Grilled Sausage Grinders (Printer-Friendly)
Smoky grilled sausages in toasted rolls topped with charred tomato sauce — perfect for backyard gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 Italian sausages, mild or spicy
→ Bread
02 - 4 grinder or hoagie rolls
→ Vegetables
03 - 4 ripe plum tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, sliced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 bell pepper, sliced
07 - 1 handful fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional
→ Cheese
09 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese, optional
→ Pantry
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat a grill to medium-high heat, approximately 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
02 - Brush the halved tomatoes, onion slices, and bell pepper with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, coating evenly.
03 - Place sausages and oiled vegetables on the grill. Cook sausages for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally, until evenly charred and cooked through to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Grill vegetables for 4 to 6 minutes until softened and lightly charred.
04 - Remove vegetables from the grill and let cool briefly. Coarsely chop the grilled tomatoes, onion, and bell pepper.
05 - In a skillet over medium heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the chopped grilled vegetables and season with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until flavors meld. Stir in the fresh basil and parsley.
06 - Split grinder rolls lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Toast the cut sides on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly crisp.
07 - Place one cooked sausage into each toasted roll. Spoon the grilled tomato sauce generously over each sausage. Top with shredded cheese if desired.
08 - Return the assembled grinders to the grill over indirect heat, cover, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese melts. Serve hot, garnished with extra fresh basil if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The grilled tomato sauce tastes like you spent all day on it, but the whole thing comes together in under an hour.
- Everything cooks on one grill, so cleanup is almost nonexistent and you get to stay outside where the party is.
02 -
- Walk away from the garlic while it sautés and you will have bitter sauce, so stay right there and pull it the moment it smells sweet.
- Letting the tomatoes char deeply on the cut side before flipping is what gives the sauce its smoky backbone.
03 -
- Toast the rolls cut side down and watch them like a hawk, because the line between golden and black is about thirty seconds on a hot grill.
- If your grill has a side burner, make the sauce right there instead of running inside, keeping the whole cooking experience outdoors where it belongs.