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Ever wondered how to bake sausage links in an oven? This post will guide you through cooking the sausage links to perfection, how to tell if a sausage link is cooked through, and some easy oven dinner ideas to go along with the sausages. It’s so easy to bake sausages for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Sausage links on aluminium foil on a baking tray.

โค๏ธ Why you will love this tutorial

  • Easy: There’s nothing more simple than popping raw sausages on a pan and baking them in the oven. It’s so easy!
  • Perfectly cooked: Brown and crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside. What’s not to love about perfectly cooked sausages?
  • Less clean up: Covering the tray with aluminum foil or parchment paper means less clean up later.
  • Customizable: Use any kind of sausage (pork, beef, chicken, turkey, vegan, vegetarian), and why not turn this into a sheet pan dinner? There are plenty of baked sausage recipes that are cooked with roasted vegetables. The options are endless!

โœ… What you’ll need to bake breakfast sausage links

  • Baking sheet: You can use a baking sheet, a baking pan, or a roasting tray. If you’re cooking a lot of sausage, you may need two trays!
  • Parchment paper or aluminum foil: Both of these work really well. I would usually reach for parchment paper as it’s so non-stick, however, this time I tried aluminum foil and it worked perfectly.
  • Oil: I use a refillable olive oil spray to make life easier. Any oil spray should be fine, or pour a little oil on the tray and wipe it over the parchment paper/aluminum foil with a towel.
  • Sausages: Choose your favorite fresh sausage links! The type of sausage I like is Cumberland sausages, or whatever our local sausage maker happens to be selling that day. Chicken sausage or turkey sausage is also great if you’re going for something a little lighter. Thaw them completely if they’re frozen before cooking.
  • Meat thermometer: This is optional, but it’s a good idea to check the internal temperature of the meat if you’re unsure if it’s cooked properly. The temperature should be between 155–165°F (68–74°C). If you don’t have a meat thermometer, the next best way to check for doneness is by slicing the sausage open. If it still has a pink color, cook it for a little longer. Undercooked meats like pork sausages or chicken sausages can be dangerous if consumed and lead to food poisoning.

๐Ÿฅฃ How to bake sausage links in the oven (step-by-step)

1. Begin by preheating the oven to 200C / 400F / 180C fan / Gas Mark 6.

2. Place parchment paper or aluminium foil on a baking tray or a shallow baking pan.

3. Next, spray it with oil, or add a little oil to a paper towel or a cloth and rub it over the covered tray.

Spraying oil on aluminum foil.

4. Prick the sausages a few times with a fork. If the sausage links are still joined together, use a pair of scissors to snip them apart.

5. Then place sausage links in a single layer on the baking tray.

Tongs placing sausages on aluminium foil.

6. Bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 minutes. Use tongs to turn them once after 15 minutes. The cooking time will vary depending on the sausage so double check your packaging just in case.

7. If you have a meat thermometer handy, check the internal temperature reaches 155–165°F (68–74°C).

8. Serve immediately or allow to cool completely before storing in the fridge in an airtight container for later.

Sausage links on aluminium foil on a baking tray.

๐Ÿช„ Recipe Notes & Tips

  • Sausage size: The thickness of the sausages will affect the cooking time. I based this recipe on regular British pork sausages which weigh about 67 grams each. Smaller chipolata sausages will cook a little quicker, and larger bratwurst style will take longer. If in doubt, check the packaging for cooking times, and use a meat thermometer just to be sure!
  • Turn the sausage: Make sure you turn the sausages over halfway through to ensure even cooking.
  • Cook properly: Undercooked sausage can be dangerous and lead to food poisoning. For food safety, the best way to make sure the meat is perfectly cooked is to check the middle temperature with a meat thermometer. When the internal link temperature reaches between 155–165°F (68–74°C), they are ready! If you don’t have a meat thermometer, the next best way to check is by slicing the meat open and checking the color. If it’s still a little pink, cook it for another 5-10 minutes, and then check again.
  • Store cooked sausage links in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze cooked or raw sausage links in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before cooking or reheating.

โ“ Are there other cooking methods for sausage links?

