How To Bake Sausage In The Oven (Breakfast Links & Italian Sausage)

Sausage is a delicious and versatile addition to any meal. Breakfast sausage can be enjoyed with eggs and toast, while Italian sausage is a great way to add flavor to pasta dishes or pizza.

Many people think the best way to cook sausage is in a frying pan or heavy skillet, but there are actually a few different ways to make it. In this article, you’ll learn how to bake sausage in the oven.

To bake sausage links, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the links on a roasting tray or other oven-safe pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through.

To bake Italian sausage, preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the sausage in a shallow baking tray, then allow them to cook for 20-25 minutes. You’ll want to turn the links over about halfway through.

Keep on reading below to learn more about how to make delicious oven-baked sausage in the oven including tips, tricks and recipes.

More Breakfast Ideas:
– 16 Easy Ways To Make Box Pancakes Better
– 25+ Oreo Breakfast Recipes & Ideas

Can I Cook Sausage in the Oven?

Absolutely! You can easily cook all types of sausage in the oven including traditional pork sausage links, Italian sausage and even chicken sausages and turkey sausage.

The cook time will vary depending on the type of sausage you’re using, but in general, there are just a few simple steps to make perfect sausages in the oven.

Why Bake Sausage in the Oven?

There are a few great reasons to bake your sausages in the oven. Here are some of the reasons baking sausages might become your new favorite way to get an easy meal on the table!

1. If you tend to burn your sausages when using high temperatures on the stovetop, cooking them in the oven might be worth a try next time. The oven helps the sausage cook through evenly with a delicious golden brown exterior.
2. Using the oven is a great option because you don’t have to stand in front of the stove. Just pop the sausage in the oven and your hands are free to work on something else.
3. Baking sausages in the oven is also a good idea if you need to make a lot of sausage at one time.
4. Baking sausage is definitely healthier than pan-frying with extra oil or deep frying sausages in vegetable oil. With baking, you don’t have the added fat and calories from the oil.
5. And finally, baked sausages taste great. They hold onto a lot of their flavor and turn out juicy. Plus, the best thing is that it’s extremely simple once you know how to bake sausage links in the oven. 

How To Bake Sausage Links in the Oven

Baking smaller sausage links in the oven is easy! For the best results, just follow these steps.  

1. Preheat the oven to 350° degrees F.
2. Set oven-safe parchment paper or aluminum foil on a shallow baking pan or sheet.
3. Use tongs to place sausage on the baking sheet, so they do not touch.
4. Bake the links for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping the links over halfway through the cooking process.
5. Bake until brown and cooked through completely.

You can cook a lot of sausages at once using your oven. If you need to make a lot, you can always put more than one baking sheet with sausage into the oven. Overall, it’s simple and won’t take you long to get a perfect sausage using the recipe. 

How To Bake Italian Sausage in the Oven

Italian sausage links are larger than breakfast links, so you’ll need to change how you prepare them slightly. You can use these general instructions to get the perfect baked Italian sausage:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Line baking sheet with oven-safe parchment paper or aluminum foil.
3. Place the sausages on the baking sheet, so they do not touch.
4. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, and turn the sausage over halfway through when there are about 10 to 12 minutes left.
5. Bake until brown with a crisp exterior and cooked through completely.

PRO TIP: For an easy Italian sausage recipe, try a sheet pan dinner for a complete meal! Simply bake the Italian sausage links with cherry tomatoes and thin slices of sweet bell peppers for more flavor. You could use other favorite vegetables too.

To do this, arrange the chopped vegetables and sausage on your baking sheet in a single layer. If desired, season with a little bit of salt, pepper, olive oil and even some red pepper flakes. Then bake using the above recipe.

Is It Better To Bake or Broil Sausage?

Do both! After baking your sausage, you can broil them for a couple of minutes. Baking the links ensures that they cook the entire way through, but broiling them adds more flavor and color. Keep a close eye on the links when using the broiler. They can go from golden to burned very quickly!

How Do You Know When Sausages Are Done in the Oven?

For food safety, the best way to make sure your meat is done is to check the internal temperature. You can also use a meat thermometer for the most accurate readings. Check the internal temperature of sausage by sticking the thermometer in the thickest area, which is usually the middle of the link. You want that part to be at least 165°F to avoid potential food poisoning.

Another, less precise way to check the doneness of sausage is to cut one open. If there’s any pink left, you should put it back in the oven. You also want to ensure that the sausages have a brown outer coating.

Is It Healthier To Cook Sausages in the Oven?

It can be healthier to cook your sausage links in the oven. Here are a few reasons baked sausage can be a healthier choice than other cooking methods.

• When grilling sausages, they can sometimes char and burn. According to the American Cancer Society, you should avoid eating charred meats cooked at high temperatures. You also won’t need to use any olive oil when baking, like when preparing them in a pan.
• Using a deep fryer for cooking sausage adds extra fat. Without the oil, the sausage will have less fat and calories, making it a healthier option for you. Cooking them in the oven also allows grease and fat to bake out of the links. Place the cooked sausage on paper towels to absorb even more oil

So, if you want to make the healthiest sausage links, baking them in the oven without adding any oil to them is an easy way. They’ll still taste wonderful, and you’ll love the delicious flavor you get from this cooking method.

How Do You Bake Sausages Without Splitting?

Splitting is a very common problem when it comes to making sausages. You’ll need to ensure you turn them over at least once while in the oven. That way, they shouldn’t split open on any one side. 

That said, sausage links are much less likely to split in the oven than in a pan. Since the oven heats them evenly, they are less likely. Grills and frying pans tend to cook only one side at a time with high heat. If you don’t rotate them often enough, that’s when they tend to split open.

Baking your sausages and flipping them over at least one time should help reduce the chances of them splitting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Cook Sausage Without Frying It?

You can bake sausages in the oven for great results. Another option is to boil the sausages. However, if you boil them, they don’t get a brown and crispy outer layer. You can also put sausage in the air fryer or deep fryer.

How Do You Make Breakfast Sausage Without Burning It?

It’s easy to burn small breakfast links, especially if you make them in a frying pan. To make sausage in a frying pan or non-stick skillet on the stovetop without burning it, try adding a small amount of water to the bottom of the pan and cook on medium heat. Another option is to try baking them using the tips and tricks outlined in this article and the recipe card below.

How Do You Cook Johnsonville Italian Sausage in the Oven?

According to the Johnsonville website, you prepare their Italian sausage in the oven at 350°F. Bake your sausage links for 15 to 18 minutes and turn them over once. You want them to have an internal temperature of 165°F.

You may also enjoy:
How Long To Microwave A Hot Dog
35 Easy Kielbasa Recipes
What To Serve With Perogies
How To Cook Fresh and Frozen Pierogies
How To Cook Fresh and Smoked Kielbasa

Save it for later on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. Also join our Facebook Group for more snack fun!