What Is Italian sausage and How Can I Use It?
Italian sausage rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 156 recipes to cook with it.
Key Points
- Fresh pork sausage built on fennel and garlic; raw, so it always needs cooking.
- Two types: sweet (mild) and hot, which adds chili flakes; they swap freely.
- Brown links whole without piercing; cook through to 160°F (71°C).
- For sauce and pizza, slit the casing, squeeze out the meat, and brown crumbles hard.
- Classic with peppers and onions, and crumbled into red sauce, lasagna, and soups.
What is italian sausage?
Italian sausage is a fresh pork sausage seasoned with fennel and garlic. That fennel is the signature: warm, faintly anise, the flavor that tells you a red sauce had real Italian sausage in it and not just ground pork.
It comes raw, so it always needs cooking. You will find it as links in casing or as loose bulk meat, both built from pork and pork fat seasoned with salt, black pepper, and fennel seed.
The two types you choose between are sweet and hot. Sweet, often labeled mild, is the plain fennel-and-garlic version with no heat.
Hot Italian sausage adds crushed red chili flakes and a heavier hand of black pepper. The two cook the same way and swap for each other freely, so pick by how much warmth you want.
Cooking With Italian Sausage
For links, brown them whole over medium heat and let the fat render so the casing crisps without bursting. Do not pierce them. The juice that runs out is what keeps the inside moist.
To use it in sauce or on pizza, slit the casing with a knife and squeeze the meat out, then crumble it into the pan and brown it hard. Those browned bits are flavor.
Casings are not meant to be eaten loose in a sauce, so peel them off whenever you want crumbles.
Cook it through to 160°F (71°C) in the center. Whole links take roughly 15 to 20 minutes over medium heat; crumbles are done in 8 to 10 once no pink remains.
What It Goes With
Peppers and onions are the classic partner. Sweat sliced bell peppers and onions slow until soft, then brown the sausage alongside for a sandwich or a sheet-pan dinner. Almost Grandma's Sausage & Peppers builds straight on that.
It loves tomato and cheese. Crumbled into red sauce it carries spaghetti and baked pasta, as in Italian Sausage Spaghetti Sauce and The #1 Lasagna Recipe.
On pizza it is a standard, and it turns up in skillet meals like Baked Chicken Murphy and brothy bowls like Easy Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup.
The common mistake is under-browning the crumbles. Pale, steamed sausage tastes flat. Give it room in the pan and let it sit until it picks up color before stirring.
Substitutes
Out of Italian sausage? Plain ground pork plus about ¾ teaspoon fennel seed and a clove of minced garlic per ½ pound gets you most of the way, with a pinch of chili flakes if you want hot.
Sweet and hot swap for each other directly; just add or hold the chili flakes.
Breakfast sausage is the wrong sub, since its sage points the flavor at the morning plate instead of fennel and garlic. Chorizo sausage brings smoke and paprika, a different dish entirely.
Buying and Storing
Italian sausage lives with the fresh meat, not the cured deli case. Look for rosy, moist links with fennel seed visible in the grind and no gray patches.
Treat it like any fresh ground meat. Keep it in the coldest part of the fridge and cook within one to two days of buying. It freezes well for up to two months, sealed tight against air so the fat does not go waxy.
Buy bulk when you know you are crumbling it, since you skip slitting casings. Buy links when you want to grill or pan-brown them whole.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 link, 4/lb (83g)Quick facts
Where to find italian sausage: Italian sausage is usually found in the meats section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Italian sausage is a member of the Sausages and Luncheon Meats US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 意大利香肠
- British (UK) term
- Italian sausage
- en français
- saucisse italienne
- en español
- salchicha italiana
How much does italian sausage weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 link, 4/lb | 83 grams |
| 1 link, 5/lb | 67 grams |
Related
Sausages and Luncheon Meats
Recipes using italian sausage
There are 156 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Sausage & Broccoli Minestrone Soup
Warm up with this hearty yet thrifty sausage and broccoli minestrone soup. An easy comforting twist on the classic Italian dish, perfect for chilly days.
Sausage Stuffed Green Peppers
Italian sausage stuffed bell peppers with mozzarella cheese and oregano in marinara sauce. Easy baked peppers ready in under an hour, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Spaghetti squash is a healthy, low-carb, gluten-free substitute for regular pasta. One cup of spaghetti squash has 42 calories, 10 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber. The same amount of cooked spaghetti has 220 calories, 43 grams of carbs and 3 grams of fiber.
Chili Ala Capt. James Mcdonnell
Beef and Italian sausage chili with a tablespoon of instant coffee for depth, two kinds of beans (kidney and refried), and a Monterey Jack topping. Captain's recipe.
Sausage Omelet
Sausage omelet made with Italian sausage, butter, and peanut oil for golden, creamy eggs that fold over savory filling. Ready in 15 minutes for a quick breakfast.
