How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Oven
on Oct 13, 2024, Updated Jan 28, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Cooking Italian sausage in the oven is hands-off, results in juicy, tender links, and there is very little cleanup involved.
Baking Italian sausage in the oven is the easiest way to cook a large amount of links without much attention required. It works for all uncooked Italian sausages…sweet, mild, or hot. This recipe also works with pork sausages, turkey sausages, or chicken sausages. And then you have plump, tender sausages with a firm, snappy exterior, and lock in that amazing flavor. Ready to be dipped into mustard or marinara sauce, or tucked into a roll, or sliced and added to pastas. A perfect busy weeknight dinner.
While I often cook sausages in a pan on the stove, there are some downsides. There definitely is splattering involved, and you have to pay close attention to the sausages as they cook. That’s why baking sausages in the oven is a great way to go. And Italian sausages take just about 20 minutes to cook in a preheated 400-degree oven.
Slice them up and use them in recipes like Sausage and Peppers Pasta with Tomato Sauce or Chicken Sausage Pasta. If you want to peel off the skin and crumble them, you can do that as well. Great for adding to pastas, casseroles, soups, or stuffings like Bread Turkey Sausage Stuffing.
Also, see How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Air Fryer!
Table of Contents
How to Cook Italian Sausage in the Oven: Cooking Italian sausage in the oven is hands off, results in juicy, tender links, and there is very little clean up involved.
How to Bake Italian Sausages
- Prepare the oven and pan: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place the sausage links on the sheet pan, leaving a little room between them to brown up nicely.
- Bake the sausages: Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, flipping them once halfway through cooking. Use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the very middle of the sausages to check that the internal temperature is at least 160 degrees.
- Serve hot. You can slice the sausage and serve it up in a dish with spicy mustard. Or stuff it into a sandwich with caramelized onions and sauteed red peppers! A simple side of sauteed vegetables will make a simple meal.
Storage and Leftovers
Leftover baked sausage will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Reheat leftovers wrapped in foil in a preheated 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
Kitchen Smarts
The baking time for Italian sausage links is about 20 to 25 minutes in a 400-degree oven.
How to Use Oven-Baked Sausage
More Easy Oven-Baked Recipes
- How to Bake a Potato
- How to Bake Chicken Thighs
- How to Bake Burgers
- How to Cook Eggs in the Oven
- How to Make Perfect Roasted Potatoes
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Oven-Baked Italian Sausage
Ingredients
- 4 Italian sausages
- Mustard (for serving ; optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed sheet pan with foil or parchment paper.
- Place the sausage links on the sheet pan, leaving a little room between them to brown up nicely.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, flipping them once halfway through cooking. Use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the very middle of the sausages to check that the internal temp is at least 160 degrees. Serve hot.
