Chorizo’s distinctive spice is enough to brighten up any meal, from tacos to a breakfast potato hash. But it can be tricky to cook this delicious type of sausage to perfection. This guide will walk you through three effective tips for how to cook chorizo sausage, then give you some advice for making your chorizo stand out. Keep reading to master the art of chorizo cooking.
3 Methods for Cooking Chorizo
While there are multiple ways to cook chorizo, grilling, broiling and pan-frying are three of the best ways to ensure a tasty, flavorful outcome. Whether you’re whipping up a quick weeknight dinner for your family or preparing a cookout feast for a larger group, these three cooking methods are sure to get you a delicious, golden brown chorizo sausage that will wow anyone you’re serving.
No matter which method you choose, remember to always cook your chorizo to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a meat thermometer to check for this.
1. Grilling
If you enjoy cooking outdoors, grilling chorizo sausage is an ideal way to get some fresh air while giving the chorizo a smoky flavor. Follow these five simple steps to achieve perfectly grilled chorizo.
- Preheat your grill: For a gas grill, turn the burners to high heat. If you’re using a charcoal grill for extra smoky flavor, fill a chimney with briquettes and light them until they become hot with a light covering of ash. Then, transfer the hot briquettes to the bottom grill grate and set the top grill grate on the grill.
- Place the chorizo: Once the grill is hot, put your chorizo on the grill. Space the links out evenly, leaving about an inch between them, to promote good air circulation and allow them to cook more evenly.
- Trap the heat: Keep the grill hot by putting its lid over the evenly spaced chorizo links.
- Cook through: How long should you cook chorizo? Grill the chorizo links until they reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which typically takes about 15-20 minutes. Use tongs to rotate the sausages every few minutes, so they become an appealing golden brown shade on all sides. Check that the chorizo has reached the proper temperature before removing it from the grill by inserting a meat thermometer into one of the links.
- Let the chorizo rest: After you’ve finished grilling your chorizo, place it on a cutting board or plate to rest for a few minutes before serving. As the chorizo links rest, cover them with aluminum foil to keep them warm and encourage the juices to redistribute within the meat. Once the chorizo has finished resting, serve it up and enjoy!
2. Broiling
Broiling chorizo in the oven is an easy way to expose the links to high, direct heat while locking in their flavor. If you’re looking for a way to cook chorizo without having to monitor it continually, try these three steps to broiling.
- Preheat the oven: Get your oven ready to broil by turning on its broiling setting and waiting for it to heat up.
- Put the links on the broiler rack: Place the chorizo on the broiler rack at least seven to nine inches below the heating element.
- Broil the links: Broil the chorizo in the oven for about 13 to 15 minutes on each side, until the meat is golden brown all the way around and 160 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside. Remove the chorizo from the oven and dig in!
3. Pan-Frying
If you want to sear, slice or cook your chorizo like ground beef, the stovetop is your new best friend. On days when it’s too chilly to fire up the grill, follow these easy steps for cooking chorizo sausage in a pan.
- Heat a pan: Place a pan over medium heat. Cooking chorizo slowly over low heat will allow its flavors to fully develop, but medium heat works almost as well if you’re in a time crunch. Avoid using high heat, because it will burn the chorizo links without fully cooking them through.
- Add water and chorizo: Once the pan is hot, put six tablespoons of water in the pan along with the chorizo links.
- Cover and cook: Put a lid over the pan and allow the chorizo links to cook for about 10-12 minutes, turning them frequently.
- Remove cover and keep cooking: Take off the lid and continue cooking the chorizo for an additional five to seven minutes or until golden brown.
- Plate the links: Check that the chorizo has reached 160 degrees Fahrenheit before removing the sautéed chorizo links from the pan and preparing them to serve. Bon appetit!
5 Tips for Cooking Chorizo
Check out these five tips for taking your chorizo cooking to the next level.
1. Skip the Boiling Step
Though chefs often boil fresh sausage before grilling it, boiling chorizo can detract from its flavor. Because fat melts out of chorizo as it boils, boiling chorizo will leave you with dry, tasteless meat. Instead of pre-boiling your chorizo, rotate the links frequently as they grill to ensure they cook thoroughly.
2. Saute Some Slices
If you want thin, crispy pieces of meat, try slicing your chorizo into rounds and sauteing them on the stovetop. Cut your large chorizo link into about half-inch-thick slices, then heat them in a skillet until the rounds are firm. Make sure you use a serrated knife when slicing the chorizo, so the meat doesn’t squirt out of its casing as you cut it.
3. Crumble the Chorizo
For a meat texture similar to ground beef, try removing your fresh chorizo from its casing to crumble and fry it. Start by cutting a thin, lengthwise slit across the chorizo link, then squeeze the meat inside into a pan. As you cook the chorizo, it will break apart similar to ground meat and produce grease. Consistently stir the chorizo until it has fully cooked, and drain any excess fat at the end of the cooking process.
4. Get Creative in the Kitchen
Of course, a chorizo link in a bun makes for a delicious meal, but there are many other serving styles for you to discover. Try searching for new chorizo recipes to spice up your cooking and impress your family. Who knows — smashed potato salad with chorizo or crabby chorizo quesadillas might become new household staples for you!
5. Cook With High-Quality Chorizo
To get the most out of your chorizo, you’ll need to make sure it is high-quality meat. When you get your chorizo from a reputable brand like Premio, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing there are no fillers in your sausages. You will taste the difference by cooking with Premio chorizo links made without artificial flavor. Bring Premio to your table to instantly elevate any chorizo dish.
Find Premio Chorizo in a Store Near You
Get cooking with top-notch chorizo by locating the Premio carrier closest to you. As a family-owned business that values quality, Premio is proud to offer a choice of over 40 fine sausages, including chorizo. At Premio, our top two priorities are our customers and making fresh, flavorful and filler-free sausage — the way it should be!