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How to Cook Breakfast Sausage Links in the Oven

I love cooking breakfast sausage links in the oven, especially when we have a crowd to feed! We use this method for all of our holiday brunches and the sausage comes out perfectly golden and juicy every time. Join us to learn how to cook breakfast sausage links in the oven for a quick breakfast or easy dinner your family will love!

Cooking sausage links in the oven is an easy way to prepare a lot of sausage at once. We do this for Christmas and Easter Brunch every year and they are always a hit! This method offers the easiest solution with the least amount of mess. It’s my favorite way, and I bet it will become yours too!

bundle of oven cooked sausages on a white plate

These sausage links baked in the oven are also a great thing to make ahead for quick week day breakfasts. Our boys love reheating them for a quick addition to their breakfast!

Remember to save this guide and the recipe card for future use. Cooking sausage in the oven is a practical skill that will serve you well, whether you’re hosting a big gathering or just preparing an easy meal for yourself.

plate of eggs, sausage, strawberry, apricots

Choosing Your Type of Sausage

Let’s start with the basics: the type of sausage you use. Different types of sausages vary in flavor and cooking time. Leaner chicken sausages and turkey sausages might cook a little faster than pork sausages, so keep an eye on them!

Fresh sausage links are often the tastiest, but if you’re working with frozen sausages, ensure they’re completely thawed in an airtight container or a freezer bag before you start cooking. Cooking Johnsonville Sausage in the Oven is the holiday hack we all need!

Johnsonville breakfast sausage in packaging

Your favorite type of uncooked sausage links. That’s all you need!

Supplies for making Breakfast Sausage Links in the Oven

A sheet pan

A metal cooling rack that fits in your sheet pan

Parchment paper, aluminum foil, or a silicone baking mat to line your baking sheet.

A meat thermometer

Tongs

Believe it or not, one of the easiest ways to cook sausage is not on the stove top, but in a preheated oven. This cooking method offers the best results, especially when it comes to easy clean-up! Cooking breakfast sausage links in the oven is arguably the best method because it offers uniform cooking without the need to stand at the stove watching and turning them.

This hands-off approach ensures each link is perfectly browned and juicy, enhancing flavor. Additionally, oven roasting can accommodate larger batches, making it ideal for feeding a crowd or meal prepping. I love prepping sausage for the kids to make week day mornings easier!

How to Make Breakfast Sausage Links in the Oven

Preheat your conventional oven or convection oven to 400 degrees F.

Prep Your Pan: Line your baking tray or baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. This isn’t just for easy clean-up, it’s also a great way to prevent your sausages from sticking to the pan.

Arrange your raw sausages in a single layer on the lined tray. For the best results, make sure they’re not touching each other. This way, they’ll cook evenly.

Roast the sausages for about 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the sausages. Halfway through the cook time use tongs to turn them over for even browning. Be sure to check the sausage for doneness at the 15 minute mark.

If unsure you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the sausage. Whether it’s chicken, turkey, or pork, the recommended temperature is 160°F in the United States to ensure food safety.

cooked sausage on a tray from the oven

Once your sausages are golden brown, remove them from the oven. Let them rest for a couple of minutes to allow the juices to redistribute for even more delicious sausages.

You can serve these oven-cooked sausages as a simple sheet pan dinner for the whole family. Or cut up your favorite fruit for a simple fruit salad.

Pair it with a low-carb side, and eggs and you’ve got yourself a complete meal.

For an easy dinner I love to serve these oven roasted sausage with scrambled eggs, fruit, and our favorite buttermilk biscuits!

How Long to Cook Breakfast sausage in The Oven?

You need 15-20 minutes to cook breakfast sausage in the oven. Simply preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the sausage links on a baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they’re not touching for even cooking. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, turning the sausages once halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C) when they’re done. Let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

How Do You Heat Up Fully Cooked Breakfast Sausage in The Oven?

