Sausage is made from ground pork that has been seasoned with fennel seeds and a hint of licorice. It can be sweet or mild. Hot Italian sausages have red pepper flakes added to give them a bit of spice. Italian sausage is a quick and easy main dish that kids and adults will both love. Learn how to cook it on the stove.
Your favorite Italian sausage recipes, salads, pizza, pasta, and sandwiches can all use Italian sausages. But it can be hard to cook them just right. If you cook Italian sausages too quickly or at too high of a temperature, the outside may get too brown and the inside may still be raw. The casings can also split and fall off, causing the sausages to lose their shape.
How to cook sausages on the stove: slowly heat them up, let them simmer, and then brown them at the end. Keep reading to learn how to cook Italian sausage perfectly every time. Your sausages will be done in less than 20 minutes, and no fancy tools or gadgets are required.
Sausages make for a quick, easy, and delicious meal any time of day While you can certainly grab a pack of pre-cooked sausage links and simply heat them up, starting with raw sausage allows you to cook it just how you like With a few simple techniques, you can learn how to cook sausage to perfection on the stovetop.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go over tips for choosing quality sausage, prep methods, basic cooking techniques, recipes, and more. Read on to become a sausage savant!
Selecting Sausage for Stovetop Cooking
The first step is choosing what type of sausage you want to cook. Popular varieties like Italian, breakfast, bratwurst, chorizo, andouille, kielbasa, and more are all great options for stovetop cooking.
For the juiciest texture look for sausages with a fat content around 20-30%. Leaner sausages can dry out quickly with high heat. Raw sausages come in links with casing or loose in bulk without casing.
Consider how you want to use the cooked sausage. Links work well for sandwiches and appetizers. Loose sausage is perfect for pasta sauces, soups, casseroles, etc.
No matter what kind you choose, look for sausages without a lot of artificial preservatives or fillers. High quality, minimally processed sausage tastes best.
Prepping Raw Sausage for Cooking
Before cooking raw sausage, it helps to do a little prep:
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Remove casing (optional) – If using cased sausage and want a crumbled texture, simply peel off the collagen casing. This allows flavors to penetrate better as well.
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Pat dry – Blot raw sausage with paper towels to remove excess moisture that can cause splattering when cooking.
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Cut or shape – For pan frying or sautéing, slice sausage links into bite-size pieces. Or shape bulk sausage into patties.
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Chill before cooking – For best texture, refrigerate or partially freeze raw sausage 20-30 minutes before cooking. This helps the fat firm up so the sausage holds its shape better.
With prep done, it’s time to start cooking!
How to Pan Fry Sausage on the Stove
Pan frying is one of the quickest and easiest ways to cook sausage on the stovetop.
You’ll need:
- Raw sausage links or patties
- Olive oil or butter
- Heavy skillet or sauté pan
To pan fry:
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Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add just enough oil or butter to lightly coat the bottom.
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When hot, add sausage pieces or patties. Do not overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches if needed.
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Brown the sausage on one side, about 2-3 minutes. Then flip and cook the other side until nicely browned.
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Reduce heat if sausage browns too quickly. Cook through until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
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For patties, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part. For links, pierce with a thermometer along the flat side to test doneness.
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Drain excess grease as needed. Serve sausage links whole or slice patties into bite-size pieces.
The key is using medium heat and flipping frequently so the sausage browns evenly without burning. Delicious!
How to Grill Sausage on the Stovetop
For sausage with nice char marks, grill them in a grill pan or cast iron skillet.
You’ll need:
- Raw sausage links, patties, or pieces
- Grill pan or cast iron skillet
- Oil for the pan
- Tongs for turning
To grill sausage on the stove:
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Coat the grill pan with a little oil. Heat over medium-high heat.
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When hot, add sausage pieces without overcrowding. Sear 2-4 minutes per side.
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Flip carefully with tongs. Grill until nicely crosshatched on both sides and cooked through, about 12-15 minutes total.
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Check temperature with a meat thermometer to confirm doneness.
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Transfer grilled sausage to a plate. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
The dry heat of the grill pan gives great color while rendering the fat. Be sure to preheat it well before adding the sausage.
How to Simmer Sausage on the Stove
For the juiciest sausage, you can cook it low and slow by simmering in liquid.
You’ll need:
- Raw bulk sausage or removed from casing
- Large skillet or Dutch oven
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
To simmer sausage:
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Remove sausage from casing if needed and break into bite size crumbles.
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Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage crumbles and cook while breaking up any large pieces.
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Once no longer pink, pour in broth or water. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20-25 minutes.
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Uncover and continue simmering 10 more minutes until liquid evaporates. Stir occasionally.
