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Home » Gluten-Free Comfort

Homemade Italian Sausage - Whole30 Compliant

By Gary White
This post may contain affiliate links.
Read my full disclosure here.

Published July 7, 2020. Last modified July 31, 2025 By Gary White

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Italian sausage image for Pinterest
Homemade Italian Sausage Pinterest Image
Homemade Italian Sausage Pinterest Image
Homemade Italian Sausage Pinterest Pin

This homemade Italian sausage is full of flavor with no artificial ingredients or hidden sugars. With a medium spice level, it's perfect for any meal.  And it's Whole30 compliant!

Homemade Italian Sausage patties on plate with eggs and potatoes.

(Originally posted on January 2, 2019; Updated pictures, FAQs, and tips on July 7, 2020.)

When you really want to know what's in your food, the only real answer is to make it yourself. And that's pretty much the way of life when following a plan like Whole30. The good thing about it is this... No matter if you're doing Whole30 or not, this sausage is delicious at any time! It's not sweet at all and has a medium spice level.

Why This Recipe Works

  1. This recipe is Whole30 compliant; And, even if you're not doing a round of Whole30, it's arguably better than most store-bought sausages.
  2. Store-bought sausage typically contains hidden sugars, but this homemade sausage has no sugar added and it's perfect for a low-carb or sugar-free diet. 
  3. You can easily adjust the spice level to your taste. Bump it up or dial it back.
  4. There are no artificial additives, so you know exactly what you're eating.

uncooked Italian sausage on glass plate

How To Make Homemade Italian Sausage

ground pork in glass bowl
Place lean ground pork in large glass bowl.
ground pork with red wine vinegar in glass bowl
Pour red wine vinegar over meat...
ground pork covered in spices in glass bowl
...then add all spices. Using your hands, mix together very well until spices are evenly distributed. Seal in an airtight container for at least 8 hours.

And this is the AMAZING Result…

Homemade Italian Sausage patties on plate with eggs and potatoes.

Expert Tips

  1. I recommend using the highest quality pork you can find to increase quality of the finished product. For high quality meats, we recommend certified humane products. Facilities that produce certified humane meats are required to meet higher standards than typical meat producing facilities.
  2. Uncooked fresh sausage can be stored in the refrigerator 1 to 2 days. Cooked sausage can be stored for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator (40 ° F / 4.4 °C or less). 

FAQs

Would this recipe work with ground turkey? Yes, however I do not recommend using low-fat turkey. You need some fat content in there.  I recommend using ground turkey that is 85% lean/15% fat.

Can I leave out the red pepper flakes? Absolutely! One of the benefits of making homemade sausage is the ability to adjust the spices to your tastes.

Can I freeze the raw sausage? Yes. I recommend tightly wrapping the sausage prior to freezing. For best quality, freeze for no more than 2 months.

More Sausage Recipes

  • Instant Pot Italian Sausage Soup with Turnips and Butternut Squash
  • Instant Pot Sausage, Potato, and Kale Soup
  • Instant Pot Frittata with Sausage, Mushrooms, and Feta

★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below! ★

📖 Recipe

uncooked Italian sausage on glass plate

Homemade Italian Sausage

This homemade Italian sausage is not sweet, has a medium spice level, and a whole lot of specialness. And it's Whole30 compliant!
4.82 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Chill Time: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 321kcal
Author: Gary White

Ingredients 

  • 2 lbs. lean ground pork
  • 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • 2 tsp. sea salt
  • 2 tsp. black pepper
  • 2 tsp. dried parsley
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. onion powder
  • 2 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp. fennel seeds

Instructions

  • Place lean ground pork in large glass bowl. Pour red wine vinegar over meat, then add all spices. Using your hands, mix together very well until spices are evenly distributed. 
  • Seal in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

Notes

Expert Tips

  1. I recommend using the highest quality pork you can find to increase quality of the finished product. For high quality meats, we recommend certified humane products. Facilities that produce certified humane meats are required to meet higher standards than typical meat producing facilities.
  2. Uncooked fresh sausage can be stored in the refrigerator 1 to 2 days. Cooked sausage can be stored for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator (40 ° F / 4.4 °C or less). 

FAQs

Would this recipe work with ground turkey? Yes, however I do not recommend using low-fat turkey. You need some fat content in there.  I recommend using ground turkey that is 85% lean/15% fat.
Can I leave out the red pepper flakes? Absolutely! One of the benefits of making homemade sausage is the ability to adjust the spices to your tastes.
Can I freeze the raw sausage? Yes. I recommend tightly wrapping the sausage prior to freezing. For best quality, freeze for no more than 2 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 465mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 535IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2.9mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @thefoodieeats or tag #TheFoodieEats!

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John

    November 07, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    5 stars
    This is the way I was taught by a friends Italian grandmother. I've been making it this way ever since that day.

    Reply
  2. Ken Duffield

    January 19, 2020 at 9:58 am

    4 stars
    Wonderful taste, makes great Lasagna, soups or just form into patties and serve on grinders. Very flavorful sausage without the periodic table. I made this using a small portion of pork lion and two chops from a local private meat store.

    Reply
  3. Darlene

    January 18, 2023 at 11:49 am

    5 stars
    Hello Gary,
    I have tried may Italian Sausage recipes over recent years however all just fell short, always missing something. Your recipe is hand down the very best I've made. I am so pleased you shared. The only change I made was substituting the basil for Italian Seasoning, just not a fab if straight up basil. My search for the perfect Italian Sausage recipe ends here. Thank you so much Gary,
    Darlene
    Nova Scotia

    Reply
  4. Sandy

    August 20, 2025 at 2:10 pm

    5 stars
    This is my go to recipe. So easy to make. My husband requests it often
    Thanks for sharing it!

    Reply
4.82 from 11 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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Meet Gary

I'm Gary... husband, dad, recipe developer, and comfort food nerd. I believe in real food for real life. This blog? It’s where I share the recipes my family actually eats. Simple, soulful, and full of flavor. My goal is simple: help you cook food worth making again. More about me...

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