Grilled Sausage Party
Aug 20, 2026
I’m a sucker for a perfectly grilled sausage. From that caramelized casing that snaps at the first bite, to the complex blend of spice and sweet, and luscious juice that makes your lips smack, it’s like a party in your mouth! Given their endless variations, versatility and availability at just about every marketplace, it’s the kind of one and done ingredient that I usually have on hand.
Yet, for anyone who’s ever thrown uncooked sausages on a hot grill expecting an easy crowd-pleaser only to be a little heart-broken when the casing bursts before they're cooked through or worse, like flare-ups that warrant a fire extinguisher, I’ve got some tricks to share:
Take it slow and steady. Please, for the love of sausage, honor its preference for a smooth transition in temperatures. Take them out of the fridge and let them adjust to room temp. Set up your grill with two heat zones. So easy! On a charcoal or woodfire grill, light the coals and once they are ashed-over, pile them up on one side of your grill to make a hot zone and leave the other side as your low heat zone.
We’re ready to grill, so start the links on the low side to gently cook them through. Move them to the hot side and let them get a bit of caramely char. Then platter them up and allow them to rest for a few while you gather everyone at the table. That’s it!
Sure, you can get a bit fancy with these methods, like letting brats take the first step poaching in beer and some sauerkraut before finishing them on the hot side and serving with mustard. Or simply chill some beers, gather friends and a few types of sausage to grill, whip up a condiment like stone fruit mustarda (link) and a few yummy sides, and dig in!
Or, simply grill up a variety of artisinal sausages and serve them along with some great sides, like these:
Grilled Corn and Arugula Salad
Mustarda- (I wrote this recipe to serve with roasted duck breast, but it's a great condiment for sausage!)
https://www.joanneweir.com/recipes/mains/roasted-duck-breasts-with-stone-fruit-mostarda/
