Sausage Rolls are classic British fare, that are as versatile as they are easy to make. They can be served hot or cold, in a canapé size as an appetizer or in as a larger roll for lunch, brunch or a snack.
In addition, the unbaked sausage rolls can be frozen for later use. Also, the cooked sausage rolls can be refrigerated, and reheated at a later time.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Table of contents
About British Sausage
The key to a good sausage roll is good sausage. British sausage tends to be different from American sausage in several ways.
First, British sausage often has a bread crumb or rusk filler while its American counterpart doesn’t. Also, British sausage tends to have a finer grind and consistency than American sausage.
Both the Master Taste Tester and I personally prefer British sausage to American sausage.
Experimentation for the Perfect British Sausage
Over time, I’ve experimented with trying to replicate British sausage. I think that I finally have a winner that’s super easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Initially, I made the British sausage by using a combination of bulk American sausage and ground pork. In fact, when I first blogged about the British Sausage Rolls in 2017, I used the recipe developed with the combination of American sausage and ground pork.
Over time, however, I continued experimenting and ultimately decided to omit the American sausage and focus on making the sausage with just ground pork and seasonings.
This post is updated to include the British sausage made without adding any American sausage. Also, I’ve added new photographs, enhanced text and a Web Story showing how I make these tasty sausage rolls.
For anyone who is interested, however, my original recipe using American sausage and British sausage which was posted in 2017 included the following:
- 1 pound (16 ounces, 454 grams) ground pork
- ½ pound (8 ounces, 227 grams) hot bulk sausage
- ½ cup (2.65 ounces, 75 grams) dry bread crumbs
- ⅓ cup (2.65 ounces, 75 grams) water
- 1 ½ teaspoons (0.35 ounces, 10 grams) Kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoons (0.25 ounces, 7 grams) fresh sage, chopped
Ingredients for Sausage Rolls
I used the following ingredients for the Sausage Rolls: Puff pastry sheet, ground pork, plain bread crumbs, Kosher salt, black pepper, dried sage, nutmeg, mace, water and egg (for the egg wash).
How to Make Sausage Rolls
Time needed: 50 minutes.
Making the sausage rolls is really easy. Let me show you how.
- Adding the Sausage Ingredients to Food Processor
To make the sausage, I added the ground pork, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, dried sage, nutmeg, mace and water to the bowl of my food processor fitted with a steel blade.
- Processing the Sausage Ingredients
I processed the sausage mixture for about 20 seconds. Then I took a small piece, microwaved it for about 20 seconds and tasted it to see if additional seasonings were needed. The Master Taste Tester said that it was perfect!
Next, I continued processing the mixture for another 30 seconds, until it reached the proper consistency. See how finely ground it is – almost like a pâté, which is how we like it.
That’s it – British sausage with the food processor doing all the work! - Preparing the Puff Pastry
With the sausage made, I turned my attention to making the sausage rolls.
I rolled out a thawed puff pastry sheet on a floured surface to approximately 14 x 10-inches. Next, I cut the puff pastry in half, length-wise. - Enclosing Sausage in Puff Pastry
I placed a roll of sausage down the center of each piece of puff pastry. Then, I brought the sides of the puff pastry together to enclose the sausage. I pinched the puff pastry together to ensure that it was completely sealed.
- Cutting the Sausage Rolls
I cut each of the puff pastry sausage logs into four pieces. Then, I placed the sausage rolls onto a rimmed baking sheet that I had lined with non-stick aluminum foil
Finally, to allow the steam to escape during baking, I cut 2 slits in each roll.
I placed the prepared sausage rolls into the refrigerator until I was ready to bake them. - Baking the Sausage Rolls
Before baking the sausage rolls, I brushed them with an egg wash (egg mixed with about a tablespoon of water. I could have also brushed them with milk.
I baked the sausage rolls in a preheated 425° F oven for 25 to 30 minutes. The puff pastry rose nicely and was a golden brown. More importantly, the sausage was fully cooked! - Removing Sausage Rolls from Oven
Once the sausage rolls were done, I removed them from the oven.
I allowed them to cool for about 10 minutes before I served the sausage rolls.
Even though sausage rolls are most often served as an appetizer, I like to also serve them as an entrée.
Either way, the Easy Peasy British Sausage Rolls are amazingly delicious. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
Both puff pastry and phyllo dough utilize a layering of dough. Puff pastry is created by incorporating butter into the dough. On the other hand, phyllo dough all by itself is virtually free of any fat. Rather the fat is added in right before baking. Phyllo dough doesn’t puff when it bakes—it crisps.
Phyllo dough does not puff when during baking whereas puff pastry, as the name implies does puff during baking.
If you have a food processor, you can make your own ground pork for the sausage rolls. I typically use a Boston butt that I cut into 1 to 1 ½-inch pieces. I process the pieces for 10 to 15 seconds before adding the other ingredients.
