Sausage Sizzle: What It Is and How to Make One at Home

What is a sausage sizzle?

A sausage sizzle is a grilled or barbecued sausage served in bread. Beef and pork are common choices. Grilled onions and condiments such as tomato sauce, barbecue sauce or mustard are also familiar additions. In Western Australia, a hot dog roll may be used; elsewhere, it is often a slice of white sandwich bread. ¹

The phrase can mean the food or the barbecue event. Community groups, charities, schools and sports clubs often host these events to raise funds. ¹

Why are people making sausage sizzles now?

Recent headlines have put this familiar food back in view for several different reasons. In New Zealand, Bunnings said its fundraising sausage price would rise from $2.50 to $3 on November 14, while the drink price would stay the same. The company said the change was intended to help community groups raise money amid higher operating costs. ³

In Australia, a November 10 report described a projection that a Bunnings sausage could cost about $5.20 by 2036 if food prices continued rising at their recent rate. That figure is a projection, not a confirmed future price. ²

There is also a spectacle angle: a video report says creators Max Fosh and I Did A Thing used a homemade jet engine as a barbecue, charring four sausages in 32 seconds. That unusual stunt is not a reason to try the setup at home. ⁴ Sausage sizzles are already well known as weekend fundraisers and, in Australia, as a food associated with election polling places. ¹

How do you make a simple sausage sizzle at home?

This is a simple home version, not a particular person’s or business’s recipe. Cooks vary the bread, sausage and toppings.

• 4 sausages, such as beef or pork
• 4 slices of white bread or 4 small rolls
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon cooking oil
• Tomato sauce, barbecue sauce or mustard, to serve

What are the steps for making it?

Follow these simple steps using an ordinary frying pan or barbecue; no special equipment is needed.

• 1. Warm a frying pan over medium heat. Add the oil and onion, and cook, stirring now and then, until softened and lightly browned. Set aside.
• 2. Cook the sausages in the pan or on a barbecue, turning them so they brown evenly. Follow the package instructions and make sure they are cooked through.
• 3. Put each hot sausage on a slice of bread or in a roll. Add onions and sauce, then serve while hot.

What swaps, tips and food-safety points should I know?

Use rolls instead of sliced bread, or choose a sauce you prefer. Some sausage sizzles offer other bread options, and some events have vegetarian or gluten-free choices, though those options are not always available. ¹ At home, check package labels for allergens and choose ingredients that suit the people eating.

Keep raw meat separate from bread and ready-to-eat toppings. Wash hands and utensils after handling raw sausage. Cook sausages until hot all the way through and follow the package guidance; do not rely on the jet-engine stunt as a cooking method. ⁴