Add the toppings of your choice. Ketchup, mustard, &/or mayo are great. Make a quick Dijonnaise with 1/3 cup mayo + 1-2 tablespoons Dijon mustard. Other options include: sauerkraut, tangy slaw, pickle relish, grilled peppers & onions - the possibilities are endless! How does that saying go?: “Give a gal a fish & you’ll feed her for a day; teach a gal how to grill sausage & you’ll feed her for a lifetime?” …it’s something like that, right? *wink!!!* Show
Terrible jokes aside, grilled sausage is one of my all-time favorite summer meals. You may think it’s because I’m part German (thanks, Dad!), or because I’m from Wisconsin (& we Wisconsinites know a thing or two about sausage!), but in reality, it’s because I’m a terribly lazy cook…especially during the busy summer months when menu planning & meal prep always seem to fall by the wayside. Dinnertime, with its tendency to sort of creep up on me in the early evening, often presents a bit of a conundrum during the warm months. I don’t want to turn on the stove or oven, & I especially don’t want to spend time prepping dinner. Maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but it all just feels very fussy on a hot summer night. Being able to throw something together really easily & really quickly, without much thought or prep required, is pretty much the only thing that keeps us from ordering in every night. So you can trust me when I tell you – if you’re an especially busy &/or lazy cook in the summer, grilled sausage is where it’s at. this Recipe for Later!Once you learn how to properly grill sausage, I’m pretty sure they’ll make a regular appearance on your summertime menu. It’s…
Easy & effortless summertime goodness. ♡ Read on to learn more about how to grill sausage, or jump straight to the recipe & get grillin’! What are the best sausage for grilling?Before we dive too deep into the how-to, let’s talk about the most important part – the sausage! This post specifically covers how to grill fresh (raw) sausage links. The process showcased will apply to any variety of fresh sausage – chicken sausage, pork sausage, brats, Italian sausage, chorizo, etc. – so long as it’s a fresh sausage in a casing. To grill sausage that’s already fully cooked, such as the amazing chicken sausages available in a variety of different flavors these days, smoked sausage or kielbasa, hot dogs, etc., it couldn’t be simpler:
How to grill sausage:Grilling sausage seems like such a simple thing to do, but like most simple things, doing it well is actually not the easiest thing in the world. (Isn’t it annoying how that works out?) If you grill them too fast, the casing will burn & break before it cooks through, resulting in totally dry & crumbly sausage. Not good! & while you can go the “low-&-slow” route (ahem, beer brats!), but it requires a little bit of planning in advance. That’s not the stupid easy summer dinner we’re after either! Zone Grilling 101:The secret behind how to grill sausage perfectly every single time lies in zone grilling. By creating 2 zones of heat on your grill, you can first cook the sausage with really gentle, steady indirect heat before grilling them over strong direct heat for a deliciously charred finish. It’s super easy, & the sausage turns out perfectly every time. This method of grilling with both direct & indirect heat is called zone grilling. Zone grilling is one of my best grilling season tricks. It’s the secret to my perfect grilled buffalo chicken wings, the best-ever grilled BBQ chicken, Wisconsin-style beer brats made entirely on the grill, & more. If you’ve never grilled with indirect heat before, don’t panic. It’s the simplest thing.
If you’re still unsure about zone grilling, be sure to check out this post for more information! How to grill sausage with indirect heat:Using zone grilling & indirect heat is the best way to grill sausage. The 2-zone method allows you to first cook the sausage with really gentle, steady indirect heat before grilling them over strong direct heat for a deliciously charred finish. It’s super easy, & the sausage turns out perfectly every time. Here’s how you do it:
That’s it! Perfectly grilled sausage, every single time. It couldn’t be easier. *More Grilling Tips & TricksGrilling doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating, we’ll show you how! We’ve created a completely FREE 5 Day Grilling Series dedicated to help you be your most confident self behind the grill this summer. We’ll guide you through Grilling 101 Tips & Tricks (& as a bonus, we’ll send you our BONUS 15 Grilling Marinades download right away!). Sign up now! Let’s make this your best grilling season yet! 🙌🏼 🔥 A few more Grilled Sausage FAQs…How long to grill sausage?The sausage will grill for about 12-15 minutes total using the 2-zone grilling method described above & in the Recipe Card below. You’ll cook the sausage for 8-10 minutes with indirect heat before finishing over direct flame for 4-5 minutes, or until as crusty as desired. What temperature do I grill sausage?Whenever you use 2-zone grilling to grill with indirect heat, the temperature of your grill should be pretty hot – between 500-600 degrees F. The finished cooking temperature of the sausage will vary based on the type of sausage you use. Pork-based sausage is safe to eat at 160 degrees F, while chicken-based sausage needs to be fully cooked to 165 degrees F. I suggest transferring them from indirect to direct heat once the internal temperature is about 15-20 degrees F away from its final cooking temperature. (Don’t forget – the only way