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Homemade Ground Italian Sausage is a cinch to make at home and best of all, YOU control the ingredients. All you need is ground pork, dried herbs, and spices!

Bowl of cooked Homemade Ground Italian Sausage

I mowed for the first time ever last week! Before you cast judgment, I grew up with two brothers and was on adult strength allergy medication, weekly allergy shots, and an inhaler from age 8 to 18 due to grass and tree allergies #bubblegirl. That said, it’s just not something I’ve ever learned how to do in life and thought it was high time I change that!

So far mowing is checking all my boxes:

  • Being outside: check.
  • Working out without feeling like I’m working out: check.
  • Achieving the equivalent of vacuum lines outdoors: check.
  • Drip sweating: check.
  • Alone time: check.
  • Showing my children that men aren’t the only ones who can push a damn mower: CHECKKKK.

(Not checking a single box whatsoever is emptying the bag and inhaling flying insects mid mow. Cough.)

I don’t know about you, but mowing is not intuitive and I’m not above telling you that I had to ask Ben if a lawn mower can go backwards. (Turns out it can if you’re not holding the self propelling handle down. Go figure!) Ben had two minutes to show me how to work both the mower and weed whacker before I got started and I was slightly panicking. Engines, blades, gasoline, priming, whipping, snapping, bagging – GAHHH!! Needless to say, there was more then a few strips of uncut grass between the lines when all was said and done, and I’m not convinced that both feet will stay intact if I keep this new hobby up. I guess we’ll find out though because I really did love it…and having an excuse to drink an ice cold Truly afterwards too. ;)

Learning how to mow isn’t the only recent success I’ve had at home – making Homemade Ground Italian Sausage is also ranking high on the “I DID IT!” satisfaction scale!

Close up of cooked Homemade Ground Italian Sausage

If you’ve tried my homemade taco seasoning, homemade granola bars, homemade breakfast sausage, homemade seasoned salt, homemade hamburger helper, homemade egg noodles, or homemade ranch dressing, then you know how rewarding it is to make foods that are typically store bought, at home – including ground Italian sausage. Like the others, the homemade version of ground Italian sausage is a cinch to make and requires just ground pork and pantry staples. As the saying goes, nobody wants to see how sausage is made…except for my homemade version. Seriously it is so easy and SO, SO GOOD!! I can’t wait for you to give it a try.

Now, since I have three little kids (yes, Gwen at 10 months eats this too!) this recipe is for mild or “sweet” Italian ground sausage, though if you want a spicy Italian sausage you can simply add red chili pepper flakes to your desire.

bowl of raw Homemade Ground Italian Sausage

I’ve been browning homemade ground Italian sausage to pair with marinara sauce for spaghetti night, and Lincoln and I actually each ate a bowl plain the other day for a snack (I’m telling you it’s so tasty!) though we’re making our way through this list of recipes that uses ground Italian sausage too:

The sky’s the limit though. Right now, at this very moment, I’m craving an Italian-style pizza: browned homemade ground Italian sausage, red sauce, mozzarella cheese, and seared peppers and onions. DROOLING!!

Close up view of cooked Homemade Ground Italian Sausage

How to Make Homemade Ground Italian Sausage:

Start with common dried herbs and spices. You’ll need 2 teaspoons dried parsley, 1 teaspoon each sugar and coarse ground fennel seeds, 1/2 teaspoon each salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. If you want spicy sausage, add red chili pepper flakes to your liking.

I used my Curtis Stone mortar and pestle (procured during the most EMBARRASSING 20 MINUTES OF MY LIFE – HAHAHAHA!!!) to grind the fennel seeds. You’ll want them coarsely ground vs a fine powder. You could also use a coffee grinder, though again, be sure not to grind them too fine.

Add the herbs and spices to a large bowl with 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar then whisk or stir with a fork to combine.

Add the spice mix to 1lb ground pork then use your hands to combine. I’ve switched to Butcher Box’s custom box every month, so I can select what meats are included inside, and have been choosing to receive at least 2lbs ground pork in each order. We love to use it for this homemade Italian sausage and also for my homemade brat burgers which I’ve been topping with caramelized shallots. DREAMY!

The sausage is technically ready to use immediately though the flavor is best if it sits in the refrigerator overnight. You could also freeze it at this point.

When it’s time to eat, simply brown as usual. My secret to juicy cooked Italian sausage is medium-high heat, not disturbing the meat too much while its browning, and not overcooking the sausage.

Homemade Ground Italian Sausage cooking in a skillet

That’s all she wrote! I hope you love this homemade version of store bought sausage – let me know what you think…and enjoy! :)

Homemade Ground Italian Sausage in a bowl

Homemade Ground Italian Sausage

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Description

Homemade Ground Italian Sausage is a cinch to make at home and best of all, YOU control the ingredients. All you need is ground pork, dried herbs, and spices!

Ingredients

makes 1b

  • 1lb ground pork
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground fennel seed (see notes)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • red chili pepper flakes if desired for spicy sausage

Directions

  1. Add all ingredients except ground pork into a large bowl then whisk or stir with a fork to combine. Crumble ground pork on top then use hands to thoroughly combine, though do not over mix. For the best flavor, refrigerate sausage in an airtight container overnight before using.

Notes

  • Grind fennel seeds using a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder. You don't want a fine powder, rather, a coarse grind.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photo collage of Homemade Ground Italian Sausage