Best Homemade Sausage Recipes

SIMPLE HOMEMADE SAUSAGE PATTIES

Steps:

• Mix together the pork, garlic, sage, thyme, fennel, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the egg white and combine thoroughly. Cover and chill for at least 15 minutes.
• To easily form the sausage patties, rinse your hands in cold water. Divide the mixture into eighths and shape each portion into a 2 1/2-inch disk. Patties can be made to this point and refrigerated or frozen until ready to use.
• Heat a skillet over high heat, and then swirl in the oil. Fry the sausages on both sides until completely cooked through and golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Drain and serve immediately with pancakes, waffles or eggs. Sausage patties can be fully cooled, wrapped, and frozen for microwave reheating.

HOMEMADE SWEET ITALIAN SAUSAGE (MILD OR HOT)

Steps:

• Place the pork and red wine vinegar in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, paprika, red pepper flakes, fennel seed, brown sugar, oregano, and thyme. Knead until flecks of spice are evenly distributed through the sausage.
• Divide the sausage into thirds, and form into 3 logs; wrap each in plastic wrap. Place wrapped sausage into a freezer bag before freezing, or store in refrigerator for at least 12 hours before cooking.

HOMEMADE PORK SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Shape into eight 4-in. patties. In a skillet over medium heat, fry patties for 3-4 minutes per side until browned or until no longer pink in the center.

HOMEMADE ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Cut pork shoulder into cubes. Place in a bowl and refrigerate while preparing the other ingredients.
• Grind garlic with a pinch of salt in a mortar to make a paste. Add fennel, anise, and black pepper. Bruise spices lightly with a pestle to release the flavors. Add red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, oregano, marjoram, coriander, mustard, allspice, sugar, and a splash of water. Stir to combine.
• Add the spice paste to the pork cubes. Mix thoroughly by hand. Add the remaining salt. Cover and refrigerate until flavors meld, 8 hours to overnight.
• Process the cold pork through a meat grinder on the slowest speed.
• Push a casing onto the stuffing tube of your meat grinder. Feed the sausage meat through the filling tray. Run the meat through the casing on the slowest speed until all the casing is used up. Tie casing at the end into a knot. Pinch and twist the meat to create links if desired.
• Place sausage onto a wire rack set over a sheet pan. Refrigerate uncovered for 24 hours.
• Preheat a charcoal grill for medium heat. Separate the links and grill them until browned, about 5 minutes per side.

HOMEMADE SAUSAGE SEASONING BLEND

Steps:

• Blend all ingredients together in a spice grinder or mini-food processor (or you may also just stir together if you like some chunkier bits of fennel in your sausage).
• Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
• To use, mix with 1 pound ground meat.
• Chill seasoned meat 3 hours before using.
• Or you may also use this in any recipe calling for sausage seasoning.

