7 Best Sausage for Pizza: Perfect Types Selection

What is the best type of sausage for pizza? With so many options, it can be difficult to choose what sausage will work best for the pizza that you are trying to make.

The most important thing to remember is that each sausage tastes differently and there is no one size fits all. Some sausages have spicier seasonings, while others are mild and would be good for the whole family. 

What Type of Sausage Goes on Pizza?

The most common type of sausage that goes on pizza is Italian sausage. However, there are, of course, other options as well.

The type of sausage used on a pizza depends on a person’s taste buds and what other toppings will be going on the pizza.

For instance, if you are a mushroom lover, mild Italian sausage pairs best. If you love the taste of a sweet Hawaiian pizza, then sweet Italian sausage is the way to go. 

The Best Type of Sausage for Pizza: 7 Alternatives

1) Mild Italian Sausage

While you may think that all Italian sausages are the same; this couldn’t be further from the truth.

All Italian sausages are made from pork, but they do have different seasonings and additives for different flavors. Each sausage has a different taste. That means different sausages will go best with different types of pizza with your preferred toppings. 

Mild Italian sausage, also called Sweet Italian Sausage, usually contains spices such as fennel, garlic, parsley, oregano, and red wine vinegar.

This is the most common type of sausage used on pizza and pairs well with most of the other toppings. It is the same sausage commonly used in spaghetti sauces with its Italian flavoring.  

2) Hot Italian Sausage

Hot Italian sausage has the same make-up as mild Italian sausage but with an added kick of heat in the flavoring.

This is perfect for people who love spicy foods and like a flavorful pizza that pairs well with hotter topping on a pizza such as jalapenos, or banana peppers. This may be too hot for kids so making a milder pizza for them is recommended as well.

Hot Italian sausage is commonly made with paprika, anise seed, ground black pepper, fennel seed, red pepper flakes, and garlic salt.

These ingredients all put the kick in the sausage and are perfect for a hot Italian pizza fresh out of the oven.  

3) Breakfast Sausage

In some cases, you will find that people coincide breakfast sausages with mild Italian sausage.

However, they do have different ingredients and have a different flavor altogether.

Breakfast sausage is perfect on a breakfast pizza, which is a hit for both kids and adults alike. The best thing about a breakfast pizza is that it doesn’t just need to be eaten at breakfast and it is perfect for those breakfast for dinner nights. 

Breakfast sausage usually contains fresh sage, thyme, fennel seeds, nutmeg, bacon, and maple syrup. The bacon and maple syrup are all this sausage needs to give it the breakfast flavoring which pairs perfectly with the eggs, hashbrowns, cheese, and of course, extra bacon. 

4) Chorizo

Chorizo is a deep, red-colored pork sausage with immense flavor. It originates out of Latin America and is comparable to hot Italian sausage but has even spicier flavoring.

Chorizo is perfect for people who love hot, spicy food and are not afraid of the heartburn that might come with it. Chorizo pairs well with cheddar cheese because the cheese milds out the flavor, as well as garlic and oregano.

Since chorizo is so flavorful, it is recommended that you do not put other flavorful toppings on the pizza except some onions and garlic.

Chorizo is made of a robust seasoning blend of ancho Chile, coriander, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, and cinnamon. This blend will surely set your taste buds on fire but may not be a fan favorite for kids. 

5) Chicken Sausage

Chicken sausage is a great alternative if you don’t like the taste of pork or can’t eat pork due to religious reasons or personal preference.

Chicken sausage is usually made from the dark meat of the chicken which makes it a bit moister than the white meat.

The seasonings commonly used for making chicken sausage include sage, parsley, pepper, and other Italian seasonings. Chicken sausage is very mild but also pairs well with other toppings.

Chicken sausage is also a great alternative to other sausages if you are worried about a diet plan or fat content.

If you make your own chicken sausage you could even include red pepper flakes to add a bit of “kick: to the flavoring. Chicken sausage pairs well with all other toppings on a pizza and is a solid choice. 

6) Pepperoni

Some people do not realize that pepperoni is actually sausage and is the number one topping when it comes to pizza. The main difference between what people typically think of sausage and pepperoni, is the distinct coloring, thinner meat, and distinct flavoring.

Pepperoni can also be made of both pork and beef combined, solely pork, or solely beef. The pepperoni is much more finely ground, and the seasoning includes spicy peppers such as cayenne, or paprika.

