Sausages are the unsung heroes of July 4th

Sausages Are the Unsung Heroes of July 4th

Early in my career, I befriended a world-ranked competitive eater as I profiled him over the course of one particularly sweltering July 4th weekend (and we're still pals). I went into the experience prepared to never eat any kind of sausage again, especially my beloved New York City hot dogs. Through the sheer magic and intensity of actually witnessing the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, the tradition of eating sausages on Independence Day took firm hold in my psyche, and I've done it ever since.

Sausage is a great focal point for your July 4th feast for many reasons: It's budget-friendly, perfect alongside your favorite side dishes (particularly potatoes) and forgiving on the grill — just cook it until it's cooked to your liking! You'll even have the bandwidth to make your own mustard.

Universally pleasing, sausage is always a hit whether you're borrowing the Hawaiian style of serving it in a hollowed-out sweet roll or utilizing the tried-and-true German formula. Keep it spicy with Italian sausage, or take it to the next level and churn out homemade corn dogs for the kind of nostalgia we're all yearning for. Got leftovers? An egg, biscuit and sausage casserole will feed the whole family the next day. And if they weren't portable enough, turning sausage into sausage rolls makes them the perfect picnic snack.

So pick up a few packs of wonderful encased meat, and while you may not exactly channel the enthusiasm of an award-winning competitive eater, you can still enjoy your Independence Day sausage feast with gusto.

-Jess Kapadia
Food Editor, The Spruce Eats