How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (2024)

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (1)

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Homemade sausage is a great way to use less expensive cuts of meat to make something delicious, and homemade is best because you know exactly what went into it! We grew up eating homemade sausagesand myMother taught me how to make this classic Russian kolbasa (kielbasa).

This generations old sausage method combinesground and diced meats for a more rustic and hearty sausage. Watch the video tutorial on how to make homemade sausage and you will be a pro in no time!

Watch How to Make Homemade Sausage Video:

When making sausage, the more fat you can get in your meat, the better. If you are using a leaner beef or pork, add bacon so you don’t end up with a tough/dry sausage. It is absolutely key to have your meat verycold and grinder parts chilled. The process will be way easier if you take this advise, otherwise it can back up in the meat grinder and leave you frustrated and discouraged (been there, done that!).

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (2)

Ingredients for Homemade Sausage (Kielbasa)

2 lbs pork with fat (1/4 diced, 3/4 ground)*
2 lbs well marbled beef (1/4 diced, 3/4ground)*
6-12 oz bacon, optional – use if meats are leaner (can be frozen)
3tsp sea salt
1 Tbspwhole yellow mustard seed
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash or favorite salt free seasoning
1 cup ice cold water
2 natural hog casings (about 10-12 feet total)**

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (3)

What you’ll need:

Sausagepoker, optional but nice
Meat grinder withsausage attachment

Recipe Notes:

*I used boneless country style ribs. Any pork cut wth a lot of fat would work well.

*Usea well marbled beef with higher fat content. This beef bottom round was on the leaner side so I added the bacon.

**Casings can be purchased online or at your local butcher. Leftover salted casings can be resealed in their bag and stored in the refrigerator for many years.

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (4)

How to Bake Homemade Sausage:

Line a large rimmed baking dish or roasting pan with parchment paper, trimming paper so it doesn’t hang over the edges. Arrange sausage over paper and bake in preheated oven at 350˚F for 1 hour. Drain off excess liquid. Flip the sausage over and broil 5 min. Flip sausage over again and broil additional 5 min or until browned.

How to Grill Sausages:

For Easter, my husband grilled the sausage and we put them in a deep roasting pan in a single layer, poured in 1/4″ deep of beer and sprinkled 1 tsp mustard seeds into the liquid. My husband placed the pans on the grill covered for 20 minutes over medium/high heat, flipping over halfway. Then he removed the pans and transferred the sausage directly over the grill tobrown the outsides (5 min per side). The sausages were supremely juicy and delicious!

Print-Friendly Homemade Sausage Recipe:

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe)

4.98 from 46 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (5)

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Prep Time: 3 hours hrs

Total Time: 3 hours hrs

Ingredients

Servings: 4 lbs of sausage links

Ingredients for Homemade Sausage (Kielbasa)

  • 2 lbs pork with fat, 1/4 diced, 3/4 ground*
  • 2 lbs well marbled beef, 1/4 diced, 3/4 ground*
  • 6-12 oz bacon, optional - use if meats are leaner (can be frozen)
  • 3 tsp sea salt
  • 1 Tbsp whole yellow mustard seed
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash or favorite salt free seasoning
  • 1 cup ice cold water
  • 2 natural hog casings, about 10-12 feet total**

What You Will Need:

  • Sausage poker, optional but nice
  • Meat grinder with sausage attachment

Instructions

  • Place meats on a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and freeze 1 1/2 hours. Should be very firm, not frozen solid. Place all meat grinder parts in freezer and refrigerate mixing bowl at least 30 min prior to using.

  • Rinse casing well to remove salt and run warm water all the way through the casing. Let casing soak in warm water (90˚F water) for at least 1 hour or until soft and slick. Keep casings in water until ready to use.

  • Remove 1/3 of meat from the freezer, dice into 1/4 thick pieces with a sharp knife and transfer to your chilled mixing bowl. Chop remaining meat into 2" pieces so that it can easily go through the meat grinder. Set up your meat grinder (if using KitchenAid mixer, set to speed 4 using the large holes grinding plate) and grind meat into chilled bowl then grind bacon.

  • Sprinkle seasonings over meat and toss by hand 30 seconds to distribute then add 1 cup water and mix meat by hand for 1 minute (or with paddle attachment on speed 1 for 1 minute), just until a light film forms on the outside of the bowl and the mixture binds to itself and can hold a patty shape. Cover and refrigerate your sausage mixture while you clean your grinder and set up your sausage maker attachment. Seasoning Tip: To test your meat for seasoning, form a small patty and saute it on a skillet to sample.

  • Lightly oil the outside of your sausage tube attachment and thread 1 sausage casing over the tube leaving a 6" tail hanging off the end. Do not tie the end - you want the initial air that comes through to escape.

