Pan-Fried Italian Sausage
Browned, juicy hot Italian sausage links finished with a splash of water for even cooking.
Ingredients
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage links, 4–5 links
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup water
References
- Pan
- 12-inch skillet
- Safe internal temp
- 160°F
- Total time
- 20 min
- Serves
- 4
Directions
- Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
- Add the 4–5 sausage links and brown on all sides, turning every 2–3 minutes, about 8 minutes total.
- Pour in 1/4 cup of water, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Steam for 6–8 minutes, until the links reach 160°F internally.
- Uncover, raise the heat to medium, and cook 1–2 minutes more, turning, until the water cooks off and the casings crisp.
- Rest 5 minutes before slicing or serving whole.
Variants & Notes
- For peppers and onions, push the cooked sausage aside and sauté 1 sliced bell pepper and 1 sliced onion in the drippings.
- Pierce the casings only if you prefer less fat; left whole they stay juicier.
- No need to thaw fully—add a few extra minutes of covered steaming for partially frozen links.