This homemade Italian sausage recipe not only enables you to maintain full control over the quality of your sausage, it also tastes WAY better than store-bought! It’s super easy to make and you can double our triple the recipe and freeze it so you always have sausage on hand!
Ground sausage is something a vast variety of recipes call for; everything from soups and stews to pizza, calzones, meatballs, pastas, finger foods, hors d’oeuvres….it’s a staple ingredient and one you can make yourself so easily. Not only that, this homemade Italian sausage recipe tastes at least a hundred times better than any store-bought stuff! Additionally, since you have full control over what goes in it – and what doesn’t – you can trust this sausage will be the highest quality.
Why Should I Make My Own Ground Sausage?
You have FULL control over what is in it. And what is not. If you’re grinding your own meat you also have direct control over the quality of the meat itself as well as the ratio of muscle meat to fat. And then of course there are the seasonings: Most store-bought sausage contains things like corn syrup, MSG and that ever cryptic ingredient “flavorings” which could mean practically anything.
Making your own sausage is an empowering way of maintaining control over what you consume. And it tastes a whole lot better, too!
Can I Use Ground Pork or Do I Have to Grind the Meat Myself?
You can do either. The easiest option is to buy quality ground pork and simply add the seasonings.
If you prefer to have full control over the quality of meat and the muscle-to-fat ratio you can grind your own.
We use and recommend the STX International Turbo Force Electric Meat Grinder. It comes with a 3-year warranty, great reviews, and is all around the best value for the money. If you’re making occasional small amounts the KitchenAid Meat Grinder Attachment is another option.
Can I Use Chicken, Turkey, Lamb or Other Meats Instead?
Absolutely! Use whichever meat you you prefer, this homemade sausage recipe is terrific with any of them.
How Do I Make Breakfast Sausage Instead of Italian Sausage?
So glad you asked! Here is the link to the recipe for our Homemade Breakfast Sausage (can be made into links or patties)!
Can I Freeze the Sausage?
Of course! For convenience you can double or triple the quantity and then freeze it in 1/4 pound, 1/2 pound or whatever amount packages so you can simply grab what you need when you need it. No need to make a trip to the store.
What Are Some Ways I Can Use Italian Sausage?
The sky’s the limit! Here are just a few ways:
- Sausage Patties
- Sausage Links
- Meatballs
- Pizza
- Calzones
- Sausage Gravy & Biscuits
- Tortellini
- Lasagna (here and here)
- Pasta Sauce
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Quiche
- Stuffed Peppers
- Stuffed Zucchini or other squash
- Homemade Sausage McMuffins
- Quesadillas
- Chili
- Sausage Cornbread
- Soups & Stews (here and here and here)
- Bolognese
- Casseroles
- Sausage Rolls
- Hamburgers
- Breakfast Burritos
- Sausage & Egg Grits
- Breakfast Casseroles
- Sausage Egg Muffins
- Frittatas
- Cabbage Rolls
- Stromboli
- ….and more.
For More Delicious Homemade Sausage Recipes, be sure to try:
- Authentic Homemade German Bratwurst
- Homemade Smoked Cheddar Sausages
- Homemade Breakfast Sausage Links (or Patties)
AND our phenomenal Easy Italian Porchetta!
Let’s get started!
If you’re doing it yourself, grind the meat. Otherwise use ground pork or meat of choice from the store/butcher.
Place the ground meat in a bowl and add all remaining ingredients. Use your hands or a stand mixer paddle attachment to thoroughly combine the ingredients.
Wrap and chill for at least 6 hours before using, preferably overnight for best flavor.
The sausage will keep in the fridge for 3 days or can be frozen, well wrapped, for up to 3 months.
Enjoy!
