This recipe for oven-baked Italian sausage is easy and tastes great. It makes fresh Italian sausages that go well in a sub, on their own, or with pasta or tomato sauce. It only takes less than 30 minutes and doesn’t make a mess to roast Italian sausage until the outside is perfectly crispy and the inside is soft and tender.
There are few Italian-American ingredients that are as iconic and delicious as Italian sausage (a.k.a., salsiccia or sawseech).
There’s no doubt that Italian sausage is some of the best comfort food out there. You can eat it on a sub with peppers and onions, with pasta, covered in a thick tomato sauce and melted mozzarella, or in a big pile of mashed potatoes.
That being said, there are many ways to cook Italian sausages. This Oven Baked recipe is a quick and easy way to cook them without touching them. It keeps the natural juices inside and works with almost any type of sausage.
Growing up in an Italian-American family, Italian sausage was a regular staple at our dinner table. Whether it was crumbled up in tomato sauce sliced on hoagies or stuffed in peppers, my mom knew how to make the most of this versatile meat.
As an adult living on my own, I wanted to keep up my family’s Italian sausage traditions But I quickly realized I had some knowledge gaps when it came to properly cooking this iconic Mediterranean specialty
Sure, I could brown some sausage in a pan and call it a day. But how could I achieve that perfect, juicy interior that would impress even my nonna? It all came down to honing in on the right internal temperature.
After some trial-and-error in my kitchen, I now feel confident that I know the ideal temperature for safely cooking sausage while retaining all its flavorful juices and texture. Want to cook Italian sausage like a pro? Keep reading for my tips!
##Why Internal Temperature Matters
With most meats looks can be deceiving. Just because the outside seems browned doesn’t mean the inside is fully cooked. Taking the internal temperature is the only way to ensure the sausage has reached a safe minimum cooking point.
Undercooked sausage can pose a health risk from bacteria. Overcooking also dries out the sausage, leading to a tough, rubbery texture. Getting it just right takes a little skill and patience.
For ground sausages, an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part is your new best friend. For links, it takes a little finesse to get the thermometer between the casing and meat.
With the right internal temperature knowledge, you’ll be ready to churn out Italian sausage worthy of the old country!
##The Magic Number for Safety
So what’s the ideal minimum internal temp for Italian sausage? According to food safety experts, you should cook raw Italian sausages to an internal temperature of at least 160°F.
This applies equally to links, patties, and bulk-style loose sausage. 160°F is hot enough to eliminate any harmful bacteria that could be lingering in the raw pork.
Some chefs even recommend an extra safety buffer of 165°F. At this slightly higher temperature, your Italian sausage is guaranteed free of pathogens and safe for the whole family.
##Allow for a Resting Period
Once you hit 160°F on the thermometer, your sausage needs a brief resting period before serving. The internal temperature will continue rising about 5-10 degrees during this time.
For grilled or pan-fried links or patties, let them rest for 3-5 minutes. For a whole cooked sausage loaf, allow it to rest for 10 minutes before slicing to allow the interior heat to evenly distribute.
This resting period ensures every bite reaches the minimum safe point. Don’t skip this crucial step!
##Adapt for Different Styles
While 160°F is the standard, you can tweak the target temperature slightly for different styles of Italian sausage:
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Fresh bulk sausage – Cook to 160°F for safety in dishes like sausage and peppers.
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Precooked sausage links – Heat to 145°F since they are already cooked once.
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Raw sweet sausage – Cook to 165°F for extra moistness.
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Spicy or hot sausage – Cook to 155°F for perfect spice infusion.
The most important thing is reaching at least 160°F on any raw or fresh sausage to eliminate foodborne bacteria. Play with different final temps for your ideal texture.
##Should You Go Higher Than 160°F?
Is there any benefit to cooking Italian sausage hotter than the 160°F minimum? Not really. In fact, higher heat tends to dry out and toughen the texture.
Sausage has plenty of fat and connective tissue to keep it moist. Cook it beyond 170°F and you risk it becoming tough and shriveled. Stick between 155-165°F for the best results.
