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Chicken sausages have become super popular over the last couple of years and they are super easy to cook. These 3 methods for cooking chicken sausage will have you adding them to your weekly meal plan every week. These delicious sausages come in lots of varieties and can easily be cooked in a skillet, on the grill, in the oven or in an air fryer!
Where to Buy Chicken Sausage
Chicken sausage can be found in the meat department in pretty much every local grocery store. Plus, they come in a huge varieties of flavors. Chicken sausage are generally already completely cooked as well making them very simple to prepare for a meal.
?Selecting Chicken Sausage
Select types of chicken sausage that have flavors you will enjoy or that pair with the recipe you are adding them to. Some flavors we have tried and enjoy include:
- Chicken and Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage
- Sweet Pepper and Onion Chicken Sausage
- Sweet Italian Chicken Sausages
?Chicken sausages come in so many more flavors to try. See which ones are your favorites!
Storing Chicken Sausage
Chicken sausage should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use. See the date on the packaging for how long they will be good for to determine if you should freeze them.
For best results, be sure to defrost frozen chicken sausage in the refrigerator overnight before cooking them. This will help the sausages cook more evenly and reduce cooking time.
How to Cook Chicken Sausage
Chicken sausage can be cooked in the same ways you would cook other sausages like italian sausage but they do have one extra benefit. Most chicken sausages you will find in the store come fully cooked meaning you just need to heat them to 165 degrees before serving and it will be much faster than cooking a raw sausage. Check out these 4 different ways to cook chicken sausage that we recommend below:
In a Skillet
One easy way to cook chicken sausage is on the stove top! In a skillet, cast iron skillet or frying pan, add 1 cup of water. Then, add the defrosted sausages to the pan. Cook over medium heat until the water evaporates and sausages have browned on the outside. Rotate sausages frequently to cook evenly on all sides. Be sure to check the internal temperature of the sausages and that they have reached 165 degrees before removing from the heat.
For pre-cooked sausages, this method takes about 15 minutes. For raw sausages, this method may take closer to 40 minutes.
On the Grill
To cook chicken sausage on the grill, preheat your grill to medium heat. Add uncooked sausages to grill, rotate often to evenly brown the casings and heat to 165 degrees. For pre-cooked sausages this method should only take about 10 minutes, for raw chicken sausage about 20-25 minutes.
In the Oven
The oven is a super easy method for cooking chicken sausages. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Add sausages to a baking pan or sheet pan with an edge to keep any juices from spilling. Then, bake in a preheated oven for a cook time of 15-30 minutes or until sausages are browned and have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
In an Air Fryer
If you are in a time pinch, air-fried chicken sausage is going to be the way to go. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees and add chicken sausages to the air fryer basket. Pre-cooked sausages should be cooked in 8-10 minutes. Raw sausages will take about 20-25 minutes to be fully cooked. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees.
How to Store Cooked Chicken Sausages
Any leftover sausages should be allowed to cool. Then, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat the sausages in the microwave before serving.
Serving Suggestions for a Delicious Meal
Chicken sausages are a great protein to use for meal prep and busy weeknight meals since they are so easy to cook. Check out some of these suggestions for side dishes and serving ideas:
- Pair cooked chicken sausages with Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan and rice.
- Grill sausages with your favorite vegetables like peppers, zucchini and mushrooms and turn into sandwiches!
- For a super easy dinner try air fried chicken sausages, pasta and a bagged salad kit!
- Sweet potatoes make a great pair with sausage like in this sheet pan dinner: Sweet and Savory Sweet Potato Hash.
- Serve chicken sausages as a main dish paired with Gluten Free Dairy Free Corn Casserole and Air Fried Zucchini and Squash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, these methods can be used to cook other kinds of sausages such as turkey sausages, traditional sausages, regular pork sausages and beef sausages. Be sure to cook them to an appropriate internal temperature: 140 degrees for beef, 165 degrees for turkey and 160 degrees for pork. A meat thermometer is best to use when cooking meat.
The cooking methods described above are for cooking whole sausages, but yes you can cut up chicken sausages before cooking them as well. I would recommend only doing this with ones that are already cooked as they will be much easier to slice than raw sausages.
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More more sausage recipes check out our Sheet Pan Sausage Potatoes and Green Beans, Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers, Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole, Sausage Casserole, Homemade Sausage Stuffing, Pasta with Italian Sausage and Broccoli, One Pot Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup.
