How to Make Homemade Sweet Italian Sausage (Mild or Hot) - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's nothing quite like the taste and aroma of homemade sweet Italian sausage sizzling on the grill or in a pan. The flavorful blend of spices and herbs combined with the rich, savory taste of pork makes this sausage a favorite for many culinary enthusiasts. Whether you prefer your sausage mild or hot, making homemade sweet Italian sausage is a rewarding and delicious cooking adventure that will have you savoring every bite.

Making homemade sweet Italian sausage allows you to custo...

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Ingredients

  • 3 pounds ground pork
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 ¼ tablespoons dried parsley
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • ¾ teaspoon ground fennel seed
  • ¼ teaspoon brown sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Additional Time: 12 hrs
  • Total Time: 12 hrs 35 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 3 pounds

  • Place pork and red wine vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, salt, black pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, fennel seed, brown sugar, oregano, and thyme. Knead until flecks of spice are evenly distributed throughout meat.
  • Divide sausage into thirds. Form each into a 3-inch diameter log, wrap securely in plastic wrap, and place in a zip-top bag. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours before cooking.
  • When ready to cook, remove logs from the zip-top bags and place on a cutting board. Use a finely serrated knife to cut logs right through the plastic wrapping into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick patties. Carefully remove and discard any plastic.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, cook sausage patties in the hot skillet until no longer pink in the center, 2 to 6 minutes per side, depending on thickness. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).
  • Nutrition

    243 cal.

    • Total Fat: 16g
    • Saturated Fat: 6g
    • Cholesterol: 74mg
    • Sodium: 640mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 2g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 21g
    • Vitamin C: 2mg
    • Calcium: 33mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 338mg