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!
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.
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
- 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.
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
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.
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 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!
The Recipe
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Homemade Beef Summer Sausage
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 lbs 1x
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
- 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
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
- Bacon Lettuce Tomato Bites
- Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini
- Bacon and Pineapple Cheese Ball
- Homemade Taco Chips
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
I spend so much money on buying sausage because I love it on my cheese board. This homemade recipe is amazing and saving me tons!
Jenn, that’s great news!
I love this! My husband loves summer sausage and I never even thought about making it at home!
It’s kind of mind-blowing, at first, isn’t it? Now, I do it all the time. So glad you and your husband are loving it, Samantha!
This looked (and tasted) perfect on my charcuterie board recently. Added to my recipe book!
Yay! Erin, I’m thrilled you enjoyed it!
The ingredient list says Garlic Powder, but the recipe says Garlic Salt. Which one do you use?
I’ll get that corrected, Sue. Thanks for letting me know. It’s garlic powder.
This is absolutely without a doubt the BEST summer sausage I have ever tasted, much less made. This is a forever recipe for me. Thank you so much!
Teri, I’m thrilled you’re loving it! You made my week. Have a wonderfully blessed New Year!
How long can it last in the refrigerator? I would like to make this for a New Years platter. Thank you!
Anitra, it needs to be wrapped and sealed tightly and then should keep about 3 weeks in the fridge. However, it can definitely be frozen for around 6 months, so if you’re not going to use it within a couple of weeks, I would freeze it until closer to time.
Thank you, making 4 tonight. How long should I cook 4 of them at 275? Merry Christmas!
Anitra, the cooking time should be the same as when baking two, I believe. Be sure the rolls are of a consistent thickness so they bake at the same rate.
Love the flavor, perfect for cheeseboards and as a simple appetizer or snack.
I’ve always found making cured sausage little daunting, but your recipe made me realize it couldn’t be easier. You’re right, I will probably never buy summer sausage at the store again!
This looks so delicious!!
Made this over the weekend and they taste great. My only problem was the cook. They came out really dark. Guess I will have to play with the temps. But other than that, great recipe.
Hi Alex, I’m glad you enjoyed the flavor! It’s one of our favorites, too. I’m curious about the dark color. How dark did it get? Mine is usually a deep reddish hue. Did you make any substitutions? Or have the oven temperature set to higher than 275°? If not, you may have done everything right, but your oven temp may need to be recalibrated. https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/kitchen/how-to-calibrate-an-oven.html
Hi, I’m tired. Can you use refined salt instead of Morton salt?
Saideh, no unfortunately not. The tender-quick salt is a curing salt. Regular refined salt will not cure the meat.
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m so excited to make this. I love that we can control what goes into the sausage by making it from scratch!
My husband loves Summer Sausage this is delicious!
Thanks, Donna!
What a great recipe! I had not idea making your own sausage could be so easy. Delicious, too!
It really is great that it’s so simple! Thanks for stopping by, Robin!
Such a great way to make summer sausage. I loved how it paired perfectly with all the cheese and crackers we had. I’m making this one for the big game again too!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Samantha!
Delicious and perfectly seasoned. Great for summer charcuterie boards!
Thank you, Jaclyn! I agree, it’s a perfect meat and cheese board treat!