Grilled Sausage Grinders (Printable)

Smoky grilled sausages in toasted rolls topped with charred tomato sauce for a satisfying backyard meal.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 4 Italian sausages, mild or hot

→ 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 fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

→ Cheese (Optional)

09 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese

→ Pantry

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher 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 Make It:

01 - Set a grill to medium-high heat and allow it to come to temperature.
02 - Brush the halved tomatoes, sliced onion, and sliced 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 charred and cooked through. Grill vegetables for 4 to 6 minutes until softened with light charring.
04 - Remove vegetables from the grill and let cool briefly. Coarsely chop them into bite-sized pieces.
05 - Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the chopped grilled vegetables, salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the flavors meld. Fold in the fresh basil and parsley.
06 - Split each grinder roll lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Place cut-side down on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly crisp.
07 - Place one grilled sausage into each toasted roll. Spoon the grilled tomato sauce generously over each sausage. Top with shredded cheese if desired.
08 - Return assembled grinders to the grill over indirect heat, cover, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese melts. Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil leaves if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The grilled tomato sauce tastes like summer concentrated into every spoonful.
  • Everything cooks on one grill so cleanup is almost nonexistent.
02 -
  • Do not walk away while the rolls toast because they go from golden to burnt in seconds.
  • Letting the sauce sit for five minutes before serving helps the flavors settle and thicken.
03 -
  • Use a grill basket for smaller vegetable pieces so nothing slips through the grates.
  • Press the sausage gently while grilling to check firmness which tells you it is done better than any timer.

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