Make your summertime sizzle with these Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches.
Why are Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches the book-inspired recipe for Broken Country?
Beth’s son Bobby plays a huge part in Broken Country even though he’s not “on screen” very much. The novel tells us about all the things that Bobby loved when he was alive, and the memory of his death colors everything that happens in Broken Country.
At one point, Beth mentions that Bobby’s favorite food was honey roasted sausages. Which sound delicious.
Beth doesn’t mention how Bobby liked to eat his sausages, but I think he’d approve of making them into sandwiches topped with caramelized onions and a creamy homemade honey mustard sauce.
Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches are messy, delicious, and taste like summer – just what every kid (and adult!) loves.
Why I love Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches
It’s summertime and hot as Hades in Northern NJ, so Mr Tart and I are making as many meals as possible outside on the grill. Grilled Sausage Sandwiches have long been a dinner staple for us, and I was only too glad to slather them with honey to see how that tasted.
ZOMG. I love anything savory and sweet together, and these sandwiches are a perfect combo of both. Plus, I really only like sausages if they get good and crispy on the outside, and grilling them is the perfect way to ensure that happens.
If you want extra crispiness and char, split the sausages down the middle. Then grill both sides for maximum flavor while still keeping the inside nice and juicy.
But, let’s be real: this meal is all about the toppings.
In keeping with the “honey roasted sausage” theme, I whipped up a homemade honey mustard sauce to drizzle on top of the sandwiches. Or, to slather on the toasted buns before plunking a sausage in there and piling it high with caramelized onions.
The caramelized onions. Honestly, I think they’re the star of this meal. Yes, it takes a little while to make caramelized onions. But it is SO worth it when you take a bite of crispy sausage, soft buttery onion, and sweet honey mustard all together. **chef’s kiss**
What kind of sausage should you grill?
I made Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches with pork sausage. Our go-to sausage at Tartlet Cottage is sweet Italian, which isn’t actually sweet. That “sweet” means it’s savory, but not spicy.
Mr Tart wanted to try some spicy Italian sausage, so I bought a pack of those, too. We threw both on the grill and happily tested the results. My favorite is still the sweet Italian sausage, but Mr Tart really liked the heat-and-sweet of the spicy sausage.
I think using turkey or chicken sausage would also work really well with Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches. Or meatless sausage, if you lean that way.
What do you serve with Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches?
Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches make a great meal for a BBQ or just a weeknight family dinner. Serve them with a scoop of Lobster Tortellini Pasta Salad, Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta, or Caprese Farro Salad. Wash everything down with a glass of lemonade or iced tea.
Summery desserts to follow your sandwiches are Cinnamon Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Sheet Pan S’mores, Blueberry Molasses Cake, or Chocolate Chip Confetti Blondies.
Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches
Ingredients
GRILLED HONEY SAUSAGE SANDWICH INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb sweet and/or spicy Italian sausage
- 2 tbsp honey
- 4 long rolls, toasted
- caramelized onions (recipe below)
- homemade honey mustard sauce (recipe below)
CARAMELIZED ONIONS INGREDIENTS
- 3 large onions, peeled and very thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
PREP INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut the sausage into links, if necessary.
- Slice the rolls lengthwise in half and set aside.
- Put 2 tbsp honey in a small dish and set aside, along with a pastry brush.
- Peel and slice your onions as thinly as possible. Set aside.
CARAMELIZED ONION COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the sliced onions to the skillet and stir to coat with the olive and butter. Cook the onions over medium heat for 40-45 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until they've softened and caramelized into a golden brown.
- While the onions caramelize, toast the rolls and make the honey mustard sauce.
HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE INSTRUCTIONS
- Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl until combined. Set aside.
HONEY SAUSAGE GRILLING INSTRUCTIONS
- Spray or brush your grill grates with oil or grilling spray.
- Turn on one side of your grill so it heats up to about 450F ("direct heat").
- Place the sausages on the grate over the side of the grill that’s NOT turned on (this is "indirect heat") and grill for 10 minutes.
- Flip sausages over and grill over INDIRECT heat for another 10 minutes.
- Flip sausages over again and place them on DIRECT heat. Grill sausages over direct heat for 5-10 minutes, until sausages have reached desired doneness (at least 165F internal temp). During the last 2-3 minutes of grilling, brush sausages all over with the honey and let grill a few minutes to caramelize the honey.
- Remove sausages from heat and turn off your grill. Serve Grilled Honey Sausages nestled inside the toasted buns and topped with the caramelized onions and honey mustard.
