Here’s how to make a quick and easy sausage pizza topping that will make any classic sausage pie taste even better.
There’s nothing quite like a hot cheesy pizza loaded with all your favorite toppings. And for most pizza lovers sausage is a key ingredient that can take a pie to the next level. But with so many varieties of sausage out there, it can get confusing. What exactly is that tasty meat topping called? Let’s explore the wide world of sausage options for decking out your pizza night.
Classic Italian Sausage
When you think pizza, chances are you’re picturing slices covered in crumbles of Italian sausage. This highly seasoned pork sausage is essentially ground meat mixed with Italian herbs and spices like fennel, parsley, garlic, salt, and black pepper. It comes in two main varieties:
Mild Italian Sausage – Features fennel as the dominant seasoning, providing a light, sweet licorice-like flavor.
Hot Italian Sausage – Packs some heat from peppers and red pepper flakes amping up the spiciness.
Both kinds make mouthwatering additions to pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and more. And you can buy Italian sausage fresh, pre-cooked, or cured. Slice it up or crumble it over pizza for tons of hearty, zesty flavor.
Popular Pepperoni
Coming in at over 36% of all pizzas sold, pepperoni reigns supreme as the most popular pizza topping This seasoned pork and beef sausage evolved from Italian salami But pepperoni sets itself apart with a finer meat grind and a spicy kick from paprika, chili pepper, garlic, and other zesty flavors.
The pepperoni slices cup and crisp up into delicious little grease chalices when baked, yielding plenty of flavorful fat This versatility makes pepperoni a pizza shop staple Look for turkey pepperoni to avoid pork.
Smoky Andouille or Chorizo
Fans of more robust, smoky flavors will appreciate andouille or chorizo sausage on their pizza. Originating in France, andouille features coarse-ground pork sausage seasoned with garlic, pepper, onions, wine, and dried chili peppers. Then it’s slowly smoked, bringing intense aroma and flavor.
Meanwhile, chorizo comes from Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. It also utilizes smoked pork, along with paprika and garlic for a distinct reddish hue and tangy zest. Try using chopped andouille or chorizo as a pizza topping for extra smoky, spicy goodness.
Herby Fennel Sausage
As we learned with Italian sausage, fennel can provide a lovely licorice-like essence and herby taste to pork sausage. So if you want to highlight that flavor even more, look for sausage that specifically contains fennel seeds or pollen. This pairs beautifully with the acidity of tomato sauce and mozzarella’s mellow creaminess.
Fennel sausage shines with other veggies too. So load up your pizza with onions, peppers, mushrooms, olives, and fennel sausage for a fresh, herbaceous meal.
Spicy Soppressata
Feeling fiery? Soppressata brings the heat as a Calabrese-style salami that can work wonderfully as a zesty pizza topping. Made from coarsely ground pork and pork fat, it’s laced with hot chili pepper for an intense spicy kick.
For a eye-watering but oh-so-tasty pie, add thin slices of soppressata along with banana peppers, Calabrian chiles, jalapeños, or red pepper flakes. The lingering heat pairs perfectly with cold beer or wine.
Artisanal and Housemade Sausage
Beyond the major commercial brands, lots of smaller specialty sausage makers offer options that make fantastic pizza toppings. Check out farmer’s markets, local butchers, and artisanal brands for housemade Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, bratwurst, chicken sausage, and more unique links that could star on your next pizza night.
You can also make your own sausage at home! Mix ground pork with your favorite seasonings, shape into patties or crumbles, and bake. Homemade sausage on homemade pizza is tough to beat.
Tips for Using Sausage on Pizza
To ensure delicious results, keep these tips in mind:
- Use fully cooked sausage to avoid undercooking
- Slice and crumble into small, thin pieces for even cooking
- Drain grease if needed to prevent sogginess
- Sprinkle under cheese to prevent burning
- Combine with veggies like onions, mushrooms, peppers, etc.
- Finish with red pepper flakes for extra heat
- Add some Italian herbs like basil or oregano
With so many wonderful sausage options for pizza, you could enjoy a different style every night of the week! From Italian to chorizo to homemade, the possibilities for meaty pizza toppings are nearly endless. Use high quality ingredients and pile those sausage crumbles sky high.
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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!
Expert tips and FAQs
Absolutely. Once it’s cool, sausage topping can be kept in the fridge for a week or the freezer for a year in an airtight container. This makes it a very useful thing to have on hand for all of your last-minute pizzas.
Recipe: Easy Sausage Pizza
FAQ
What type of sausage is used on pizza?
Is Italian sausage the same as sausage on pizza?
What is Italian sausage called?
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Italian pork sausages
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Alternative names
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Salsiccia, sasitsa
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Region or state
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Basilicata
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Main ingredients
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Pork, red pepper flakes, pepper paste, fennel
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Variations
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Various Italian sausages
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What is the sausage from Papa Johns?