I make the sausage rolls with uncooked sausage. The sausage cooks as the sausage rolls are baked in the oven.
Some fat in the sausage is necessary. In fact, if my ground pork is too lean, the sausage ends up being very dry. In cases where the sausage is quite lean (90% lean or higher), I often add about a tablespoon of butter to the sausage ingredients.
If I use the food processor to “grind” the Boston butt, I make sure not to include too much fat in the pieces.
You can definitely make the sausage rolls ahead of time. If you’re going to cook them on the same day as you make the sausage rolls, just refrigerate them until you’re ready to pop them in the oven.
You can also freeze the uncooked sausage rolls and bake them frozen. Just add 5 minutes or so to the cooking time.
These sausage rolls make delicious leftovers. I refrigerate the leftover sausage rolls and heat them at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes.
Other British Recipes
If you’re looking for some more authentic British fare, you should try some of my favorites:
- Savory British Beef Olives: Beef Olives have been a part of British cuisine since the 16th century. Given the name, one would think that they actually contain olives. Actually, this is not the case. “Olive” is a British term for for wrapping meat around a savory stuffing, browning it and finishing it in a brown sauce.
- Cornish Style Pasties: Cornish Pasties (rhymes with ”Nasties”) are a meat pie filled with uncooked beef, potatoes, turnip or rutabaga (a.k.a. swede), and onion, seasoned with salt and pepper and made in Cornwall. Typically, the filing is encased in a shortbread type crust. These Cornish Style Pasties differ in that I use pork tenderloin in place of the beef and add carrots. Also, they’re not made in Cornwall. However, they are amazingly delicious.
- Make-Ahead Cottage Pie: Cottage Pie is one-dish wonder that is the ultimate in comfort food. This traditional British dish can easily be made ahead of time and reheated. In fact, I generally have several Cottage Pies in my freezer for those evenings when I just want something easy and absolutely delicious.
- Copycat Heinz Beans: Heinz Beans, produced in the England, are a staple for many Brits both in the UK and abroad. If you’ve ever been to the UK, you might have been surprised to see the beans included in a full English breakfast. Heinz beans are the ultimate in comfort food, no matter how they are served.
- Chocolate Blancmange: Chocolate Blancmange, pronounced “blah-mahnj” is an old English dessert that is light and velvety smooth. Even though it contains no eggs, the texture of Chocolate Blancmange reminds me of a chocolate mousse. A good Blancmange has a slight wobble to it and is amazingly delicious and easy to make.
- Classic English Lemon Posset: Lemon Posset is a Classic English dessert dating back to the Middle Ages. The modern version is chilled, with a velvety smooth texture that magically congeals with only three ingredients – cream, sugar, and lemon. Unlike Lady Macbeth who drugged King Duncan’s guards with poisoned posset, you can WOW your guests with this simple to make and elegant dessert
- English Piccalilli: English Piccalilli sometimes referred to as English Mustard Pickle is a savory relish made from cauliflower, gherkins and pearl onions, pickled with malt vinegar, sugar and salt that is spiced with dry mustard and turmeric. It’s easy to prepare and makes an amazing accompaniment to a variety of cold and hot dishes.
Watch How I Make These Delicious Sausage Rolls
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Easy Peasy British Sausage Rolls
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 1 pound (16 ounces, 454 grams) ground pork (See Tip 1)
- ½ cup (2.65 ounces, 75 grams) dry bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Dash ground nutmeg
- Dash mace
- ⅓ cup (2.65 ounces, 75 grams) water
- 1 egg for egg wash (optional)
Instructions
Sausage
- Add ground pork, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, sage, nutmeg, mace and water to bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade. Process 20 seconds. Cook small amount in microwave for 20 seconds; taste for seasonings and consistency. Correct seasonings if necessary. Process for additional 30 seconds, or until desired consistency is reached. Cover and refrigerate. Yield: About 20 ounces sausage. (See Tip 2)
Sausage Rolls
- Preheat oven to 425° F.
- Roll puff pastry sheet to approximately 14 x 10-inches on a lightly floured surface. Cut in half lengthwise. Place a roll of half of the sausage down the center. Bring sides together, and pinch to seal. Make sure that roll is thoroughly sealed. Repeat with other half of puff pastry and remaining sausage.
- Cut each roll to desired size (I cut each roll into four pieces). Cut 2 to 3 diagonal slits in each piece. Place on rimmed baking sheet lined with non-stick aluminum foil. (See Tip 3)
- Brush with egg wash. Bake at 425° F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sausage is completely cooked. Cool 10 minutes before serving. Yield: 4 servings. (See Tip 4)
Chula’s Expert Tips
- If you can’t find ground pork, you can grind your own with pieces of Boston butt. Cut Boston butt into 1 to 1 ½-inches and process in food processor for 10 to 15 seconds. Add remaining sausage ingredients and proceed as above.