Pepperoni can cause heartburn and acid, so if you are sensitive to acid, opting for a chicken sausage is the best choice.

However, if you love a classic pepperoni pizza be aware that you are actually eating a delicious sausage. Many people add other meats to their pizza when choosing pepperoni such as crumbled Italian sausage, ham, and hamburger.

The benefit to pepperoni is that you can also purchase them precut, or even in the miniature form for kids!

7) Kielbasa

While we typically think of kielbasa as a meal of its own, such as kielbasa and potatoes, it can be a good choice for pizza if you like the flavoring. Kielbasa is technically a polish sausage that uses pork and/or beef in the mixture. The Kielbasa has a unique flavor and is mixed with garlic, pimentos, cloves, marjoram, and smoke. 

Kielbasa is usually grilled, seared in the frying pan, or smoked, so it is not your typical pizza topping but it is doable. If making a pizza with kielbasa, onions, peppers, and mushrooms would be a nice addition as well.

Remember to soak up any grease with a paper towel before putting the kielbasa on your pizza because kielbasa can be quite greasy when fried.

What is the Best Sausage for Homemade Pizza?

The best sausage for homemade pizza depends on your particular taste buds. However, when most people think of sausage on a pizza, it is crumbled-up Italian sausage. When you order a pizza at a restaurant, this is typically what you will see as well. If you like the mild flavoring with other toppings, then the mild Italian sausage is perfect for you.

 However, if you like a kick of flavoring on your pizza, then hot Italian sausage may be the best fit. Italian sausages are the most common, but some people do like to experiment and try the other sausages above as well! 

Breakfast sausage is also the best for a homemade breakfast pizza which can be a great family project for a Sunday morning; especially if you make your own! All pizzas can be great if you play around with the flavorings. 

Do you Cook Sausage Before Putting on Pizza?

Typically, yes. Cooking sausage prior to putting it on a pizza is the best bet. However, this varies based on the temperature of the oven and the length you will be putting the pizza in.

For instance, if you are in a rush to feed your hungry kids then tossing the sausage in a skillet before putting on the pizza is the way to go.

This is because if you put the sausage in the oven without prior cooking the outside may crisp up, but the inside of the sausage may be undercooked. However, if you are planning to cook the pizza low and slow in the oven, then you can place the sausage on the pizza raw.

Keep in mind that if you put uncooked sausage on the pizza and cook it in the oven, there may be an abundance of grease which can be unappetizing.

Furthermore, if you cook your pizza on the grill then the sausage should be cooked prior as well. Overall, cooking sausage prior to topping the pizza is the safest option but can be avoided in some cases. 

Where to Buy Sausage for Pizza?

The most common place to buy sausage is at the local grocery store. However, you could also purchase directly from a butcher as well. All of the above-mentioned sausages can be found already pre-packaged at most grocery stores which is convenient for anybody short on time.

You can usually find crumbled sausage in small packs next to the pepperoni which is very convenient. Kielbasa is another easily found sausage but is not in the crumbled form. You would have to slice the kielbasa evenly to distribute it on your pizza.

On the other side of things, you can also make all of the sausages by hand as well.

Making the sausage by hand is a great idea if you are concerned about the chemicals in your meat from the preservatives. It also gives you complete control of the number of seasonings and the amount per seasoning, which is beneficial if you like your sausage hot, but not too hot. 

To make homemade sausage, the best bet is to buy ground pork from a butcher, or ground chicken if you do not like pork.

Find the correct seasonings to suit your taste.

There are several recipes online or a cookbook to give different ideas for seasonings well. You could also use prepackaged ground pork or chicken as well and then add the seasonings from there. 

Final Words

Italian sausages are the most common for pizza because they are easy to purchase. Besides that, they are easy to make homemade if wanted, are full of flavor, and can be easily paired with other toppings. They are commonly found on restaurant pizzas because of the ease of using them and the cheaper costs. 

However, if you are looking to spice up your pizza routine and try something new, you can elect for different sausages with unique flavors.

You could also try new toppings with each new sausage which would be fun for a family cooking adventure. Remember to always check the ingredients to the sausage if it is prepackaged to give you an idea of what flavor you are electing for as well.

So, do you already know what is the best sausage for your pizza? I hope you have found the best alternative! Feel free to leave your comments below.

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