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Italian Sausage Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound freshly ground well-marbled pork butt*
- OR pre-packaged ground pork*
- *can substitute ground chicken, turkey or meat of choice
- 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon red wine
- 1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely cracked black peppercorns (toast in a dry skillet for a minute or two until fragrant for maximum flavor)
- 1 teaspoon coarsely cracked fennel seeds (toast in a dry skillet for a minute or two until fragrant for maximum flavor)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (omit if you want a mild sausage)
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried ground sage
Instructions
- Place the ground meat in a bowl and add all remaining ingredients. Use your hands or a stand mixer paddle attachment to thoroughly combine the ingredients. Wrap and chill for at least 6 hours before using, preferably overnight for best flavor.The sausage will keep in the fridge for 3 days or can be frozen, well wrapped, for up to 3 months. Makes 1 pound of ground sausage.
Nutrition
Chris Simons says
I didn’t have enough pork to make a pound so I added 2 strips of bacon and a hot dog. Otherwise, I pretty much stuck to the recipe, except not as much salt. We are going to have some of it on pizza tonight.
Brenda says
I used very lean turkey and didn’t want to add animal fat and didn’t want dry meat. I added 1/2c oatmeal soaked with 1/2c of broth/water, 1 T corn starch and 2 pinches of baking soda, and 1-2 T of grape seed oil/olive oil.
Lenore Green says
I haven’t been able to buy natural Italian sausage for quite sometime because the Italian store closed and grocery chains don’t carry natural sausage. I’ve never made my own sausage and I’m a little intimated, but I’m going to try to make your recipe. L
NORM says
WAY TOO MUCH SALT NEED MORE FENNEL OR MAYBE A LITTLE ANISEI I MADE spagetti sauce AND TO CUT THE SALT I THREW IN SEVERAL PIECES OF RAW POTATO THAT DID THE TRICK.
Elly says
I agree, far too much salt. This was my second time making this sausage, only used 1/2 a teaspoon of salt and it was plenty. Freezes beautifully. Favourite for lasagne and also used it with gnocchi in a home made tomato sauce.
Roberta J Hicks says
So much better than products purchased in any market or from any butcher in our area. Reminds me of what we used to make and consume on the farm…Better; due to more multi-ethnic spice blends being used more readily now. GREAT BLEND!!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you so much, Roberta, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Kathryn says
I love this recipe. Great Italian sausage. Turned this into meatballs yesterday using ground beef and adding 1/2 cup of bread crumbs (I had to use gluten free), 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese finely grated, and an egg. It made 20 meatballs which cooked for 18 minutes at 375 F. Totally awesome! Thanks.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s fantastic, Kathryn, thanks so much for the feedback!
Laurrie Webb says
Love! Love this recipe. I made 4#’s without the red wine. The family devoured it. I had trouble getting some in the freezer.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s awesome, Laurrie, thanks so much! :)
Grandpa in the kitchen says
Kimberly
My wife thanks you for the recipe and asks me to make it on a regular basis. We both rave about it and it’s the best we’ve ever had. Aging for a day really makes it pop.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s wonderful, Grandpa in the Kitchen, thank you and please tell your wife thanks also! :)
Matthew Kitson says
How far in advance can I prepare the sausage meat? or is it best to do it the day before?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Matthew, up to 2 days in advance is fine. And of course you can freeze it for several months.
george christie says
I want to use fresh herbs in the recipe because I have them all in my garden so how much should I use because some people say you need more if there fresh
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi George, yes you’ll want to triple the amount of fresh herbs. So if it calls for one teaspoon of dried you’ll want to use three teaspoons of fresh.
AL says
My wife is Thai and makes delicious northern thai sausage. She uses 25% pork fat and adds 1/2 cup of water, and natural casings. I want to follow your recipe with spices. The only other difference I see is she adds water. What do you think?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Al, if you’re making actual sausages in casings then yes, adding ice water is common – it helps the spices combine with the meat and softens the meat mixture so that it doesn’t break the casings as they’re being stuffed. For example, I add ice water to my homemade British bangers: https://www.daringgourmet.com/homemade-british-bangers/. This Italian sausage recipe isn’t meant to be stuffed in casings, it’s bulk sausage meat, but if you do plan on using it to make sausage links then yes, you can add some water.