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How to Cook Sausage in the Oven

Can you cook sausage in the oven? The short answer is yes, you can. Following are some tips to always have the best tasting sausage ever!

It’s easy to cook sausage in the oven because you don’t wind up with splatters, and cleanup is a breeze. Although there are quite a few cooking methods, this is one of my favorite and simplest methods for the best results.

link sausage stacked on a platter

I highly recommend reading this entire post before you begin preparing the recipe. However, if all you want is the list of ingredients with full directions, please either click on the jump-to-recipe button above or scroll to the bottom of this post.

You can cook any type of sausage in the oven, including sausage balls. This time, I used smaller sausage links because that was what was available when I placed an order for grocery delivery.

Why I Like to Cook Sausage in the Oven

I’ve already mentioned a couple of reasons. Here are some reasons you might want to start cooking sausage in the oven:

  • It’s easier to set the temperature for even cooking. Since the hot air circulates inside the oven, the sausage will brown more evenly.
  • Timing is important, so you can set the timer to coincide with the rest of the meal being done.
  • You’ll have fewer splatters on the stovetop … and your arms.
  • It’s easy to clean up afterward, especially if you line your pan with parchment paper.
  • You can typically cook more sausage at once when you cook it in the oven. It’s perfect when you have a lot of people to feed.

Oven Baked Sausage

This easy sausage recipe is perfect for those times when you’re cooking for large crowds. It’s also a great start to sheet pan dinners when. You need an easy meal. I like having some oven baked sausage in the refrigerator when I need something in a hurry. Oven baking is the best way to cook a large quantity. I typically cook an entire package of it to save time later.

Ingredients

The ingredients list is very small. In fact, there’s only one ingredient:

  • Sausage
container of raw sausage

Yes, that’s all you need. And you can use whatever type of sausage you like. This time, I picked up a pack of breakfast sausages, but I often opt for sausage patties. You can cook either one the same way, at the same temperature, for the same amount of time.

Basic Steps for Cooking Sausage in an Oven

Getting ready to cook sausages in an oven requires very little. In fact, you will spend less than 5 minutes of prep time. First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure there’s a rack in the center of the oven.

pan covered in foil and parchment paper

Secondly, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. I usually place a layer of aluminum foil beneath the parchment paper, but that’s not necessary. It just makes for easy clean-up. Next, place the sausages on the parchment paper in a single layer. Bake in a preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

sausage in a single layer on a pan

Remove the sausages from the oven and turn them over.

turning sausage over halfway through cooking

Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the sausage reaches 165˚ F. I use an instant-read meat thermometer to check.

fully cooked sausages on a pan

If you are cooking larger sausages, you will probably need to leave them in the oven for an additional 5 minutes. But check the temperature to make sure. They may be done without adding time. So it should only take 20-25 minutes cooking time from start to finish in the oven. Different types of sausages have different densities. So even the thicker ones may cook just as quickly.

cooked sausages on a plate

I love how the oven delivers golden brown sausage that is so delicious! Don’t be surprised when the entire family wanders into the kitchen to find out what smells so good. After they are done, I like to place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess grease. 

Additional Ingredients

Feel free to add more ingredients to the pan while cooking the sausages. I like cut bell peppers, onions, cut-up root vegetables, and even cherry tomatoes for a complete meal. Just drizzle a little olive oil over the top, add some black pepper, and sprinkle with your favorite meat seasoning. Mmm, so good!

Extra Tips for Cooking Sausage in the Oven

Regardless of what type of sausage you’re cooking, using your oven is an easy and convenient way to get the best results. You can cook breakfast sausage, Italian sausage, smoked sausage, and all others in the oven.

Here are some tips I’ve discovered:

  • Always preheat the oven before you put the sausage in there. Otherwise, it may overcook and dry out.
  • Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy cleanup.
  • If you’re concerned about the sausage popping open while cooking (because heat causes expansion), prick each one with a fork a couple of times.
  • For extra flavor, brush the sausages with melted butter or olive oil. You can even add your favorite seasonings. The butter will make it stick.
  • Arrange them on the baking sheet with a little bit of space between each sausage for even cooking.
  • If you want the surface of the sausage crispy, broil them the last couple of minutes. If you do this, keep a very close eye on them because they can burn very quickly under a broiler.
  • Let the sausage rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to enable the juices to settle.

