How to braise turkey sausages on the grill

Braising requires placing your turkey sausages in a pan containing braising liquid that covers only the base of your sausages. The pan then goes into a smoker or on a covered grill. The braising liquid will cook the bottom of the sausages while the un-submerged parts get smoked. For more about how to braise turkey sausages, please keep reading!

Our turkey sausages are an alternative to higher fat sausages like those made from pork and beef. However, because turkey sausages generally contain less fat than sausage made from other proteins, they can dry out on the grill if you are not careful. Also, because grilling causes turkey sausages to lose moisture, the sausage may shrink and appear less appealing.

Fortunately, you can prevent all of these potential issues by making braised turkey sausages. A braised sausage cooks in a liquid, like beer or broth, and the braising liquid provides flavor and moisture as the sausage cooks, preventing shrinkage and dry meat. Braising ensures that you don’t have to worry about getting burned or unevenly cooked sausages.

Prepping your turkey sausages before braising on the grill is a simple task. First, if your sausages are frozen, you must thaw them before cooking. Cooking frozen sausages can lead to a longer cooking time and unevenly cooked sausages. We recommend thawing frozen sausages in the refrigerator, so be sure to plan for that extra time.

After thawing the sausages, take them out of the package and pat them dry with paper towels. Some cooks slice open sausages before grilling, but we do not recommend doing this with turkey sausages. Leaving the casing intact will allow the turkey to cook in its juices and retain much of its moisture and flavor.

To make braised turkey sausages, you will need:

• Shady Brook Farms turkey sausages
• Aluminum pan
• Seasonings (salt and black pepper)
• A grill
• Liquid (water, beer, stock, or your preferred braising mixture)

After prepping your turkey sausages and gathering everything needed for braising them, follow these steps to create a delicious braised sausage.

Step 1

Put your thawed turkey sausages inside an aluminum pan with your preferred aromatics, such as garlic, onions, ginger, or bay leaves. Avoid overcrowding the pan, or your sausages may not cook evenly.

Step 2

Pour in enough water to cover the bottom half of your sausages. If you want to add more flavor to your sausages, substitute the water with beer, chicken stock, wine, or a braising mixture. Leaving the upper part of the sausage un-submerged ensures that the smoke from your grill can penetrate the meat and flavor it.

Step 3

After you’ve preheated your grill, place the pan with your turkey sausages and braising liquid in it. Cover the grill and leave your sausages to cook for about 20 minutes. The braising liquid will cook the sausages without drying them out.

Step 4

When your turkey sausages reach an internal temperature of 165°F, take them out of the braising liquid and pat them dry with paper towels. If you want your sausage casing to have a nice sear and snap, coat the braised sausages with olive oil and place them over direct heat on your grill. Grill for only a couple of minutes to crisp up the exterior.

Are you ready to make delicious braised turkey sausages? Discover where to buy your sweet or hot Italian turkey sausages from Shady Brook Farms today.

Explore new flavors by trying these turkey sausage recipes: 

• Beer-Braised Sausages with Cilantro Lime Slaw: This beer-braised turkey sausage recipe is perfect for outdoor barbecues. The beer braising makes the sausages moist and delicious, and you only need 15 minutes to prep the dish. Even better, the recipe’s cilantro and lime slaw lend a savory element to the sausage.
• Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage and Peppers: This recipe combines sweet Italian turkey sausages with tangy grilled peppers and onions. The combination goes into warm sub rolls topped with parmesan cheese to create the perfect sandwich.
• Italian Turkey Sausage Topped with Celery Slaw: If you like your sausages to have a kick, you can’t go wrong with this hot Italian turkey sausage recipe. The celery slaw complements the rich flavor of the sausage and tempers some of the heat to deliver the perfect bite.