Baked Calzones
A Calzone is a turnover that originates from Italy. It is made of ingredients similar to pizza folded over and shaped like a crescent. The typical Calzone is stuffed with tomato and mozzarella, and may include other ingredients usually associated with pizza toppings.
Algerian Chicken with Beans & Sausage
Perfect for feeding a crowd and easily scaled to feed a larger crowd. No spices to disagree with anyone, just solid belly warming filling goodness.
Grilled Italian Sausage & Pepper Sandwiches
Grilled Italian sausage and pepper sandwiches, the Fenway Park street-food classic. Sausages are par-boiled then grilled crispy and piled into toasted sub rolls with sweet sauteed peppers and onions.
Sweet Italian Sausage Petal Pie
Italian sausage in gravy surrounded by fluffy sage biscuits. The biscuits puff up around the edges like a flower with sweet Italian sausage gravy bubbling away in the center.
Baked Eggs & Sausage with Cheesy Polenta Casserole
Cheesy polenta topped with eggs and a bit of Italian or Turkey sausage, perfect for a Sunday brunch. Any cheese could be used but my favorite is Fontina or an old flavor filled cheddar. Similar to sausage, eggs and potato but much healthier with perfect matching of flavors. Very easy to halve the recipe along with pictures.
Baked Polenta with Italian Sausage, Mushrooms & Three Cheeses
Creamy polenta loaded with Italian sausage, mushrooms, red pepper, ricotta, Gruyere, and Parmesan, set in a pie plate and baked into golden wedges. A make-ahead Italian showpiece.
Double-Cheese Rigatoni with Sausage & Hot Cherry Peppers For Two
Modified from a fine cooking recipe for a more reasonable serving size, a cheesy Italian baked pasta dish that's satisfying and filling for two.
The #1 Lasagna Recipe
I have tried many different Lasagna recipes over the years. This is the culmination of all that trial and error, a wonderful recipe that needs to be shared with the world. The ingredients and actual recipe are at the end of this article. I know you won’t be disappointed with my Best Lasagna Recipe!
Italian Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
Make your pasta dishes seem authentic with this spaghetti sauce made of Italian sausage, tomatoes and a variety of spices.
Cannellini Beans with Italian Sausage
A hearty, delicious stew and very filling as well. Served it with a homemade whole wheat bun, comfy and tasty.
Crockpot Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup
You'll need your crockpot to make this hearty soup made with italian sausage, zucchini and chickpeas.
All-In-One Sausage & Zucchini Casserole
A delicious casserole made with italian sausage, zucchini, rice and parmigiano-reggiano cheese.
Chicken Scarpariello (Shoemaker-style) Chicken with Sausage & Hot Cherry Peppers
Made popular by southern Italians in New York city restaurants this dish is based upon old-world family recipes. Here I've adjusted it to two hearty servings.
Easy Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup
The flavor was amazing, the aroma during the cooking filled up our entire house. We used chicken broth instead of beef broth and water, and it made a very tasty base for the soup. A few slices of good bread was all we served with this soup. YUM!
Awesome Breakfast Casserole For Two
A scrumptious hash brown breakfast casserole with sausage (or bacon) that’s perfectly sized for two servings.
Baked Chicken Murphy
Delicious and easy to make. Chunks of chickens, sausages, and fresh veggies are cooked with stewed tomatoes, which makes lots of tasty sauce. Serve it over a bed of rice or spaghetti. YUM!
Coniglio Alla Molisana - Stewed Rabbit with Sausages
Italian rabbit skewers from the Molise region: boneless rabbit wrapped in Parma ham with sausages and sage, grilled or oven-roasted. A rustic showpiece.
Glazed Sausage Striped Meat Loaf
Dress up your meat loaf with this tasty recipe that's easy to follow and understand!
Sausage Spaghetti
Sausage spaghetti carbonara-style with Italian sausage, crispy bacon, beaten eggs, and Parmesan tossed into hot pasta. A hearty 30-minute weeknight dinner with just 5 ingredients.
Pizza By the Foot
Pizza by the Foot: a whole loaf of bread split lengthwise and loaded with pizza sauce, Italian sausage, onion, mozzarella, and provolone. Baked until the cheese bubbles and browns.
Bbq Sausage Kabobs
Grilled sausage kabobs with bratwurst, Italian sausage, kielbasa, and new potatoes basted in a bacon-beer BBQ sauce. Three sausage varieties on one skewer for the ultimate cookout.
Quick & Easy Egg & Veggie Sausage Breakfast Wrap
As promised, here is another easy & healthy breakfast idea that can be done in 15-20 min. It's high in protein, low in fat, and a great breakfast when you're on the go! This would also double as a lunch as well!
Chicken Potatoes & Sausage
One-pan chicken with Italian sausage and potatoes baked together with oregano, paprika, and garlic salt. The sausage fat bastes the chicken while crisping the potatoes for an effortless rustic Italian sheet pan dinner.
