Boiled Italian Sausage

There are so many different ways to enjoy Italian sausage. One of my favorite methods is also one of the fastest – boiled Italian sausage! Using the boiling method will leave you with plump, juicy sausage links that are utterly delicious.

Boiled Italian Sausage

Not only are these sausages filled with Italian flavors, but they are super quick to cook up for a healthy lunch or dinner.

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how you can adapt it to fit your lifestyle. If you, for some reason, don’t eat pork (or simply don’t like it), there are plenty of options at the grocery store that would work as a substitute.

For example, you can purchase Italian-style chicken or turkey sausage or even vegetarian soy-based sausages as well! You may have to experiment slightly with the cooking time, but this basic method should work for any sausage.

If you don’t want to boil the Italian sausage, there are other cooking methods you can use.  For example, check out my recipes for no boil oven baked sausage.

Also, you can roast the sausages in the air fryer in just 15 minutes!  If you own an Instant Pot, check out my Instant Pot Italian Sausage recipe, where you can use fresh or frozen sausage links.

How to Boil Italian Sausage

Before you place the sausages into the pot, gently poke all of the sausages with a fork. This will make little holes in the casing of the sausage and will help the fat to leave instead of exploding or splitting in half because of the pressure.

Place the Italian sausages into a pot and cover them with water. Make sure to add enough water to go about 1 inch above the sausage.

If you want to add another flavor profile to the sausage, you can replace half of the water with some dark stout beer! If you are trying to keep it all gluten-free but still want that additional flavor, swap out the beer for some hard cider. 

Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once the pot of water has reached its boiling point, cook the Italian sausages for another 10 minutes.

Remove the sausages from the pot of water using a pair of tongs (or drain the entire thing in a colander).

If you want to give the sausages a little color and crispy exterior, place them on a grill for 1 minute per side or put them under the broiler for 5 minutes until you get that golden brown skin. 

How to Tell If Boiled Sausage Is Done

To double-check and make sure the boiled sausages are fully cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and make sure it is somewhere between 160 -165 degrees.

What To Serve With Italian Sausage

I, for one, love to just stick my fork into the sausage and eat it on its own with a little bit of mustard. However, if you are planning to serve this for dinner, you’re probably going to need some side dishes to go along with it.

You can go the traditional route and serve the boiled Italian sausage with a side of roasted bell peppers and onions or with a side of roasted potatoes with skins.

You can also add the sausage to a bowl of pasta with some mushrooms and zucchini to change it up a bit.

If you want to serve a low carb option, you can plate the boiled sausage with a side of roasted Brussel sprouts and ‘fried’ asparagus!

However you enjoy it, this boiled Italian sausage is fantastic!

More Healthy Dinner Recipes

If you loved this delicious boiled Italian sausage recipe, check out some of these other healthy dinner options!

• Air Fryer Cornish Hens
• Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers
• Spicy Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-Fry

If you liked these easy boiled sausages, you will also like these recipes:

• Instant Pot Sausage And Cabbage
• Instant Pot Hot Dogs
• One Pot Sausage Pasta