The Best Artisan Sausages for Grilling and Cookouts
The Best Artisan Sausages for Grilling and Cookouts
The best sausage for the grill is a fresh link with a real casing that snaps, enough fat to stay juicy over the flame, and seasoning bold enough to read through char and a bun. You want a couple of crowd-pleasers everyone recognizes, at least one with some heat, and ideally something a little unexpected to make the spread feel like more than hot dogs. Cook them over medium heat to an internal temperature of 160 F and you are most of the way there.
The short answer to "what are the best sausages to grill": build the cookout around a classic Italian sausage, add a bold Red Wine and Garlic link and a beer-infused bratwurst, bring heat with chorizo, and round it out with a variety pack so there is something for everyone. Everything below comes from Vermont Salumi, a small-batch maker in Barre, Vermont that handcrafts fresh Italian-style sausages from quality pork. All six were in stock at the time of writing. One note before you order: these ship frozen with ice packs, to the Northeast only, on Mondays, so plan your cookout date around delivery.
The cookout lineup
Italian Sausage (8 Pack)
Start here. This is a fresh pork sausage seasoned with garlic, fennel, and a measured kick of spice, the classic everyone reaches for. It grills over charcoal or gas just as happily as it pan-fries with peppers and onions, and leftovers slide into pasta sauce or a sub roll the next day. Ships as 8 frozen packs of 4 links (14 oz per pack). $55.
Red Wine & Garlic Sausage (8 Pack)
The bold one. It is a big, garlic-forward fresh pork sausage finished with red wine for depth, and it shows up on the plate exactly the way you hope. Grill over medium heat until the casings snap and the centers reach 160 F, then serve with grilled mushrooms, roasted peppers, and crusty sourdough. It also slices into a quick weeknight pasta with garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes. Ships as 8 frozen packs of 4 links. $55.
Fiddlehead IPA Bratwurst (8 Pack)
The cookout showpiece. This fresh pork bratwurst is infused with local Fiddlehead IPA, so a bright, hoppy bitterness cuts through the richness of the pork. Grill to 160 F and serve with sauerkraut, spicy mustard, and a pretzel bun, with the rest of the IPA alongside. The most grill-iconic link here, and a natural Father's Day gift for a home griller. Ships as 8 frozen packs of 4 links. $60.
Chorizo Sausage (8 Pack)
The heat. This fresh Spanish-style chorizo is built around smoky paprika and chile, bold and savory enough to hold up to char. Grill the links and slice them into tacos with charred corn salsa and lime crema, stuff them into peppers, or crumble into a breakfast hash. A cold lager balances the spice. Ships as 8 frozen packs of 4 links. $55.
Two more for variety
Pepperoni Pizza and Pesto Sausage (16 Pack)
The variety play for a bigger crowd. This 16-pack splits two playful Italian-style fresh sausages: Pepperoni Pizza, loaded with tomatoes, mozzarella, and pepperoni, and Pesto, made with fresh basil, Parmesan, Romano, and garlic. Both grill over charcoal or gas and also work in pasta, on a sub roll, or even sliced onto a pizza. Ships as 16 frozen packs total, 8 of each flavor, 4 links per pack. $120.
Maple Breakfast Sausage (8 Pack)
The morning-after link, and a smart add for a weekend with overnight guests. It is a sweet-and-savory fresh pork sausage made with real maple syrup, built to shine next to eggs. Pan-fry over medium heat for about 8 to 10 minutes until browned, and serve with pancakes and scrambled eggs, or crumble it into a breakfast hash. Ships as 8 frozen packs of 4 links. $55.
How to grill them
Thaw the links in the refrigerator before grilling for the most even cooking. Set up medium heat, around 350 to 400 F, and grill the sausages, turning occasionally, until the casings are browned and snap and the internal temperature reaches 160 F on an instant-read thermometer. Resist the urge to pierce the casings, which lets the juices out. If you are working with very thick links or a crowded grill, you can simmer them gently in beer or water first and then finish on the grill for color. Let them rest a couple of minutes before serving.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sausage to grill for a cookout?
For a mixed crowd, start with a classic Italian sausage and a bold Red Wine and Garlic link, add the Fiddlehead IPA Bratwurst as the showpiece, and bring chorizo for anyone who wants heat. If you are feeding a larger group, the Pepperoni Pizza and Pesto 16-pack gives you two flavors and the most links per order.
What internal temperature should grilled sausage reach?
Cook fresh pork sausage to an internal temperature of 160 F, measured with an instant-read thermometer at the center of the link. Vermont Salumi specifically calls for 160 F on its Red Wine and Garlic Sausage and Fiddlehead IPA Bratwurst, and the same target applies across these fresh links.
Do these sausages ship frozen, and where?
Yes. Vermont Salumi ships these fresh sausages frozen with ice packs, to the Northeast only, on Mondays. Freeze or refrigerate them immediately on arrival, and thaw in the refrigerator before grilling. Plan your cookout date around the Monday shipping window.
Which one has the most heat?
The Chorizo Sausage. It is built around smoky paprika and chile, so it carries the most spice of the lineup. The Italian Sausage has a measured kick but is much milder, and the Red Wine and Garlic, bratwurst, pizza, pesto, and maple links are not spicy.
Can I cook these without a grill?
Yes. All of these are fresh sausages that pan-sear well over medium heat until browned and cooked through to 160 F. The Italian and chorizo links also crumble nicely for pasta sauces, tacos, and breakfast hashes, and the Maple Breakfast Sausage is made to be pan-fried for about 8 to 10 minutes alongside eggs.
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