Get tender juicy and delicious sausage links on the stove in less than 20 minutes using Italian sausages. They're a whole lotta yum!
This stovetop Italian sausage is so good!
Instead of just pan frying Italian sausages in a skillet (which often gives you uncooked sausage), we're taking it a step further and doing a quick sear on both sides and then simmering them in a bit of liquid until they reach the perfect temperature.
You can make an easy meal with cooked sausages and a plate of peppers and onions, we often use frozen peppers and they work so well. You can also serve these with roasted vegetables, salad, or a simple pasta dish. Or why not make sandwiches using your favorite hoagie roll and peppers and onions?
Pan frying Italian sausages is one of our go-to options and we literally cook them almost weekly! Sometimes we serve them as whole links and other times we slice them and add them to other recipes.
Ingredients list
- Italian sausages - uncooked, either sweet Italian or hot Italian sausages can be used. Other types of raw sausages can be used with this method like bratwurst or uncooked chicken sausage.
- olive oil - or another type of neutral high-heat cooking oil like canola oil or avocado oil
- liquid - simmer them in water or chicken broth to finish
How to cook Italian sausage on the stove
- In a large skillet, heat the pan over medium-high heat until it's hot. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Place the Italian sausages in the pan and brown them on both sides for about 3 minutes on each side. They won't be cooked through yet.
- Turn the heat down to medium-low. Add a ½ cup of water or broth to the skillet and cover the pan.
- Simmer the sausage until it's cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of at least 160F, which will take an additional 4-6 minutes. Total cooking time is 10-12 minutes.
- Serve them with sauteed peppers and onions, roasted vegetables, salad, pasta, polenta, or rice. Enjoy!
Jenni's tips
- The sausages are done when they reach an internal temperature of 160F. They will still be delicious and juicy up to 180-190F. Any higher and they will begin to dry out. We always recommend using a digital meat thermometer.
- Leftovers will keep up to 4 days in the fridge or you can freeze them for up to 3 months.
Should you boil sausages before frying them?
Some people prefer to brown the sausage in a pan first, and then simmer them in a bit of water to finish cooking (like us). While others like the method of simmering sausage first, letting the liquid evaporate, and then browning the sausage to your liking. Honestly, either method will work well. The main thing is to not overcook them since they'll taste tough and chewy.
More sweet Italian sausage recipes
- Crockpot sausage and peppers
- Instant Pot Italian sausage and peppers
- Italian sausage bake
- Air fryer sausage
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Recipe
Cooking Italian Sausage on Stove
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausages uncooked sweet or spicy
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or other neutral oil
- Liquid- such as water or chicken broth
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place the Italian sausages in the pan and brown them on both sides, about 2-3 minutes on each side. They won't be cooked through yet.
- Turn the heat down to medium-low. Add a ½ cup of liquid to the skillet and cover the pan. Simmer the sausages until they're cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 160F, which will take about 10-12 minutes. Discard any remaining liquid.
- Serve with sauteed peppers and onions, roasted vegetables, salad, pasta, polenta, or rice. Enjoy!
Notes
- Italian chicken sausage works great too using this method.
- Leave these as whole links or slice them to be used in recipes.
- You can use a non-stick skillet but they might not brown as much as cooking in cast iron.
- While the internal temperature of sausage is done at 160F, because of the fat content, they taste delicious and juicy up to 180-190F. Cooking them higher than that can lead to chewy and overcooked meat.
Matti says
Please try the other way round:
Saute them in water first to cook. Then finish by frying in a little oil and butter. Any caramelized residue can also be used to make a sauce.
With your method, you are washing away the glaze and losing the slight crispness.
Carol Westfall says
Can I cook the italian sausages totally the day before my reunion? I wont have time the next day.
WholeLottaYum says
Yes! They can be cooked in advance and reheated the day of. Just simmer them in a little broth the day of if you have time or bake them on a sheetpan.