Yes! Baked sausage is not the only way to cook sausage links! Here are a few other options:

  • Skillet: Frying pork sausage in a frying pan on the stove top over medium heat is an easy way to cook sausage links perfectly. I find this works best in a nonstick skillet or heavy skillet like a cast-iron pan. This method is great if you’re making a fry-up and want to cook different food in the same pan for less clean-up later.
  • Air Fryer: My Air Fryer Sausage Links recipe is fast and super easy! All you have to do is spray a little oil in the air fryer basket, add the sausage links, and cook! Check out the full post for all the details.
  • Grill: I love to cook sausages any time we fire up the grill! I do keep my meat thermometer handy on this one as sometimes the outside cooks quicker than the inside. I use a charcoal grill however, a gas grill would work equally as well.
Sausage links on aluminium foil on a baking tray.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธ What goes with sausages?

Breakfast

As a classic breakfast item, sausage links are perfect for a weekend fry up! Here’s what you can serve with them:

  • eggs (fried, scrambled, or poached)
  • fried tomatoes
  • fried mushrooms
  • bacon
  • lorne sausage (square sausage)
  • breakfast sausage patties
  • black pudding
  • haggis
  • hash browns
  • potato scones
  • baked beans
  • toast
  • fried bread
  • pancakes
  • grits

Sheet Pan Dinner

For a complete meal, this is the easiest dinner to throw together on a busy night, and it’s a great way to use up veggies. All you have to do is place the vegetables on the oven safe pan with any kind of seasoning you like, and bake them for 20 minutes. Then add the sausages on top and bake them for 25-30 minutes, turning them halfway through. Here are some of my favorite vegetables for a sausage sheet pan dinner:

  • potatoes
  • sweet potatoes
  • bell peppers
  • onions
  • garlic
  • green beans
  • zucchini/courgette
  • yellow squash
  • tomatoes (especially cherry tomatoes)
  • carrots

Cookout

Serve them instead of hotdogs in hot dog buns (or over a salad) along with your favourite condiments like ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, mayonnaise, grated cheese, relish, pickles, and a side of sweet potato fries or French Fries!

Sausage links on aluminium foil on a baking tray.

๐Ÿ˜‹ More Breakfast Ideas

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๐Ÿ“– Recipe

Sausage links on top of aluminium on a baking tray.

How to bake Sausage Links

Bethany Galloway
Ever wondered how to bake sausage links in an oven? This post will guide you through cooking the sausage links to perfection, how to tell if a sausage link is cooked through, and some easy oven dinner ideas to go along with the sausages. It’s so easy to bake sausages for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

๏ปฟ
4.78 from 9 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Breakfast & Brunch
Cuisine British
Servings 6 sausages
Calories 95 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 sausage links 340-400g, 12-14oz
  • Oil I use olive oil spray

Instructions
 

  • Begin by preheating the oven to 200C / 400F / 180C fan / Gas Mark 6.
  • Place parchment paper or aluminium foil on a baking tray or a shallow baking pan.
  • Next, spray it with oil, or add a little oil to a paper towel or a cloth and rub it over the covered tray.
  • Prick the sausages a few times with a fork. If the sausage links are still joined together, use a pair of scissors to snip them apart.
  • Then place sausage links in a single layer on the baking tray. 
  • Bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 minutes. Use tongs to turn them once after 15 minutes. The cooking time will vary depending on the sausage so double check your packaging just in case.
  • If you have a meat thermometer handy, check the internal temperature reaches 155–165°F (68–74°C).
  • Serve immediately or allow to cool completely before storing in the fridge in an airtight container for later.

Notes

  • Sausage size: The thickness of the sausages will affect the cooking time. I based this recipe on regular British pork sausages which weigh about 67 grams each. Smaller chipolata sausages will cook a little quicker, and larger bratwurst style will take longer. If in doubt, check the packaging for cooking times, and use a meat thermometer just to be sure!
  • Turn the sausage: Make sure you turn the sausages over halfway through to ensure even cooking.
  • Cook properly: Undercooked sausage can be dangerous and lead to food poisoning. For food safety, the best way to make sure the meat is perfectly cooked is to check the middle temperature with a meat thermometer. When the internal link temperature reaches between 155–165°F (68–74°C), they are ready! If you don't have a meat thermometer, the next best way to check is by slicing the meat open and checking the colour. If it's still a little pink, cook it for another 5-10 minutes and then check again.
  • Store cooked sausage links in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze cooked or raw sausage links in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before cooking or reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 95kcalProtein: 4gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 187mg
Keyword baking, brunch, dinner, easy, Italian sausage, lunch, oven baked, quick, sausage links, sheet pan
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4.78 from 9 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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