Grilled Sausage Grinders With Tomato (Printable)
Juicy grilled sausages in crusty rolls topped with smoky charred tomato sauce for a hearty summer sandwich.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 Italian sausages, mild or hot
→ Bread
02 - 4 hoagie rolls or grinder rolls
→ Vegetables
03 - 4 ripe tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, cut into thick rings
05 - 1 red bell pepper, seeded and quartered
06 - 2 garlic cloves, peeled
07 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish
→ Dairy
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Spices and Condiments
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# How To Make:
01 - Set an outdoor or stovetop grill to medium-high heat and allow it to reach full temperature.
02 - Brush the tomato halves, onion rings, bell pepper quarters, and garlic cloves generously with olive oil on all sides.
03 - Place the sausages on the hot grill and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and charred on the outside.
04 - While the sausages cook, grill the tomatoes cut side down along with the onion, bell pepper, and garlic for 5 to 7 minutes per side until softened and charred.
05 - Transfer the grilled tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and garlic to a food processor or blender. Add the dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes, and season with salt and black pepper. Pulse until a chunky sauce forms.
06 - Split the hoagie rolls open and place them face-down on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes until golden and lightly crisped.
07 - Place a grilled sausage on each toasted roll and spoon a generous amount of the grilled tomato sauce over the top. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
08 - Return the assembled grinders to the grill, close the lid, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
09 - Remove from the grill and serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The grilled tomato sauce is a total game changer and takes almost no extra effort since everything cooks alongside the sausages.
- It turns a basic cookout into something people will actually remember and ask for by name.
02 -
- Watch the rolls like a hawk when toasting because they go from golden to charcoal in what feels like thirty seconds flat.
- Letting the grilled vegetables cool for a few minutes before blending makes the sauce thicker and keeps it from becoming watery.
03 -
- Use tongs instead of a fork to turn sausages so you never puncture the casing and lose all that wonderful juice inside.
- A basting brush dipped in olive oil is the single most important tool for getting restaurant quality char on your vegetables.