Description
Nana’s Sausage Bread is a comforting homemade dish featuring savory ground sausage wrapped in soft, golden, fluffy bread. This recipe combines simple ingredients with easy preparation steps to create a versatile comfort food perfect for any meal or occasion. With customizable options and great flavor balance, it’s an inviting, hearty treat that warms the kitchen and the soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
Sausage Filling
- 1 pound ground sausage (your choice of variety)
- Optional herbs and spices: 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
Finishing
- 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Warm the milk and melt the butter. In a small bowl, mix the warm milk with yeast and sugar, stirring lightly and letting it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture, melted butter, and eggs to the dry ingredients. Knead the dough on a floured surface or in a stand mixer until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Cook the Sausage Filling: While the dough rises, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground sausage and cook, breaking it into small crumbles until browned and fully cooked, roughly 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat. Stir in optional garlic powder, parsley, or red pepper flakes if desired. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- Assemble the Bread: Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle approximately 12×18 inches. Evenly spread the cooked sausage across the dough, leaving about a ½ inch border around the edges free. Carefully roll the dough tightly from one long side to the other into a log shape. Pinch the edges and seams tightly to seal the filling inside. Place the roll seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Final Rise and Bake: Cover the assembled sausage bread with a clean towel and allow it to rise for an additional 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush the top of the bread lightly with the beaten egg to create a glossy finish. Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the bread is cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and transfer to a wire rack. Let it cool slightly, about 10-15 minutes, before slicing. This resting period helps the flavors to meld and prevents the sausage filling from spilling out during cutting.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to help yeast activate better and produce a softer, lighter dough.
- Do not overfill the bread with sausage to avoid bursting during baking.
- Seal the dough edges tightly to keep the filling contained.
- Allow the dough to rise fully for a fluffier texture.
- Using a baking stone or steel can create a crisper crust and more even bake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/10 of bread)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: sausage bread, comfort food, homemade bread, savory bread, party appetizer, breakfast bread, sausage roll