The only exception is if you’re reheating fully cooked sausage. In that case, you want to ensure it gets piping hot throughout by reaching 165°F or above.
##Testing Methods for Accurate Temps
A good digital instant read thermometer takes the guesswork out of achieving the ideal internal sausage temp. But there are a couple other ways to test doneness:
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Cut into a link and check that the interior is no longer pink with clear juices.
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Follow the package cooking times as a guideline.
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Check for an internal temperature of 155°F for mildly spicy sausage or 165°F for sweet Italian sausage.
While helpful as general confirmation, these visual cues and times aren’t as precise as an instant thermometer. Invest in this inexpensive gadget for sausage success!
##Common Sausage Myths and Mistakes
In my early Italian sausage cooking days, I fell victim to some common misconceptions. Don’t make the same mistakes I did! Here are a few myths worth busting:
Myth: You only have to cook Italian sausage until it’s browned.
Fact: Browning creates nice flavor but doesn’t mean it’s safe or cooked through! Always check the internal temp.
Myth: Pricking sausages helps them cook faster.
Fact: This causes juices to escape and the sausage to dry out! Leave them intact.
Myth: Italian sausage links can be boiled like hot dogs.
Fact: Boiling makes the casing wrinkle and lose its signature snap. Pan fry or bake instead for the best texture.
##Perfectly Cooked Sausage Starts Here
Armed with the right information, you can now cook Italian sausage like a seasoned pro! Just remember these key tips:
- Heat raw sausage to 160°F minimum for food safety.
- Allow a resting period before serving for ideal heat distribution.
- Adapt the final internal temp based on sausage style for customized texture.
- Invest in an instant read thermometer for precision cooking.
- Don’t boil, overcook, or prick before cooking for maximum juiciness.
The next time you fire up a sizzling pan of sausage and peppers or a cheesy sausage lasagna, you can feel confident your links will have that perfect snap when bitten into and juicy, flavor-packed interior.
Kitchen Tools for Oven Baked Italian Sausage
To make this roasted Italian sausage recipe, you’ll need the following:
Ingredients for Oven Baked Italian Sausage
A sheet pan, some parchment paper (or aluminum foil), a few sausage links, and, if you want, a light spray of olive oil are all you need to cook Italian sausage in the oven.
- That’s all you need! The recipe below calls for 2 pounds of Italian sausage, which, depending on what else is served, should feed eight people. Usually, a pound of sausage has four to five links. This recipe calls for hot or sweet pork sausage. You can also use chicken or turkey sausage. Cut the sausage into links that are about 4 inches long, or as long or short as you want. If the sausage is in a big roll instead of links,
- Olive oil (optional): I like to spray a little oil on the sausage before baking because it makes the end result more caramelized. But, this is completely optional.
How To Cook Italian Sausage in the Oven
FAQ
What temperature is Italian sausage done?
How do you know when Italian sausage is fully cooked?
What temperature should internal sausage be cooked to?
How long to cook sausage at 160 degrees?
What temperature should Italian sausage be cooked to?
That combination gives Italian sausage its distinctive flavor and character. Unlike smoked sausage, Italian sausage needs to be cooked to 160°F as it is a raw ground pork product. Cooking sausage too high, too fast and unevenly can cause links to be too dark on the outside and still raw at the center or the skins to split and disintegrate.
What is the purpose of using fennel in Italian sausage?
The fennel in the sausage is just for flavor. But Fennel is widely used to combat gastrointestinal problems, helps digestion, fights flatulence and diarrhea, can help fight anxiety, stress and insomnia, helps release excess fluid in the body, can reduce menstrual pain, prevents bad breath and heartburn, in addition to other benefits.
What temperature should sausage be inside?
Pork, beef, or lamb sausages should reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), and chicken and turkey sausages should be 165°F (74°C). Can You Still Eat Sausages if it’s a Little Pink Inside?
How do you cook Italian sausages in the oven?
Place the foil on the baking sheet – secure it by crimping it around the edges unless you are feeling daring. Preheat the oven to 350. Space your Italian Sausages out so that heat can circulate around them. Place in the center of the oven and bake for 25-35 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 160. Step 1.