Learn how to cook boiled sausage whether you're boiling them before grilling, before, frying, or just cooking it to use in other recipes like pasta and casseroles. We show you how to get perfect and juicy Italian sausage (or other types of raw sausage) in water or broth!
Boiling Italian sausage on the stove
The very first question you might even have is CAN you boil Italian sausage? And, second, WHY would you even want to?
The answer to the first question is yes, you can definitely make boiled sausages using either a Dutch oven or deep skillet on the stove. The process is super quick and easy!
The answer to the second question is simply that many people prefer to boil Italian sausages before grilling or pan-frying them to cook the insides before they finish them off and get their sausages browned and crisp to their liking.
This exact same process works for other types or raw or uncooked sausage, like boiling brats.
Love Italian sausage like we do? ❤️ We have over 20 recipes on our site! You'll want to try our popular slow cooker sausage and peppers in sauce, quick cooked air fryer sweet Italian sausage, or how to bake Italian sausage in the oven.
Key ingredients
- Italian sausage, sweet Italian or spicy - raw uncooked Italian sausage links or other types of uncooked sausage like brats.
- chicken broth - We do prefer chicken broth, but water can be used as well. If you are looking to create a beer brat or beer sausage, use your favorite brand of beer.
How long to boil Italian sausage?
We're going to show you how long to boil sausage on the stove whether you're partially cooking them to finish on the grill or for frying, and we're going to teach you how to fully cook them to use in other recipes.
Cooking sausages for frying or grilling
Step 1: In a deep skillet or Dutch oven, add the raw Italian sausages to the bottom of the pot. Cover the sausage with water or chicken broth to just cover them completely.
Step 2: Over medium heat, bring the liquid to a slow boil. Simmer the uncooked sausage links for 10 minutes.
NOTE: The sausages will be mostly cooked but not ready to serve at this point. Do not consume undercooked meat.
Step 3: Remove the Italian sausage from the liquid and either grill them until they're browned to your liking or you can pan fry them on the stovetop.
Step 4: To pan-fry the boiled sausage, add a little olive oil to a skillet and cook them for 3 minutes on each side, or until they're browned to your liking. Check for doneness by using a digital meat thermometer. Italian sausages should be cooked to at least 160F (up to 190F is fine to still stay juicy).
After you finish browning your boiled sausage, either on the grill or in a pan on the stove, or cook them totally through to 160 F + and serve them with a side salad, on a bun for sandwiches, sliced over pasta, or with a side of cooked peppers and onions or roasted vegetables.
Extra helpful tips
- While everyone calls it boiled sausage, technically you are simmering them. With a boil you keep the heat high, but a simmer is a slower boil that is gentler and keeps the meat juicy instead of drying it out.
- Do not prick the sausages before cooking them. This is an old myth and pricking the sausage causes it to lose moisture and flavor.
- If you're boiling sausage to fully cook them and to use in another recipe like an Italian sausage casserole or to serve sliced with pasta, cook for a total of 12+ minutes or until a digital meat thermometer readers over 160 F and there's no pink in the middle.
Got questions?
Technically you do not need to boil sausages before grilling them. Boiling sausages prior to cooking is a personal preference. Many people do prefer to boil sausages to keep them juicy and make sure they're cooked through prior to serving. However, you can just grill them from raw as long as they reach at least 160F.
You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days making this a great option for meal prep! Or freeze in an air tight container for 3 months.
Boiling sausage can help reduce some of the fat, but it won't remove all of it. When you boil Italian sausage or other varieties, some of the fat can melt into the water, especially if the sausage is fattier. There isn't a way to exactly measure this (bummer!) Blot the sausages dry with paper towels before pan frying or grilling.
Dinner ideas with Italian sausage
- Easy chicken sausage stuffed zucchini
- Best Italian sausage with cheese inside
- Air fryer frozen sausage time and temp
- Easy crockpot tortellini soup with spinach
- Old fashioned Italian stuffed peppers
- Casseroles with Italian sausage
Recipe
Boiling Sausage (Uncooked on Stove)
Ingredients
- 1 pack Italian sausages uncooked (5 sausages, weight 1.3 lb)
- 32 oz water or chicken broth
Instructions
- In a deep skillet or Dutch oven, add the raw Italian sausages to the bottom of the pot. Cover the sausage with water or chicken broth to just cover them completely.
- Over medium heat, bring the liquid to a slow boil and simmer the sausage for 10 minutes. They'll mostly be cooked through at this point but won't be completely cooked.
- Remove the Italian sausage from the liquid and either grill them until they're browned to your liking or you can pan fry them on the stovetop.
- To pan-fry the boiled sausage, add a little olive oil to a skillet and cook them for 3 minutes on each side, or until they're browned to your liking. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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