Grilled Split Italian Sausages with Giardiniera

Grilled Split Italian Sausages with Giardiniera are a seriously delicious variation for your next grill out! Sweet Italian sausage links are simmered and then split in half lengthwise, exposing the natural fats to caramelize when they hit the grill.

All that extra surface area is charred to perfection and then topped with a simple jarred giardiniera. It's perfect for a backyard party or just a simple weeknight dinner any time of year! Just 25 minutes and only 4 ingredients!

What's to love about Split Sausages?

• The Flavor Combo is Amazing! - Where I'm from in Wisconsin, brats/sausages/and all things grilled are pretty standard on the dinner table! A bar I loved in college, deep in Badger territory, split their brats and cooked them on the flat top griddle. Allowing that charred grilled flavor to reach both the outside casing of the sausage AND the inside gives you twice the taste and texture! A slather of grainy dijon mustard and the vinegary punch of the giardiniera combines perfectly with that extra grilled taste!

• What is Giardiniera? - Giardiniera comes from the Italian word meaning gardener. It is a condiment made from a mixture of pickled vegetables, often including peppers, carrots, celery, and cauliflower, preserved in vinegar and oil with spices. I used Marconi brand, mild giardiniera, but feel free to use any brand and go spicier if you like!

• Giardiniera pronunciation is a tough one, say it like this "jar-din-era." If you love giardiniera, try my Italian Subs with Homemade Giardiniera and these Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches with Giardiniera!

• It's a Super Easy Weeknight Dinner with a Twist! - Our family loves grilling Italian sausage links, brats, hot dogs, and burgers any time of year. Changing up the protein to mild or sweet Italian sausages and topping them with a store-bought giardiniera takes an easy meal and turns it into an entirely new, flavor-packed favorite! Pair it with any simple side dish like Cucumber Feta Salad, Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad, Broccoli Salad or just a can of baked beans and a handful of salt and vinegar kettle chips!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Italian Sausage links - I buy Italian sausage at our local butcher shop where they make their own links. I recommend using the best sausage you can find, but any packaged sausage, like Johnsonville, will be totally fine too. I like the sweet or mild sausage but if you like things spicy, go for the hot! If you love Italian sausage, try this Creamy Tomato Pink Sauce Pasta with Italian Sausage.

• Hoagie or Brat Buns - Again, go for what looks like the best quality! The buns are your carrier for all that veggie topping so get something hearty and substantial! Cheap hot dog buns are not going to cut it!

• Mild Giardiniera - I like to use Marconi brand mild giardiniera, but there are lots of great brands out there. Giardiniera brings an incredible flavor to contrast the grilled sausage! If you haven't tried it, try it! It's pickle-y and vinegary but still very mild, so spoon on as much as you like. You can also use the Hot variety if you like things spicy. And of course, these split sausages can also be left plain if you aren't a fan of giardiniera, or leave it off for the kids.

• Dijon Mustard - Dijon mustard might just be because I'm from Wisconsin, but I love the extra kick it gives to any grilled food! I like the country dijon which is the grainy type. This is of course optional, use as much or as little as you like!

Instructions

Step 1 - Place sausage links in a saucepan and add enough water to cover them completely. Bring to a simmer over medium heat until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

If your water starts to boil rapidly, reduce heat to a simmer. Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill over high heat.

Step 2 - When the Italian sausages are cooked through, use tongs to remove them from the water to a cutting board.

Slice them lengthwise with a serrated bread knife so that the back is still intact and they split open. Some cooking water may come out when the casing is cut.

Step 3 - Grill the boiled Italian sausages on both sides until charred and caramelized, about 3 minutes per side.

Also lightly grill the buns on the outdoor grill. This only takes a minute, so be careful not to burn them.

Step 4 - On a serving plate, arrange the buns with the grilled Italian sausages and let everyone top their own with giardiniera and dijon mustard. Serve hot off the grill!

Recipe Tips

• Can I skip splitting the sausage? - Yes you can and it's delicious both ways. If you want to just simmer your sausages and grill them without splitting, that's totally fine and still delicious topped with the giardiniera!

• Easily Adjust the Quantities for your Group Size - This recipe is easy to adjust to feed a crowd or just have dinner for two. Allow 1 sausage per person maybe with a few extras, and serve the giardiniera and dijon in bowls on the side so everyone can spoon on as much as they like!

• Other Topping Ideas - If you aren't into giardiniera, try topping your split sausage sandwich with grilled onions and bell peppers. Chop them into large pieces and toss them in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Then just grill them along with everything else! You can chop them a bit smaller after grilling. You can also grill a handful of cherry tomatoes or top your sausage with these Small Batch Refrigerator Pickles!

• Storage - Leftover cooked Italian sausage links can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and are great microwaved the next day or two. Or repurpose those leftovers into my Gnocchi with Italian Sausage. After being opened, your jar of giardiniera will keep in the fridge for months. The oil may solidify when chilled so let it come to room temperature before using.

• Freezer Tip - I like to buy a variety of meats when I'm at our local butcher shop, one of my favorites being Italian sausage links, and store them in my freezer. For this recipe, use fresh or just thaw the package of sausage overnight in the refrigerator.

Side Dishes For Grilled Italian Sausage

• I love the classic grilling side dishes for this recipe like potato salad, coleslaw or Kale Apple Slaw with Honey Apple Cider Vinaigrette, Broccoli Salad or Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad! Add a tray of veggies with Parmesan Herb Dip.

• A lot of grilling happens in the summer when the garden is full so I often add Grilled Vegetables with Yogurt Sauce, a Green Bean Salad or this Tomato Feta White Bean Salad with Arugula.

• Baked Beans and Salt & Vinegar Kettle Chips are probably my favorite side dishes to keep things simple!

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