  • Remove ground meat from refrigerator, set mixer to speed 4 and add meat into hopper, pushing down with the plunger and adding more as you go. Use one hand to stuff the meat through and one hand to guide the filled casings. Fill firmly but do not overstuff, especially if making sausage links. Take care not to let big gaps of air into the tube. If you get air bubbles - no problem - you can poke the sausage casing with sausage pricker as you go. Let the sausage come out in one long coil until about 6" of casing remains at the end then start with the new sausage casing.***

  • Pinch, twist and spin to make small sausage links or coil the sausage for the classic kielbasa look. Tie off the ends or tie with kitchen string if desired. Prick with sausage poker about every 2 inches, especially where you see air pockets, to prevent the sausage from bursting. Sausage can be baked, grilled or sautéed right away or can be refrigerated or frozen for later. Keeps well in refrigerator for 3-5 days or frozen up to 3 months.

Notes

*Important: Use meat with high fat content. Bacon should be added if your meat is leaner.
***If meat starts looking pink/pasty as it enters the casing tube, it's likely clogged and you should quickly clean your grinder before proceeding Grind the bacon last (if using) - this is less likely to occur if using well chilled meat.

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian

Keyword: Homemade Sausage

Skill Level: Medium

Cost to Make: $$

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (7)

Are you into sausage making? I’m kind of on a roll! It’s exciting once you start feeling like a sausage ninja. We have kielbasa in the fridge and freezer and I’m dreaming about what variety to make next. Please share your favorite flavors in a comment below – I would love to hear YOUR ideas!

Natasha Kravchuk

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (8)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

How to Make Homemade Sausage (VIDEO Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best meat for homemade sausage? ›

Pork. Butt/Shoulder: Boneless pork butt is very common for making sausages. It contains 20-30% fat so is perfect for sausages as this is the perfect fat to meat ratio (or you can add another 5% fat for extra tenderness and juiciness). If buying from the butcher, request 'boneless shoulder/butt'.

What are the main ingredients of sausages? ›

Anyway, most sausage is made up of minced/ground meat (usually pork, but you can make it with any meat), a binder (usually rusk, sometimes rice flour in gluten free versions), water, and seasonings.

What makes homemade sausage rubbery? ›

With too little myosin available, fat and liquid will be lost and you'll get a crumbly mess. Too much and a rubbery texture will be produced.

What is the best binder for sausage making? ›

Many sausages use a binder - usually wheat crumb, or for gluten-free - potato starch. We prefer to use only meat and spices but if you want a binder you can use breadcrumbs (about 3 tablespoons/lb meat).

Is it cheaper to make your own sausage? ›

Making your own sausage is less expensive.

It is cheaper to buy ground meat, seasoning, and sausage casings and make sausage yourself than it is to buy it from a store. If you want to cut your food costs even further, you can also learn how to make your own ground meat.

What is the best fat for sausage making? ›

Fat – Pork fat back is considered the best for sausage production. Jowl fat is equal if not superior to fat back and pork belly can also be used. The pork shoulder butt has an almost perfect lean to fat ratio for many sausage recipes. Other fats used include lamb or beet fat.

What is the best skin for homemade sausages? ›

Sheep casings are the most tender of the natural casings. The smaller diameter of sheep casings makes the perfect for making small link sausages like breakfast sausage and hot dogs, to snack sticks.

What gives sausage its flavor? ›

Spices: Various spices give a sausage its robust flavor. Commonly used sausage spices include black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and paprika. Water: Water is typically added to replace the moisture lost during cooking or smoking.

What is classic sausage made of? ›

A sausage is a type of meat product usually made from ground meat—often pork, beef, or poultry—along with salt, spices and other flavourings. Other ingredients, such as grains or breadcrumbs, may be included as fillers or extenders.

What makes a high quality sausage? ›

The best sausages are made from good cuts of meat with plenty of fat, which will cook quickly and be tender and juicy inside the usually narrow casing, which is why pure meat sausages with no additives are generally more expensive than cheaper varieties which are laced with preservative and other adulterants.

Why do you put vinegar in sausage? ›

Vinegar is included in the manufacture of many varied sausages and charcuterie. Functions include tenderizing the meat as well as contributing a fermented sour-like taste. Artisans will often soak natural animal casings in a weak vinegar solution, as the vinegar contributes to a more tender eating experience.

Why add water to homemade sausage? ›

Add at least 1 oz. of water per pound of meat to aid in the stuffing process. This aid in mixing the meat with the seasoning and will ease the stress put on the gears of your meat mixer and sausage stuffer. Try experimenting with liquids other than water when mixing your next batch of sausage.

What does baking soda do in sausage? ›

Adding baking soda to the meat mixture yields a more cohesive, springier sausage. A small amount of onion, garlic, and paprika enhances but doesn't overpower the flavor of the meat.

What is the process of making sausage? ›

Sausages can be made by grinding meat from beef, pork, poultry, or game meat, mixing with salt and other seasonings followed by stuffing into a container or a casing. The word sausage is derived from the Latin word salsus, which means salted or preserved by salting.

What are the raw materials for sausage? ›

The basic raw materials used in fresh sausage manufacture are pork and beef, including their trimmings. Veal is also often processed, especially for higher quality products. Meat and fat are generally coarsely ground.

How is sausage traditionally made? ›

Traditionally, sausage makers salted various tissues and organs such as scraps, organ meats, blood, and fat to help preserve them. They then stuffed them into tubular casings made from the cleaned intestines of the animal, producing the characteristic cylindrical shape.

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