To heat up fully cooked breakfast sausage in the oven, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the sausages on a baking sheet in a single layer so they’re not touching. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until they’re heated through and slightly crispy on the outside. If they’re frozen, you might need to add a few minutes to the cooking time. No need to turn them halfway through unless you prefer a more even browning.

Can I Bake Frozen Breakfast Sausage in The Oven?

Yes! To cook frozen breakfast sausage links in the oven, start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Unlike with thawed sausage you want to place the frozen sausages on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased to prevent sticking.

Make sure they’re spaced out evenly and not touching. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning the sausages halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning and heating. Check for doneness by ensuring they’re evenly browned and sizzling. For the best results, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 160°F

Can I Cook Breakfast Sausage Links In a Toaster Oven?

Yes! They cook a little faster than in the oven so make sure you check them after about 10 minutes!

Preheat your toaster oven to 375°F (190°C). Most toaster ovens heat up quickly, so it won’t take long.

Arrange the sausage links or patties on a tray that fits in your toaster oven, ensuring they’re not touching so they can cook evenly.

Bake for about 10-15 minutes for fresh sausages, or 15-20 minutes for frozen sausages. Flip them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.

Check for doneness by confirming they’ve reached an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) with a meat thermometer. The sausages should be evenly browned.

Remember, toaster ovens can vary in temperature accuracy and cooking efficiency, so it’s wise to keep an eye on your sausages the first time you try this method to prevent overcooking. Adjust the cooking time as needed based on your observations.

Is Breakfast Sausage Gluten Free?

The gluten-free status of breakfast sausage can vary depending on the specific brand and ingredients used in its production. Traditional breakfast sausage recipes typically do not include gluten-containing ingredients like wheat flour or breadcrumbs.

However, it’s important to note that some manufacturers may add fillers, binders, or flavorings that could potentially contain gluten. It’s always important to check the ingredients of individual brands to be sure.

How Should I Store Leftover Breakfast Sausage

Leftover sausages make for a great, quick snack. Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge. You can heat them up in a frying pan on low heat, or pop them back into the oven for a few minutes. Avoid deep frying, as this can make the sausages overly greasy.

So, there you have it! An easy, delicious, and efficient way to cook sausages. Enjoy this breakfast link recipe, my friends! You’re well on your way to oven-cooked perfection.

breakfast sausage on a fork

Breakfast Sausage vs Italian Sausage

Breakfast sausage and Italian sausage are two popular types of sausages that differ in their ingredients, flavors, and traditional uses.

A Breakfast sausage is typically made from ground pork mixed with a variety of herbs and spices, such as sage, thyme, and black pepper. It has a mild and savory flavor profile, and it is commonly used in breakfast dishes like sausage patties, breakfast sandwiches, and casseroles. The texture of breakfast sausage is usually finer and smoother compared to other types of sausages.

The choice between the two depends on personal preferences and the desired flavor profile for a specific recipe.

Wrapping up, roasting breakfast sausage in the oven is a game-changer for your morning routine—simple, delicious, and mess-free. If you enjoyed this recipe, don’t forget to check out our air fryer sausage patties for another quick and flavorful breakfast option. Share your experience or tag us in your breakfast creations!

oven cooked sausage plated with eggs, toast and strawberries
Yield: 12 servings

Baked Breakfast Sausage

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes

Perfect breakfast sasauge every time!

Ingredients

  • 2 packs of uncooked breakfast sausage

Instructions

  1. Preheat an oven to 400°F.
  2. Place the sausages on a rack on a sheet pan or in a shallow roasting pan. Roast for about 8-10 minutes. The sausages should be shiny but not yet browning.
  3. Turn the sausages over and continue roasting for another 5 minutes or until cooked through.
  4. Preheat a broiler. Place the pan under the broiler and broil the sausages, turning once, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 56Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 163mgCarbohydrates: .7gFiber: 0gSugar: 0.3gProtein: 3.3g

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