The Ultimate Beef Sausage Recipe

Get ready to make them yourself! Just grab your ingredients and follow these easy steps.

Ingredients:

For All Sausages:

• 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup beef broth (or water)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds (crushed)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 natural hog casings (soaked in cold water for 30 minutes)

Directions:

Step 1

Sauté the Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.

Step 2

Deglaze (Optional): If using broth, pour it into the pan and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Let the broth simmer for a couple of minutes, until slightly reduced.

Step 3

Add Spices & Herbs: Stir in the thyme, fennel seeds (or paprika for chorizo variation), salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute, allowing the flavors to bloom.

Step 4

Combine with Meat: Transfer the sauteed mixture to a large bowl. Add the ground beef and use your hands to mix thoroughly, ensuring even distribution of spices.

Step 5

Stuff the Casings (Optional Skip if Using Pre-Stuffed Casings):

• Attach a sausage stuffer funnel to your grinder or use a piping bag with a large tip.
• Secure one end of the casing to the funnel and carefully spoon the sausage mixture into the casing, avoiding air pockets.
• Twist the casing at 4-inch intervals to create individual beef sausages. Repeat until all the mixture is used.

Step 6

Cooking Options:

Grilling: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the sausages for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and golden brown on all sides.

Frying: Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of oil. Add the sausages and cook for 10-12 minutes, turning frequently, until browned and cooked through.

Step 7

Serve and Enjoy! These incredible beef sausages are delicious on their own with a side of mustard or your favorite dipping sauce. You can also use them in various recipes, like pasta dishes, stews, or breakfast scrambles.

Tips:

• If the casings seem tough, soak them in warm water for an additional 10 minutes before stuffing.
• Use a kitchen thermometer to check the internal temperature of the sausages. They are safe to consume when they reach 160°F (71°C).
• Leftover sausages can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.

Leave a comment and let us know how your beef sausages turned out!