I Asked 4 Experts for the Best Italian Sausage—They All Said The Same Thing

As someone who cooks with sausage every week, I always have one or two packages in my fridge. Versatile enough to throw into a pasta or sauté into some scrambled eggs, sausage is my secret weapon to spice up any meal.

After consulting with four experts, I identified the highest-quality Italian-style sausage available on the market.

The Experts

The Best Italian Sausage, According to Experts

While most of these home cooks prefer their local butcher, one store-bought brand seems to be just as prized—and that’s Premio. Premio is known for its fine Italian sausage and family tradition. “Premio brand has been family owned and operated for over 40 years by the Cinque family,” Caminiti shared.

By using premium cuts of meat and imported spices, Premio ensures that it produces handmade sausages with the same care it did over four generations ago, preserving its family recipe.

“I also like how Premio has an uncased option and many different varieties as well for different sausage dishes I prepare,” Caminiti shared.

Shopping Tips

When sifting through the meat aisle, these experts agreed on one key tip when shopping for sausage—read the label!

“When choosing sausage, I always recommend checking the ingredients. Look for minimal fillers and real spices. A good-quality sausage should have a fresh, natural flavor and pair well with a variety of meals,” Trapani shared.

Deri agreed. “You should also look for whether the meat is raised responsibly, either little or no sugar added, and minimal ingredients. It should be the type of animal, a few different seasonings, salt, of course, and that’s about it!” Deri said. Caminiti also recommended ensuring that the sausage casing is made from an all-natural animal product. 

How To Cook Sausage

Sweet, spicy, or seasoned, here’s how these experts incorporate sausages into an array of recipes.

“I make many recipes with sausage, including Sunday sauce, sausage ragù for pasta, which is one of my favorites and one that I learned from my nana. I also make classic sausage and peppers, sausage pizza (using crumbled sausage), orecchiette with crumbled sausage and broccoli rabe, sausage, pumpkin, sage, and smoked mozzarella stromboli,” Caminiti shared.

“We love using sausage in a classic dish of sausage, peppers, and potatoes, or simply grilled on the BBQ with a fresh salad or in a sandwich,” Trapani shared.

From Italian style to a summer grill, like Premio, these chefs discovered that sausages are a family-friendly meal. “These days, families are so busy. I know it’s hard to get meals on the table. Sausage is an ingredient that can help you create a simple meal that your family will love,” Fenza shared.