KIELBASA, HOMEMADE KIELBASA, FRESH POLISH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Put the garlic through a garlic press or mince really fine. Put the seasonings into a small pot with a pint of water. Boil and then cool. Here's where my Mom always said taste it and I wouldn't. That could account for the variance in taste from year to year!
• Meanwhile, cut the pork off the bone. Cut into strips maybe 1" by 3". Doesn't have to be exact size, we get pretty sloppy with it. Strips go through the grinder better than chunks. Don't trim anything off, unless you just can't stand not to. Trust me, if there's not enough fat, the kielbasa will be dry and hard. DO trim off any bloody-type stuff though. We then put the meat into plastic dishpans, pour the cool liquid over, add about 4 cups ice cubes and mix together until your hands freeze. It should be kinda sloppy. If not, add more water or ice. Cover with aluminum foil or such and put in fridge over night to marinate so the meat soaks up the flavor. Stir occasionally. The ice will probably all be melted the next day before you make the sausage. The meat kind of absorbs the flavors. Yes, it will smell up the fridge. In fact, it will smell up the whole house! Open the windows. Make the neighbors crazy!
• Next day, take the casings out and soak in warm water for several hours; it makes them more flexible. Cut in 4 ft. lengths. Shove the meat in the freezer for 1/2 to 1 hour before you start. The meat stiffens up a little and it's easier to put through the grinder. (We forget to do this a lot!) Stick one end of each casing on the faucet and run warm water through the inside of the casing.
• Ready? (Keep everything as cold as you can) This is the fun part. Put a little oil on your hand and run it over the horn where the meat will come out. Run casing through fingers to drain slightly. Put a casing on the horn. One person helps push the meat through the grinder while the other holds the casing while it is filling up. It kinda curls up as you hold it. I find for me that it's better if I hold it up while it's filling, less pressure on the casing. We make each one about 12-16". Or until it splits! Tie it off with string or knot the end if you can get it close to the end of the filled casing. Some people twist it every 6" or so to make smaller sausages. If the darn thing splits, you gotta scrape out the meat, dump it back with the other stuff in the dishpan and start over. Some years you're lucky, but some years the darn things split all the time. That's one reason for soaking the casings for a longer time, they don't split as easily. Sometimes it's just a bad batch of casings. Then all you can do is swear at it.
• We put the coils of sausage back into clean dishpans (on a rack if possible) and put back into fridge to kinda dry overnight. Then we pack them in Saran, aluminum foil, ziplock bags, anything that will keep the smell in, and put the packages in the freezer. We make 2-3 lb. packages. Since I have a vacuum sealer, I use that. It works really great.
• By the way, the sausage is pale because it is not smoked. We don't care for smoked kielbasa. But you can smoke it before freezing. Can't help you with that, though!
• We've been able to keep the sausage frozen for months. Just keep everything cold and clean while you're working. Keep a lot of paper towels handy to dry hands, answer the doggone telephone, etc.
• We have found over the years, that pork has become much leaner now.That is sometimes a problem. We've considered buying more fat and mixing it in but never have. It worked out all right just not cutting off any fat. But insufficient fat makes for dry sausage.
• It takes up about 1-1/2 hours altogether to fill the casings. It's really simple and easy. Of course sometimes we have splashes on the walls when "someone" gets a little rough pushing the meat through the grinder. Hey, that's the fun of it. It's a messy job, but someone has to do it.
• Oh yeah, the house smells for 3-4 days. But it smells good. If you like garlic. All the seasonings are to your personal taste. You really need a lot of salt though. The pepper -- eh, how much do you like? We like a lot. Same with the garlic.
• We keep a little of the ground meat and cook a couple of small patties of the sausage. That's when you can taste it and find out what you did wrong in the seasoning, too late, of course.
• Use the plate in the grinder which grinds the meat coarse. It's better if the meat is a little chunky. You don't want a mealy texture.
• If you run a search on google, you can find other information under kielbasa.
• One recipe I found says to knead meat and seasonings. Supposedly the more you knead, the more tender the sausage. We've never tried that.
• In recent years, we've set aside 3-4 lbs. of the ground sausage meat and made it into small patties like breakfast sausage, and larger patties like hamburgers. The grandkids really like that. We do, too. But for Easter and Christmas, it has to be the links.

HOMEMADE CHORIZO SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the oregano, cumin, paprika, cayenne and cinnamon and cook 1 minute. Add the vinegar and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the onion-spice mixture from the heat. Transfer to a blender, add 1/4 cup cold water and blend until smooth. Pour into a bowl and let cool to room temperature.
• Add the ground pork to the onion-spice mixture and gently mix to combine. Mix in 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
• To cook the chorizo, form the pork mixture into 8 patties. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil in a cast-iron skillet over high heat until smoking. Add the patties and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve hot.

HOMEMADE BREAKFAST SAUSAGE PATTIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 9 ingredients. Add pork; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into twenty 3-in. patties., In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook patties in batches over medium heat until a thermometer reads 160°, 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove to paper towels to drain. Freeze option: Wrap each cooked, cooled patty; transfer to an airtight container. May be frozen for up to 3 months. To use, unwrap patties and place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° until heated through, about 15 minutes on each side.

HOMEMADE SUMMER SAUSAGE AKA SALAMI

Steps:

• Mix together all ingredients in a nonmetal bowl. It is easier to mix the seasoning with the water, then incorporate the meat, using your hands to distribute all spices evenly (like making a meatloaf). A note, based on a review, do not over mix the meat or it will be tough. This is true about any kind of meat, work it just enough to get every thing incorporated.
• I use an ice cream bucket and place a lid on top.
• Refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Remove from bowl and roll into 4 rolls, about 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick.
• Wrap in aluminum foil with shiny side towards meat.
• Punch tiny holes along one side and place in a broiler pan with holes down to drain out liquid.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove foil and rewrap in plastic wrap.
• Ready to use or freeze.

HOMEMADE ITALIAN TURKEY SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the turkey, garlic powder, fennel seed, sugar, salt, oregano and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Shape into eight patties. Cook in a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray for about 3 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 165°. Or crumble turkey into a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray. Cook and stir for about 4 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.

HOMEMADE ITALIAN SAUSAGE STEW

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, over medium heat, brown sausage; drain. Add the water, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook over low heat for 1 hour or until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender. , Add the ketchup, green pepper and parsley; cook 12-15 minutes longer or until pepper is tender. Discard bay leaf. , Combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

HOMEMADE SUMMER SAUSAGE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef and water until well blended. Season with garlic powder, curing mixture, liquid smoke and mustard seed, and mix thoroughly. It is best to use your hands for this - like meatloaf. Form the mixture into two rolls, and wrap with aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Remove foil from the beef, and poke holes in the bottom of the rolls. Place them on a roasting rack in a shallow roasting pan to catch the drippings.
• Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven. Cool, then wrap in plastic or foil, and refrigerate until cold before slicing.