to be certain about doneness is taking the temperature using an instant-read thermometer. Be sure to read more about our Must-Have Grilling Equipment!) Should I boil sausages before grilling?Nope – you totally don’t have to! The 2-zone grilling method used in this grilled sausage recipe eliminates any need to boil or cook sausage before you grill it up, & the sausage will stay totally juicy & tender – promise! However…if you’re after a delicious boiled brat situation, be sure to check out the PWWB Wisconsin-Style Grilled Beer Brats recipe. It’s the best! What do you eat with grilled sausage?Funny you ask! That’s exactly what we’re chatting about next… Let’s talk toasted buns & toppings:First, buns: a good grilled sausage neeeeeeds a good bun. Period! What makes a bun a good bun? If you ask me, a good bun for sausage has a nice balance of softness + sturdiness. A pillowy, soft bun will sort of wrap itself around the sausage as you eat it, but it also needs to be sturdy enough that it won’t break apart at the seam. Brioche buns are my personal favorite for brats or any grilled sausages since they are pillowy soft & they don’t break apart easily. If you want to take your buns to the next level, toast them: Brush them with a little oil (or spritz with a little cooking spray) & pop them on the grill grates to toast up for a minute or two as the sausages finish grilling. The buns get toasty & slightly crisp – SO GOOD! Next, toppings! At our house, toppings are totally optional, but it’s an easy way to make an even heartier dinner. Based on the type of sausage you’re grilling, you can really get wild & have fun with it when it comes to toppings. A few of our faves:
What to serve with grilled sausage?With your toppings & perfectly toasted buns all sorted out, you’re just 1 step away from the perfect grilled sausage dinner! Last, you need some solid sides for sausage. When thinking about what to serve with sausage, we like to keep things pretty simple. A few of our faves…
Plate it on up with the sausage, & dinner is served. (In less than 15 minutes total!) I can’t wait for you to try this Grilled Sausage recipe ASAP! It is the easiest weeknight dinner recipe & a go-to when you are looking for something quick & delicious! If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡ Printclockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon Grilled Sausage – How to Grill Sausage Perfectly Every Time!★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
Print Recipe Pin for Later DescriptionEverything you need to know about how to grill sausage – A simple method for perfect-every-time grilled sausage. The ultimate easy summer dinner, & a total staple for grilling season! IngredientsScale 1x2x3x
Instructions
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Keywords: grilled sausage, grilling recipes, easy, weeknight dinner, gluten-free, chicken, pork Did you make this recipe?Tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram and hashtag it #playswellwithbutter Recipe by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Yes to Yolks. Ready to hit the grill?Us too! Try some of PWWB’s Top Grilling Recipes ASAP!:
Ready to Hit the Grill?If this all still feels new to you, I encourage you to head over to Grilling 101, a compilation of tips & tricks for all of the grilling basics – everything from how to light your grill to how to clean your grill. All this talk about grilling have you feelin’ ready to hit the grill? Me too! Be sure to check out this post for my 15 go-to marinades you need this grilling season. At our house, a good marinade is at the heart of grilling season. I’m positive these marinades will be on repeat at your house this summer! For even more grilled goodness, be sure to check out all of our Grilling & Smoking recipes. & lastly! Be sure to give @playswellwithbutter a follow on Instagram – I’ll be teaching you how to grill up some goodness all summer long, & we have so much fun on Instagram! Want more grilling tips & recipes?You’re in the right place! 🙌🏼 Subscribe to have PWWB Grilling Series updates sent straight to your inbox. We’re sharing exclusive grilling tips, tricks, & sneak peeks to our email friends. Plus, you’ll be the first to know about all of PWWB’s new grilling recipes all summer long. Subscribe below! Follow along with Plays Well With Butter on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest for more easy, modern recipes & fun! How long does it take to cook chicken sausage on the grill?Set grill to high heat. Brush the sausages with the oil. Grill sausages for 12–15 min., rotating often, until cooked through.
How long does it take to cook sausages on a Weber?Grill the sausages over direct medium heat, with the lid closed, until browned and fully cooked (160°F), 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
How do I cook chicken sausage on the grill?Heat your grill to medium (about 350 °F). Use direct heat and cook sausage for 18-22 minutes, turning occasionally, to reach an internal temperature of 160 °F. Because sausage has a lot of fat, you can cook early and it can rest, Richard says. The minimum internal temperature recommendation for poultry is 165 °F.
At what temperature and for how long do I grill sausages on a Weber BBQ?To accomplish this, grill the sausage over direct low (300 F) heat for approximately 2 minutes a side. This helps add color and flavor to the meat. Next, move the sausage to indirect heat and continue to grill another 8-10 minutes with the lid closed.
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