How to grill chicken sausage

Chicken sausage is versatile and easy to cook. It doesn’t matter whether you choose to grill them or cook them in boiling water; you’ll have them ready in less than 15 minutes. However, there’s nothing better than a charcoal flavor and a delicious juicy chicken sausage for a quick weeknight dinner.

You can choose chicken sausage from many different flavors. If you like it spicy, you’ll find it in your local supermarket. However, if you prefer a mild-tasting sausage, there’s plenty to choose from. You can serve sausages with various side dishes: rice, vegetables, sous, tortillas, or even sourdough bread (more about that later in the article).

In this article, I’ll show you how to grill chicken sausage in less than 15 minutes without making them dry. At the end of the article, you’ll find a temperature chart and cooking times for grilling chicken sausage.

How to grill chicken sausage

Arguably chicken sausage is one of the best sausages for grilling. It’s juicy and delicious, and it’s a favorite among children. It comes in many different flavors and can be cooked in less than 15 minutes. Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide for grilled chicken sausages.

For this recipe, I’m using raw chicken sausage that contains mostly chicken breasts and other fatty chicken parts; however, the same cooking process applies to pre-cooked, frozen, or other sausages.

Related articles:

• How to cook chicken sausage;
• How to cook chicken sausage on the stove;
• How to cook chicken sausage in an air fryer;
• How to cook chicken sausage in the oven.

Here’s the ingredient list you’ll need:

• Chicken sausage;
• Kosher salt and pepper;
• Cooking spray or light olive oil.

Here’s the equipment you’ll need:

• Charcoal grill or gas grill;
• Tongs;
• Meat thermometer;
• Paper towels

Step 1: Bring chicken sausage to room temperature

Bring chicken sausage to room temperature for at least 20 minutes before cooking. Cold sausages take longer to cook. While sausages at room temperature, cook evenly throughout.

Step 2: Prepare the grill

Prepare the grill for cooking chicken sausage. First, clean the grill grates. Make sure to remove burnt residue. Rub them with cooking oil (it’s best to use oil with a high smoke point). Prepare grill for two-zone cooking – direct heat and indirect heat. If you’re using a charcoal grill, push charcoal to one side of the grill and leave another side without. Meanwhile, if using a gas grill, turn one side of the grill on high heat and another on low to medium.

Step 3: Pat chicken sausage dry

Before grilling chicken sausage, remove excess moisture to help them sear better. Use a paper towel or dry cloth to pat the sausage dry.

Step 4: Cooking chicken sausage

Before placing chicken sausage on the grill, drizzle it with light olive oil and season with a bit of kosher salt and pepper to taste. Place sausages over the direct heat side of the grill and cook for about 2 minutes, turning them frequently so they do not burn. Once a golden brown crust has formed, move the chicken sausages to the indirect heat side of the grill and continue cooking. Use a meat thermometer to check the meat’s internal temperature. Cooked chicken sausages should have an internal temp of 165° Fahrenheit. Remove sausages from the grill when they reach an internal temp of 162° Fahrenheit. They continue to cook when off the heat source.

Step 5: Rest and serve

Even though sausages do not require rest, it’s best not to slice them when on the grill; otherwise, most of the juice will end up on a grill. Take them from the grill and leave them for a minute to let the chicken juice redistribute evenly throughout the interior. Serve with your favorite side dish. Grilled vegetables and crispy potatoes work exceptionally nicely with this dish.

How long does it take to grill chicken sausages?

Here’s how long it takes to grill chicken sausage:

• Raw chicken sausage: 8-12 minutes, depending on the sausage’s thickness;
• Pre-cooked chicken sausage: 6-8 minutes, depending on the sausage’s thickness
• Frozen chicken sausage: 30 minutes.

Chicken cooking times vary based on many different factors: grill temperature, type of chicken sausage (raw or pre-cooked), the temperature outside, sausage thickness, and whether you’re closing the lid or not. However, remember the cooking times above are only estimates. Use a meat thermometer to track meat’s internal temperature.

Chicken sausage internal temperature chart

Here’s the chicken sausage internal temperature chart:

• Raw chicken sausage: 165 degrees Fahrenheit;
• Pre-cooked sausage: 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Whether you are cooking pre-cooked, raw, or frozen chicken sausage, the internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the USDA, all poultry products, including turkey sausage and ground chicken, must reach an internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit when grilling. Read this article to learn more about chicken temperature and how to take it correctly.

How to serve grilled chicken sausage?

Here are a few grilling recipes for side dishes that go perfectly with grilled chicken sausages:

• Grilled cabbage – grilled cabbage has an excellent flavor that goes so well with grilled poultry;
• Butternut squash – grilled butternut squash is delicious and sweet, making a perfect side dish for spicy chicken sausage;
• Grill garlic sourdough bread – it’s an excellent side dish for chicken sausages. Rub sourdough bread with fresh garlic and a bit of light olive oil and grill until crunchy;
• Grilled potatoes – grilled potatoes go exceptionally well with grilled sausages and are easy to make.

How to store and reheat leftover grilled chicken sausages?

Store leftover grilled chicken sausage in an airtight container and keep it in a fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it in a vacuum seal bag or airtight container for up to 2 months. If planning on meal prep, grilling extra chicken sausages is excellent since they are easy to reheat.

Reheat chicken sausages in a grill pan or regular pan with a bit of olive oil. Alternatively, if you vacuum-sealed the sausages, place them with a vacuum bag in hot water and boil them for 3-4 minutes.

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