Questions About Sausage

If you plan to use this recipe, you may have some questions about sausage. Here are some common questions, with some brief answers.

plates of cooked sausage

What Kinds of Sausage Can You Cook in the Oven?

Most types of sausage are just as good cooked in the oven as they are on the stovetop. Even if there aren’t oven-baked directions listed on the package, you can follow this recipe here.

Why Cook Sausage in an Oven?

There are several reasons I like to cook sausage in the oven. First of all, I like the fact that I don’t get splattered. Secondly, when you cook sausage in the oven, you can set your timer and work on something else. You typically only need to flip the sausages once, halfway through the process.

And third, when I’m cooking a large batch of sausage—either for a crowd or to have leftovers, I can put all of the sausages on the baking pan and cook them at once. If I were to use the stovetop, I’d have to cook them in smaller batches.

2 plates of sausage with a bite of sausage on a fork

Can You Fully Cook Sausage in an Oven?

Yes, you can fully cook sausage in an oven. It’s so easy. I’ve cooked breakfast sausage patties, Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, chicken sausages, turkey sausage, and smoked sausage in my oven, from start to finish. The ones I cooked for this recipe were pork sausages.

Is Oven-Baked Sausage Better Than Fried Sausage?

They are both equally good in flavor. However, I think that oven-cooked sausages are much easier.

How Should You Store Leftover Sausages?

After everyone has been served, I put the leftover sausage in an airtight container and put it in the refrigerator. It should be good for up to 3 or 4 days. If you want to eat them at a later time, put them in a freezer bag. Thaw them for several hours in the fridge before you reheat them.

What is the Best Way to Reheat Leftover Sausage?

You can use your microwave, but my favorite way to reheat almost anything is in my air fryer. For thin sausage, I set the air fryer timer on 375 or 400˚ F and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

What to Serve with Sausage

This depends on what type of sausage you have. Italian or smoked sausage is delicious for lunch or dinner, while sausage patties or other breakfast sausage are good with breakfast foods. 

Here are some foods that go well with your favorite sausage:

French Toast Casserole – This delicious French toast casserole makes any breakfast seem special. It’s also the perfect company dish to serve when you have overnight guests. 

Fluffy Scrambled Eggs – Do you ever wonder how some people turn out the fluffiest scrambled eggs? It’s actually very easy if you have the proper technique.

Mac and Cheese Casserole – Those days when you need comfort food, serve some sausage with this macaroni and cheese casserole. The family will thank you!

Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole – Here’s a way to have a complete breakfast or brunch that practically cooks itself. Just assemble everything, pop it in the oven, and breakfast will be ready when the timer goes off.

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole – If you like baked potatoes with everything, you’ll love this dish!

Air Fryer Bacon – Sometimes I like to offer a choice of bacon or sausage. It’s nice to free up some oven space by cooking the bacon in an air fryer.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Breakfast Blondies – This flavorful and nutritious recipe from Call Me PMc is so good that people will think they’re cheating by having dessert for breakfast!

Egg Bites – Speaking of air fried food, these yummy egg bites go really well with sausage! And they’re low carb!

Banana Nut Muffins – Those who aren’t counting carbs will love these banana nut muffins. They’re easy to make and are absolutely delicious!

Cooking Sausages the Easy Way – Bake Them

plates of sausage and a bite of sausage on a fork

Using a conventional oven delivers delicious sausages, regardless of what type you prefer. It’s easy, and cleanup is a breeze.

Yield: 5 servings

How to Cook Sausage in an Oven

plate of breakfast sausages

Cook sausage the easy way: in an oven!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • Sausage

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400˚ F. Cover baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place sausages on the pan in a single layer.
  3. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and flip the sausages over.
  4. Return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes. After they are golden brown, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. They should be 165˚ at the thickest point.
  5. Once they’re done, remove from the oven and place sausages on a plate lined with paper towels.

Notes

Larger sausages may need to cook an additional 5 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Yield

5

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 42Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 8mgSodium 112mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 2g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

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Ross

Monday 25th of December 2023

Thanks! My wife cooks them this way. I had to look up the temp and timing. Also: a Frankfurter is a sausage, too!

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