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...
Just a note about “curing salt if your choice.”
Morton Tender Quick contains 1/2% each of Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Two tablespoons of that should be fine.
Virtually all other curing salt (the pink stuff) contains 6.25% and using two tablespoons is WAY overkill and potentially dangerous. Use the pink stuff as directed and add plain salt as needed to make up the difference.
Thanks for the info, Matt! I appreciate it. I’m not familiar with the “pink stuff” as this is literally the only cured meat I have ever made and it’s a decades-old family recipe. Morton Tender Quick is all I’ve ever used. I DID update the recipe to indicate any substitutions should be used as per the manufacturer’s instructions. I appreciate the heads-up.
My mom uses a recipe she got years ago. . .don’t even know where she got it. It’s almost the same recipe as this, but every day for 3 days you take the sausage mixture out of the refrigerator and hand kneed it. Then on the 3rd or 4th day you form your rolls and bake it for 8 hours on 200 turning it every two hours. I think I will try this recipe. It looks much simpler.
Katie, other than the longer resting time in the fridge and the kneading, the recipe does sound very similar. I’m anxious for you to try this version and let us know how they compare. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog, today!
How long does this keep in the refrigerator?
The USDA recommended time to keep any food in the fridge is not more than 4 days. I have had this summer sausage last a week, personally, though it would not be considered recommended. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months.
It was so fun to make this at home! I never thought I could do this myself. Thanks for making it so easy, now we can have delicious summer sausage and don’t have to buy it.
Isn’t it great, Dana! It’s very freeing when you realize all the things you can cook at home that are so much better. Really happy that you’re enjoying it!
This was a fun recipe to try. This homemade sausage tastes amazing!
Thank you, Scarlet. I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
Glad you’re enjoying it, Allyssa! It is certainly one of our family favorites.
Thank you for sharing this.
My pleasure, Roxie.
I always love all your recipes! Thanks for sharing all of them!
That made my day, Cami! Thank you!
Love your homemade sausage recipe! I always prefer homemade rather than buying one, thanks!
Thank you, Natalie! We are just the same as you.
My boys had a blast making summer sausage! They didn’t know you could make it, lol! 🤦♀️
I love being able to turn the kids loose in the kitchen with recipes they enjoy eating! So glad the recipe is working well for your family.
I have DIY’d a lot of recipes but have never thought to make my own sausage. I can’t wait to try it!
Jeanine, I hope you love it as much as we do! It’s a family favorite tradition for almost every event or gathering.
I never thought to make my own but this recipe has literally become a LIFE staple lol
So happy you are enjoying it, Shelby!
Wow never have I ever though to make my own summer sausage recipe. So easy! The flavor and texture were amazing. You are right, there is no need to ever buy it premade again.
Thank you, Cindy! I’m so happy that you liked it!
I’m a big home cook. I’ll try almost anything. I made this summer sausage recipe. My review? OMG Don’t think about it, do it!
I ground my own beef, brisket and lean beef blend. We have a smoker, added yummy. We added red pepper flakes. The options are endless. 10 stars lady!
That’s great, Deanna! I’m thrilled that it worked so well for you. And I agree, the possibilities for customizing it are endless. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and let me know. Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!
Could I make this using turkey instead of beef?
Cariann, I have never tried it, but see no reason why it wouldn’t work. Turkey gets a lot drier than beef, so I would probably use dark meat ground turkey, rather than all white. If you try it, please stop by and let me know how it went. Thanks for stopping by with your question. I hope I’ll see you around the blog, often!
How wonderful! I just love this to have a totally artisanal charcuterie!!
I do, too, Paula. This recipe is a game-changer!