Meat & Potato Loaf
Slow cooker meat and potato loaf with ground beef, Italian sausage, and instant potato flakes, cooked low for 6-7 hours. A hands-off meatloaf with a clever cheesecloth lifting trick.
Darren's Grandmom's Pasta
Grandma's shortcut Italian sausage rigatoni with jarred pasta sauce, a splash of cream, and fresh Parmesan. Weeknight comfort in 40 minutes with just 6 ingredients.
Hearty Minestrone Soup
Hearty minestrone soup simmers Italian sausage with romano beans, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and small pasta shells in a chicken broth base. Loaded one-pot Italian dinner soup.
Double Sausage Hearty Breakfast Pizza
Loaded breakfast pizza with Italian sausage in the sauce and smoked sausage links on top, blanketed in melted mozzarella and Monterey Jack. Two meaty, cheesy pies that'll fuel your whole morning.
Cheesy Cioppino
Italian sausage, shrimp, and lobster simmered in a wine-spiked tomato broth with vegetables and fusilli, then broiled under a bubbling cap of Jarlsberg cheese. This cheesy cioppino is San Francisco soul food with a gooey twist.
Jalapeno Chili
Italian-style jalapeño chili with hot Italian sausage, ground chuck, fennel, red wine, and three kinds of peppers. A sturdy bowl for game day or cold-weather feeding.
Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
Sausage spaghetti sauce loaded with Italian sausage, mushrooms, eggplant, and bell peppers in tomato sauce. A thick, chunky weeknight pasta sauce ready in 30 minutes.
Italian Sausage in Tomato Sauce
Italian sausage simmered in tomato sauce with white wine, fresh mushrooms, and oregano. Seared first, then braised low for an hour. A savory hot appetizer.
Traditional Pizza Rustica with Italian Meats & Mint
Traditional Pizza Rustica with Italian Meats and Mint recipe
Creamed Turkey with Pastry Pillows
Creamed turkey with pastry pillows: leftover roast turkey and Italian sausage in a mushroom-sherry cream sauce, served over buttery puff pastry squares. Holiday-leftover dinner for a crowd.
Rabbit with Sweet Sausages
Rabbit with sweet Italian sausage braised in a tomato-and-wine sauce with peppers, garlic, and a bright lift of orange. Lean rabbit browns in the sausage fat for deep, rustic Italian flavor over pasta or rice.
Sausage Pepper Sandwiches
Good recipe. Be sure to cook for the 8 hours. I cooked 5.5 hours and the vegetables were not quite done.
Deep-Dish Pizza- Part 1
Chicago-style deep-dish pizza crust, Part 1: a cornmeal-laced yeast dough shaped with high walls and parbaked for 4 minutes. The foundation of authentic Chicago deep-dish at home.
Individual Party Pizzas
Individual party pizzas on homemade dough with Italian sausage, pepperoni, artichoke hearts, and mozzarella. Pre-baked 7-inch crusts topped and finished in the oven.
Pizza in the Freezer
Homemade freezer pizza loaded with Italian sausage, ground beef, pepperoni, and mozzarella under marinara sauce. Flash-freeze and bake straight from frozen for easy weeknight dinners.
Italian Sausage Pizza with Homemade Crust
Italian sausage pizza on a homemade overnight crust, layered Chicago-style with cheese on the bottom, sausage and chunky tomatoes on top, finished with oregano and parmesan. A hearty pan pizza baked hot.
Florentine Lasagna
Florentine lasagna layers savory Italian sausage meat sauce with a creamy spinach-ricotta filling and melted mozzarella. Hearty, cheesy, and built for Sunday dinner.
Red Beans, Pasta, Sausage & Tomatoes
Hearty baked casserole of red beans, rigatoni, Italian sausage, plum tomatoes, Swiss chard, and white wine with oregano and garlic. A rustic Italian-inspired one-pot meal.
More italian sausage recipes
- Braciole
- Breakfast Before
- Cheesy Italian Baked Ziti
- Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza
- Chicken Breasts Roma
- Chicken with Peppers & Sausage
- Cream Sauce with Peas & Sausage
- Deep-Dish Pizza- Part 1
- Italian Filling for Yeast Pasty Dough
- Italian Sausage & White Wine Spaghetti Sauce
- Italian Sausage & Zucchini Stir Fry
- Italian Sausage Pizza with Homemade Crust
- Italian Style Meat Loaf
- Maryetta's Italian Sausage Bread
- Meat & Potato Loaf
- Quick & Easy Egg & Veggie Sausage Breakfast Wrap
- Rice & Sausage Stuffing
- Sausage & Spinach Lasagna
- Sausage Spaghetti
- Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
- Sausage Stew
- Sausage, Herb, & Onion Bread
