Homemade Sweet Italian Sausage (Mild or Hot)

Recipe View Step 1: Preparation (5 minutes) - Gather all your ingredients and prepare your workspace.

Recipe View Step 2: Combine and Season (10 minutes) - In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork and red wine vinegar. Sprinkle evenly with parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, salt, black pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), fennel seed, brown sugar, oregano, and thyme.

Recipe View Step 3: Knead and Distribute (5-7 minutes) - Gently knead the mixture until all the spices are uniformly distributed throughout the meat. Avoid over-mixing, which can result in a tough sausage.

Recipe View Step 4: Portion and Chill (12+ hours) - Divide the sausage mixture into three equal portions. Shape each portion into a log approximately 3 inches in diameter. Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap, then place them into a zip-top bag. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.

Recipe View Step 5: Slice and Prepare for Cooking (5 minutes) - When ready to cook, remove the sausage logs from the refrigerator and take them out of the zip-top bags. Place a log on a cutting board. Using a finely serrated knife, carefully slice the log (through the plastic wrap) into patties that are 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Remove and discard the plastic wrap from each patty.

Recipe View Step 6: Cook the Sausage (4-12 minutes) - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, cook the sausage patties in the hot skillet until they are no longer pink in the center and have reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), about 2 to 6 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the patties. Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure they are fully cooked.