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Cook until sausage is nicely browned and reaches 160°F internally.
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Drain off excess grease before serving if needed.
The moist gentle heat ensures tender, flavorful sausage every time.
Quick and Easy Sausage Recipes
Here are some delicious ways to use your freshly cooked sausage:
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Breakfast sandwiches – Cooked links or patties with egg and cheese on an English muffin
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Baked potatoes – Top baked russet potatoes with crumbled sausage, cheese, and bacon
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Sausage gravy – Make a creamy gravy with cooked crumbled sausage and milk, serve over biscuits
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Pizza – Top pizza dough with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and sliced sausage
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Pasta – Sauté crumbled sausage with veggies and tomato sauce, toss with pasta
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Soup – Add bite size pieces of cooked sausage to bean, vegetable, or minestrone soups
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Quiche – Stir crumbled cooked sausage into egg custard mixture before baking
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Stir fry – Sauté sliced raw sausage with veggies like cabbage, peppers, onions, etc.
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Sausage balls – Combine cooked sausage with cheese, spices, and crackers, shape into balls and bake
With so many uses for sausage, the possibilities are nearly endless. Just use your favorite cooking method for outstanding sausage any night of the week. Enjoy!
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There are 10 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
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How To Cook Italian Sausage on Stove
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Fill a big skillet with water until it’s an inch deep.
- Put the sausage in the pan and heat the water until it starts to simmer. Cook covered for 7-9 minutes.
- The sausages should be cooked until the water has evaporated and the temperature is right. Take off the lid and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes.
- Turn the sausage occasionally to brown evenly.
Note: Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer. When you stick a thermometer into the thickest part of the sausage, it should read 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
- Italian sausage is not the same as smoked sausage.
- We recommend using fresh, uncooked sausage. If you buy sausages that are already cooked, the cooking time may be a little less.
- When you buy Italian sausage, if you can’t cook it within two days, you can freeze it for later use.
- If the sausage is frozen, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before cooking it. Cooking sausage from frozen is not recommended.
- Look for sweet Italian sausage or spicy Italian sausage. Choose one based on your recipe or preferred tastes.
- Do not boil the water before adding the sausages. Let the water and sausages heat up together to make the cooking more even.
- Some people like to brown the skins of Italian sausage in a little oil before adding water to boil it.
- A meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the sausage should read 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) when it’s done.
- You can also add a little olive oil or butter to the fry to make them even more golden.
- Serve Italian sausage cut or whole.
- When you’re ready to serve the sausage, sauté onions and bell peppers. You can also put both on a bun for a tasty sandwich. Top with mustard or marinara sauce and provolone cheese.
- Slice cooked sausage and put it on top of pizza, in pasta, or in pasta sauce. It’s also delicious over salad.
- Make Ahead: You can cook this up to two days ahead of time if you want to use the sausage in another recipe.
- Store—For up to four days, sausages that are left over can be kept in an airtight container. Warm it up again in the microwave or a skillet with a little water.
- Freeze – Freeze leftover sausage for up to 3 months.
You can cook sausages on the stove top in about 12 minutes. Always check for doneness with a meat thermometer.
Cook ground Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Use a spatula to break up the meat while it cooks. It will brown in about 5-6 minutes.
I do not recommend piercing the skin. When you poke holes in the skin, the meat’s juices can escape. This makes the sausage drier, and it may take longer to cook.
You may prefer baked Italian sausage to pan-fried Italian sausage. Cook Italian sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment or in a glass baking dish. Baked Italian sausage will take approximately 25-30 minutes in a 350 degrees F/180 degrees C oven.
How to Cook Sausage on the Stovetop/ Frying Pan
FAQ
Can you cook sausage meat in a frying pan?
Do you put oil in pan when cooking sausage?
How to cook uncooked sausage?
How do you cook sausage on a stove top?
Pierce the sausages a few times with a fork to prevent them from bursting during cooking. Now that your sausages are prepared, let’s get cooking on the stove top: Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil or butter to the hot pan, just enough to coat the bottom.
How do you cook sausage in a frying pan?
Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil or butter to the hot pan, just enough to coat the bottom. Add the sausages to the pan, ensuring they are spaced evenly and not overcrowded. Cook the sausages for about 4-6 minutes per side, or until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
How do you cook ground sausage?
How to cook ground sausage: 1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 2. Add loose (casings removed) or bulk sausage and chopped onions and garlic, if desired, and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. 3. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling indulgent.
How do you cook Italian sausage?
Start by selecting your preferred type of Italian sausage. Whether you’re a fan of mild or spicy flavors, or even a combination of both, there’s a vast range of options to suit your taste buds. Heat a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil or a spritz of cooking spray.