HOMEMADE ITALIAN SAUSAGE PATTIES

Steps:

• Combine parsley, salt, fennel, black pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, minced onion, and red pepper flakes in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Grind until all seasonings are finely crushed.
• Place pork in a large bowl and add seasoning mix. Mix with your hands until well combined. Roll into a log and slice into four 1/2-inch thick sausage patties.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook sausage patties for 4 minutes. Turn patties and finish cooking for 4 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (73 degrees C).

HOMEMADE MILD ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Combine the pork butt, garlic, paprika, fennel seeds, salt, pepper, cayenne, anise, parsley, and red wine in a large bowl and toss well to coat. Refrigerate covered overnight or up to 24 hours.
• Pass the mixture through a meat grinder fitted with a medium die. (Alternately, transfer to a food processor in 2 batches and process until finely ground.) To test the seasoning, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a small skillet, and cook about 2 teaspoons of the mixture. Adjust seasonings, to taste.
• Using the sausage attachment on a mixer, stuff the meat into the casings, if being used. Twist and tie off to make 4-inch sausages. Alternately, shape into patties. Cook sausage in usual manner, making sure the internal temperature of the sausage links reaches at least 150 degrees F. Uncooked sausage can be stored in the refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze and use within 3 months.

AUTHENTIC HOMEMADE POLISH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Have the pork butts ground coarse and place in a large pan.
• Crush the kernals of garlic with the salt, by using the blade of a knife to mash the garlic fine.
• Add the finely mashed garlic and the other above ingredients to the pork butts.
• Mix it well.
• If possible, allow the mixtures to remain overnight in the refrigerator.
• Fill the casings with the meat mixture after washing the casings out with water.
• To cook, place sausage in pot with water, bring to boil.
• Skim, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes.
• Remove form water.
• Place in oven for additional browning at 325 degrees for about 45 minutes.
• The uncooked sausage can also be placed in plastic bags and frozen for later use.

BUD'S HOMEMADE SUMMER SAUSAGE

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients with your hands like making meatloaf. Cover and Refrigerate 24 hours. Take out and knead one more time then make 4 14x2 inch logs. Put them on a cookie sheet with 1-2 inch sides. Bake at 300 degrees for 3 hours. Take out and wrap in wax paper with aluminum foil around that. Refrigerate until well chilled. Serve by slicing and eating alone or with crackers and cheese.
• 2. NOTE: When rolling logs into shape, make sure you knead the meat and form a tight log so there's no cracks forming while baking.
• 3. IF USING VENISON: Venison is very lean. This recipe needs some fat in it so use 3 lbs venison and 2 lbs hamburger.

HOMEMADE VENISON ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• mix together all spices and vinegar.
• add to the ground meat.
• stuff in hog casings or freeze in bulk.

HOMEMADE SPICY TURKEY SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Prepare the smoker. In a large mixing bowl, add the turkey. In a small mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients together. Mix well. Toss the turkey with the seasoning blend and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Grind the meat twice in a meat grinder fitted with a 1/2-inch die. A food processor could also be used to grind the meat. Stuff half of the mixture into 1 1/2-inch casings, forming 6-inch links. Form the remaining into 3 (1/2 pound) patties. You can either use the sausage fresh or smoke the sausage. For the smoked sausage: Place the sausage in the smoker and cook for 10 to 15 minutes.

HOMEMADE ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Combine the pork, pork fat, Essence, paprika, garlic, black pepper, salt, file, chili powder, red pepper, and cumin in a large bowl and mix well. Pass through a food grinder fitted with a coarse die. (Alternately, transfer in 2 batches to a food processor and process until finely ground.) Transfer to a large bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• To test the seasoning, heat 1 teaspoon oil in a small skillet, and cook about 2 teaspoons of the mixture. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
• Using the sausage attachment on a mixer, stuff the meat into the casings, if being used. Twist and tie off to make 4-inch sausages. Alternately, shape into patties.
• Preheat a home smoker to 250 degrees F. Smoke the sausage for 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the smoker and use as desired.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

HOMEMADE BREAKFAST SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Place the pork in a large bowl and add the brown sugar, sage, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Mix well using your hands. Form patties from heaping 1/4 cups of the mixture, about 1/3-inch thick.
• Melt the butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage patties in two batches until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, about 5 minutes per side. Serve warm with eggs or pancakes. (See Cook's Note.)