Homemade Beef Summer Sausage is a scrumptiously satisfying and savory option for your appetizers, meat and cheese trays, charcuterie boards or any time you want a delicious slice and serve snack!

homemade summer sausage on a wooden board with cheese and crackers

The recipe is simple. It’s an easy, gluten free prep ahead recipe. You’ll be asked for this craveable “smoked” summer sausage recipe at every get together.

In This Post:

Summer Sausage as a Gift

Honestly, this would be great in holiday gift baskets, too. Or for Father’s Day. No need to order from Hickory Farms. lol You’ll net 5 stars on every review of your gifting genius when you simply make your own!

Create fabulous gift boxes and baskets for any holiday or celebration gift. Homemade Summer Sausage will be a great centerpiece to build the gift around. It’s a great value and so much more affordable when you make your own.

Combine homemade summer sausage with jars of homemade mustard, horseradish spreads, jams, crackers and your favorite cheeses.

Stick in some shortbread cookies or homemade candy. Add a pretty wooden cutting board and your beautiful gift is complete. It will look great and taste so much better than anything you would have purchased at the store. It’s more personal and means a lot more when it comes from your own kitchen!

The Perfect Take Along for Parties, Reunions and Picnics

Take this easy beef summer sausage to your next party or family reunion. It will be one of the first things to disappear off the buffet table, along with my friend Shelby’s scrumptious bacon wrapped steak bites.

Add beef summer sausage to a build-your-own hoagie bar, beautiful charcuterie boards or meat and cheese trays. Chop it into outrageously delicious antipasto salads or “beef up” your Hasselback potatoes!

Homemade Beef Summer Sausage will wow your family and friends however and wherever you serve it! It’s a great value and saves on the grocery bill and snack budget.

You control the ingredients and spice level so that you can serve and gift it with confidence in its quality. Beef Summer Sausage also freezes well, so you can always keep a roll or two on hand..

You’ll be hard-pressed to ever buy another one of those “logs-o-meat” after indulging in this simple and delicious beef sausage snack!

This Homemade Beef Summer Sausage recipe is a snacking tradition in our home. I hope you will enjoy it with your family, too!

The Ingredients

homemade beef summer sausage ingredients in a bowl: ground beef, tender quick salt, sugar, mustard seed, liquid smoke and black pepper

Medium Lean Ground Beef, (I usually use 80 -85%.)
Tender Quick / Curing Salt (I use Morton and can get it at Walmart, local grocery stores, or online ordering.)
Garlic Powder
Coarse Black Pepper
Mustard Seed
Liquid Smoke (I prefer the hickory smoke variety, but you can also get mesquite.)
Sugar

The ingredients to make Summer Sausage at home are pretty straightforward, but I want to discuss two of them.

Some of you may have *liquid smoke in your pantry all the time, like me. It can be used for lots of other recipes, but it is essential for Homemade Beef Summer Sausage.

You can use whichever brand you have access to. Most stores carry at least one brand. If you prefer to order it, this is the liquid smoke I use _{[affiliate link]}, on Amazon.

Bag of Morton Quick Tender Salt next to a bottle of liquid smoke

Curing salt or Tender-Quick salt cannot be substituted for any other type of salt.

It’s a blend of salt, sugar and other ingredients that allow the meat to cure, like ham, bacon or sausages.

Look for it at Walmart, local grocery stores, or even online at Amazon.

How to Make Homemade Beef Summer Sausage

ingredients for homemade beef summer sausage in a glass mixing bowl

Mixing up the summer sausage is as simple as putting all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stirring until everything is evenly distributed and combined. It’s important, but easy.

You want the mustard seed, salt and pepper evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Honestly, I use my hands to mix it up. Just like with my Easy Meatloaf Recipe or my scrumptious Spicy Italian Meatballs, it’s easier to get the ingredients blended well when I mix by hand.

Once the mixture is ready, divide it and roll each half into a log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and leave in the fridge for 24 hours to allow the curing salt to work its magic.

homemade beef summer sausage rolled into logs and sealed into plastic wrap for 24 hour refrigeration

After 24 hours, unwrap each sausage and place it on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 275° for 2 hours. Remove from the oven and cool on a cooling rack.

You could eat the sausage warm, but we prefer it cold. It slices well, whether warm or cold, so definitely go with your preference.

Homemade beef summer sausage freshly baked and stacked on a foil-lined baking sheet.

Homemade Beef Summer Sausage can be the delicious, gluten-free centerpiece of your holiday meat and cheese trays or charcuterie boards.

It’s especially good with Cheddar cheese, Smoked Gouda or Colby Jack cheese and buttery crackers.

Beef Summer Sausage is also a great addition to tailgating snacks or when watching movies with your family.

Everybody loves homemade beef summer sausage, and it’s a no-fuss make-ahead treat that lets you spend your time enjoying the fun.

Enjoy this simple appetizer, and I hope all your celebrations are wonderfully blessed!

Merry, happy festivities, my friend!

a collage with two pictures. One has homemade beef summer sausage sliced on a wooden cutting board with cheese and crackers and the other is homemade beef summer sausage freshly baked and stacked on a foil-lined baking sheet.

The Recipe

Want to Save This Recipe?

Enter your email & I’ll send you the link so you always have it at your fingertips. Plus, I’ll send a collection of easy recipes to your inbox every Friday!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Glenda Embree.

Homemade Beef Summer Sausage

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 25 reviews

Author: Glenda Embree
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 2 lbs 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Beefy, salty and smoky snacking goodness. It has a peppery bite which you control by how much pepper you add. Perfect on charcuterie boards or meat and cheese platters. A great appetizer or snack that is so simple and affordable. A great value no matter how you slice it and everyone will want your recipe. Plus, it’s naturally gluten free.

Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs med. lean ground beef (80-85%)
2 Tablespoons Morton Tender Quick Salt ( or curing salt of your choice used according to the manufacturer’s directions)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon mustard seed
2 – 3 teaspoons coarse ground pepper (to taste)
1 Tablespoon liquid smoke
1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl
Use your hands to thoroughly combine the ingredients and make sure they are evenly distributed.
Divide the mixture in half and roll each half into a log 6 or 7 inches long.
Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate them for 24 hours to let the Morton Tender Quick salt do its magic.
Unwrap the logs and place them on a rimmed baking sheet.
Bake for 2 hours at 275°.
Cool and then refrigerate.
Slice and serve as desired.

Notes

No need to order summer sausage from Hickory Farms. Create your own fabulous gift boxes and baskets at the holidays. Combine this homemade summer sausage with jars of homemade mustard, jams, crackers and your favorite cheeses. Stick in some shortbread cookies or homemade candy. Add a pretty wooden cutting board and your beautiful gift is complete. It will taste so much better and mean so much more because it came from your own kitchen.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Category: Appetizer, Snack, Beef
Method: baking
Cuisine: American

More Great Appetizer Recipes

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Best Easy Meatballs

Easy Taco Dip

Ham and Cheese Sliders