How to Grill Conecuh Sausage to Perfection

Conecuh sausage is a popular smoked sausage hailing from Evergreen, Alabama. With its rich, smoky flavor, it’s a favorite for grilling, adding hearty flavor to everything from kabobs to sandwiches. While delicious on its own, proper grilling technique takes Conecuh sausage from great to exceptional. Follow these simple steps for grilling Conecuh sausage like a pro.

Getting Started

Before lighting up the grill, take a few preparatory steps:

• Choose the right sausage. Conecuh sausage comes in a few varieties including original Cajun and hot and spicy. Pick your preferred flavor and level of heat.

• Cut the sausage. Leave whole or slice into rounds. Cutting allows sauce and smoke to penetrate for extra flavor.

• Prick the sausages Use a fork to poke holes all over the sausages. This helps release fat and prevents bursting.

• Partially cook (optional). For ultimate ease, parboil or bake the sausages until just cooked through. This renders fat and crisps up the exterior.

• Make a marinade (optional) Soak sausages in a flavorful marinade like oil, mustard, herbs, and spices for up to 24 hours

Grilling Tips

Grilling Conecuh sausage uses gentle, indirect heat to prevent drying out:

• Use indirect heat. Avoid direct heat which can cause burning. On a gas grill, turn burners on just one side. On charcoal, bank coals to one side.

• Use medium heat. Go for 350-400°F to thoroughly heat sausages without overcooking.

• Put sausages on cool side. Place sausages on the side without direct heat underneath.

• Turn frequently. Rotate sausages every few minutes for even cooking on all sides.

• Add smoke. Try adding wood chips, chunks, or pellets to the grill for extra smoky flavor. Soak first for the most smoke.

• Brush with sauce. In the last few minutes of grilling, coat the sausages with your favorite barbecue sauce.

• Check temperature. Use a meat thermometer to confirm sausages reach 160°F internally.

• Let rest. After grilling, let sausages rest 5 minutes so juices redistribute.

Grilled Conecuh Sausage Recipes

Once mastered, try these tasty recipes using grilled Conecuh sausage:

• Sausage kabobs. Thread sausage and vegetables like peppers, onions, and cherry tomatoes onto skewers for a handheld meal.

• Sausage sandwiches. Nestle sausages in toasted rolls and top with sautéed peppers and onions for a hearty sandwich.

• Sausage pizza. Top baked pizza crust with sauce, cheese, and sliced grilled sausage for a savory pizza night.

• Sausage pasta. Toss grilled sausage slices with pasta, olive oil, vegetables, and seasonings for a flavor-packed pasta dish.

• Sausage tacos. Warm tortillas, add sliced sausage, pico de gallo, avocado, and crema for an easy taco night.

With flavorful Conecuh sausage and proper grilling technique, the possibilities are endless. Experiment with different seasoning blends and recipes to find your favorites. Just follow these tips, and you’ll be a Conecuh sausage grilling pro in no time.