkle of parsley, oregano, or basil adds brightness.
Use in moderation – A little sausage goes a long way. Too much can overpower.
Cook on a pizza stone – Preheating your stone helps crust get nice and crisp.

Incorporating Leftovers

A bonus of cooking up sausage for pizza is getting leftovers to incorporate into other dishes! Here are some tasty ways I use them:

Breakfast tacos or burritos with eggs and veggies
Sausage gravy over biscuits or eggs
In pasta, like penne alla vodka or bucatini all’amatriciana
Mixed into rice for dirty rice
In soups, stews, or chilis for added heartiness

With endless options for using leftover sausage, nothing goes to waste!

Go-To Sausage Pizza Recipes

Now that you know how to prep and cook sausage for pizza, here are a few of my favorite sausage-centric pizza recipes to try:

Italian Sausage and Mushroom Pizza – Classic combo of Italian sausage, garlicky mushrooms, mozzarella and Parmesan.

Sausage and Bell Pepper Pizza – Spicy Italian sausage with sweet red bell peppers and onion is simple but tasty.

Breakfast Sausage Pizza – Use breakfast sausage with scrambled eggs, cheese, and spinach for a hearty morning pizza option.

Chorizo and Manchego Pizza – Punchy chorizo paired with Manchego cheese, red onion, and cilantro is a Spanish-inspired twist.

Sausage and Potato Pizza – Italian sausage with thinly sliced potatoes, rosemary, and mozzarella for a satisfying pizza pairing.

The possibilities are endless for delicious sausage pizza combinations! I encourage you to get creative with different flavor profiles. The important thing is starting with properly cooked sausage, and the rest is just topping choices.

Frequency of Entities:

how to cook sausage for pizza topping: 3
sausage pizza: 14
pizza: 24
sausage: 51
Italian sausage: 6
andouille: 2
chorizo: 4
kielbasa: 2
breakfast sausage: 3
chicken sausage: 2

how to cook sausage for pizza topping
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How to make it

Here’s an overview of what you’ll do to make sausage pizza topping. The video that goes with this post shows you how to do it, and the recipe card below has all the information you need.

To begin, heat the olive oil and add the garlic, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes.
Add the sausage.
Break it up into bite-sized pieces and stir it every so often while you cook it until it’s completely clear and lightly browned.
Drain on paper towels before using. That’s it!

how to cook sausage for pizza topping

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Recipe: Easy Sausage Pizza

FAQ

Should I cook sausage before putting on pizza?

Meats. Pizzas usually don’t take very long to bake, and the bake time is really to crisp the dough and melt the cheese. Raw meats — like sausage, chicken, or bacon — usually won’t cook through in the short baking time, so they should be precooked.

Do you have to cook sausage before putting it in the pizza oven?

If using a conventional oven, you may want to cook the sausage before topping the pizza to ensure everything is fully cooked before you dig in. This recipe would suit a variety of pizza styles, but we think our classic pizza dough is a great fit – just make sure to set aside 4 to 5 hours before starting to cook.

Do you put raw or cooked sausage on Chicago pizza?

Sausage is king in Chicago and used much more widely on pizzas than pepperoni. However, in Chicago the sausage is put on the pizza raw. “So when it cooks, all those wonderful oils and herbs and spices render out into the pizza.