- If your ground pork is very lean (90% lean or above), you might want to add a tablespoon of butter to the sausage mixture. The finished sausage should have the consistency of a pâté and be very finely ground.
- You can make the sausage rolls ahead of time up to this point. Refrigerate if you’re going to cook them later in the day or freeze for up to one month. You can cook the sausage rolls frozen. Just add 5 minutes or so to the cooking time.
- Cooked sausage rolls can be refrigerated and reheated at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes.
Can you let the sausage mixture sit overnight in the fridge?
Absolutely! Generally, I make a batch of the sausage mixture, cover it with plastic wrap, and put it in the refrigerator until I’m ready to use it.
You have no idea how much I miss British sausage rolls. This recipe was spot on and delicious. The instructions were easy. I will be trying other Pudgefactor recipes. Thank you.
I’m so glad that you liked the sausage rolls. They are one of my favorites!
A real British sausage rolls recipe – thank you! I tried it without the hot sausage, added pepper; should have added more salt too. I went a bit too heavy on the meat, which wasn’t lean. Flattening the rolls cooked them through easier, they still puffed fine and the more balanced meat/pastry ratio tasted better. My aunt used to use milk “glaze” to restore flakiness on rolls out of the tin. Will be cooking these again!
What a good idea to use milk as the glaze! I use milk for cheese and onion pie. I’ll have to try it on the sausage rolls. So glad that you liked them!
Thank you so very much for sharing this recipe. I made these for our family’s lunch today and they all LOVED them. My husband is British and I’m always looking for recipes to create some of his favorites that can’t be bought here. I am so thankful to have found this on Pinterest. My husband and kids all said they tasted just like they came from a British bakery. That’s some pretty high praise.
Wow – Thanks for letting me know. My husband is British as well and loves these sausage rolls!
good morning
may i know what hot bulk sausage is please ?
Renato, bulk sausage is a prepared breakfast type sausage sold in the US. Since I posted the sausage rolls, I’ve started making my own sausage from just ground pork. To do this, I process the following in my food processor: 1 pound of ground pork, 1/2 cup of dry breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon of Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of dry sage, 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, dash of nutmeg, dash of mace, 1/3 cup of water. Process for 30 seconds. Cook a small amount in the microwave and correct the seasonings. Process for an additional 15 seconds. This makes incredible sausage rolls. I keep thinking that I need to update the post with this! Chula
I made these shortly after returning from Scotland and craving the sausage rolls we’d pick up in the pastry shops. These turned out great and have been a big hit with the family. I tried the bulk sausage mix the first go round, and the only thing I’d like to improve is the texture/consistency. The rolls we had in Scotland had sausage that was much softer, almost mushy. Any tips for achieving a softer sausage?
Adrienne, I totally get your craving for sausage rolls! Personally, I like the finer, “mushy” texture of the British sausage more than the granular texture of US sausages. I would suggest trying the other approach where I use 100% ground pork rather than the 50-50 blend. If I can’t find ground pork, I make my own by adding 1 to 2 inch pieces of pork butt that I’ve cut up to my food processor fitted with a steel blade and process away. In about a minute, I have ground pork that I add the rest of ingredients to. Once I have all of the ingredients in the food processor, I find that the longer I process the mixture, the finer it becomes. I generally process for around 1 minute. Chula
I’m a little confused…your original recipe calls for 1 1/2 lbs. sausage, and your “new revised” calls for only 1 lb, yet uses the same amount of the rest of the ingredients. Is 1 1/2 lbs too much meat for the rolls or does it matter? We had sausage rolls in England and loved them, so thought I’d give your recipe a try, but didn’t want to use too much meat if you found the 1 lb. was better. Thank you!
Ruth, after a lot of experimentation we actually prefer the revised recipe that uses 1 pound of ground pork. The ratio of the breadcrumbs to the meat in the revised recipe produces the very fine texture that we love about English sausage! I thought about replacing the original recipe with the revised recipe – maybe I should have done that!
Chula
Does it matter , homemade breadcrumbs or packet
Dale, I always use store-bought dry breadcrumbs.
Chula
Can these be made ahead of time and frozen? Then baked to order from frozen?
Cindy,
Yes, they can definitely be made ahead of time and frozen. In fact, that’s what I often do. I add about 10 minutes to the cooking time if they go into the oven frozen.
Chula
These are really delicious! Due to my obsession with the British Baking Show, I had seen them on there several times and had been wanting to try to make them. I like your suggestion of buying the premade puff pastry! I followed your “revised” recipe exactly (except I did not have any mace on hand) and the seasoning was perfect just like it was. These were so easy to make and very tasty! Thank you!
Hi Cathy!
I love to watch the British Baking Show as well! I’m so pleased that the sausage rolls turned out for you.
Chula