What Makes Italian Sausage “Italian,” According to a Butcher

My husband and I pasture-raise hogs in the summertime, so I spend a lot of time thinking about pork. In my pastas, soups, and casseroles, Italian sausage is a staple ingredient. Considering Italian sausage adds a delicious depth to so many recipes, I needed to look into what makes it so good. And the secret is in the spices.

What Is Italian Sausage?

Italian sausage is a fresh, uncured sausage that is made by stuffing loose ground pork into a casing. The casing helps the sausage to maintain its shape and contributes to its texture, too. Italian sausage can be cooked whole, or the casing can be removed and the sausage can be browned in a pan, just as you would with ground pork.

“Italian sausage, as we know it here in the United States, is an Italian-American homage to old-world flavors and recipes originating in Italy,” says Andreas Nickhorn, director of operations at Milwaukee-based Kettle Range Meats. “The big defining characteristic is the use of fennel and garlic which is the predominant flavor profile of what makes ‘Italian sausage.’

Of course, this can vary wildly with some recipes using basil, parmesan cheese, Pecorino cheese, marjoram, oregano, or even red wine," he explains.

Different Types of Italian Sausage

Although all Italian sausage contains the requisite fennel seed, the specific ratio of ingredients and seasonings vary among different butcher shops and store-bought Italian sausage varieties. In general, you will find three types of Italian sausage: sweet, mild, and hot. The differentiator between varieties is typically the amount of added red pepper.

For example, at Kettle Range Meats, their sweet Italian has no red pepper; mild has a small amount of red pepper, and, as its name suggests, hot Italian sausage has quite a bit of red pepper to give it its kick of spicy flavor. Sweet Italian sausage is also sometimes flavored with sweet basil.

For the freshest Italian sausage, head to your local butcher. However, for Italian sausage bought from a standard grocery store, experts agree that Premio Italian sausage, which is made from premium cuts of meat and imported spices, is the brand to buy.

How To Prepare Italian Sausage 

One of the favorite ways to make Italian sausage is with an Easy Sausage, Peppers, and Onions recipe. “Personally, I enjoy a nice hot Italian fresh off the grill with a little marinara and some peppers and onions on a toasted bun,” Nickhorn says. “But in the winter, I think Italian sausage can't be beat in a hearty ragu, over fresh pasta and a healthy sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano.”

Pasta dinners like Italian Sausage Pasta Bake and Paccheri with Quick Sausage Ragu bring the flavors of Italian sausage to life.