Homemade sausage rolls are the perfect appetizer or dinner with their savory sausage filling and flaky puff pastry. The flavors of the Worcestershire sauce, the buttery puff pastry, and the spiced, meaty ground sausage will satisfy every taste bud.

You can have them hot or cold, and they will always be delicious. You no longer need to go to the United Kingdom to try them yourself. Here are some tips and information on how to make sausage rolls.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients & Tools

Sausage roll ingredients prepped on wooden table.

1 pound ground Italian pork sausage meat
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, grated
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup parsley, finely chopped
1 egg
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
pepper
2 - 8 ounce sheets puff pastry, thawed
+ 1 beaten egg, to brush the pastry with
sesame seeds

sheet pan
pastry brush

Step 2: Preheat Oven & Combine Sausage Mix

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Combine sausage meat, onion, carrot, garlic and parsley in a large bowl.

Step 3: Add Egg & Breadcrumbs

Sausage roll filling in small bowl with beaten egg.

Add 1 egg, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, breadcrumbs and a bit of freshly ground black pepper. Mix until combined.

Step 4: Lay Puff Pastry Out

Lay the puff pastry sheets out on the parchment paper.

Step 5: Add Filling

Puff pastry with sausage filling in the center.

Spread filling out evenly and tightly in the middle of both pastry sheets.

Step 6: Roll Up the Pastry

Roll the puff pastry up around the sausage mixture and close the edges of the roll, brushing with a bit of beaten egg to help seal it.

Step 7: Brush With Egg

Unbaked sausage roll and pastry brush on baking sheet.

Transfer the rolls with the parchment to a baking sheet. Carefully turn the rolls over so the seam is on the bottom. Brush with beaten egg on top.

Step 8: Sprinkle With Sesame Seeds

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of the pastry.

Step 9: Bake the Sausage Rolls

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and the meat is cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.

Step 10: Rest & Slice the Sausage Rolls

Let them rest for a few minutes out of the oven. Cut each roll into 6 pieces and enjoy as an appetizer/snack! Or you can cut the rolls into 2 pieces each to make this dish a full meal.

Sausage rolls with a fork, dipping sauce and cilantro.

Sausage Roll Origins

Sausage rolls can be traced back to Roman times, but the sausage roll known today supposedly originated in 19th century France. It became popular in London with pork sausage and is now known as an English dish. Greggs, a bakery chain in the United Kingdom, specializes in sausage rolls as well as other savory products.

Tweaks & Tips

Pork is delicious and flavorful, but maybe you or someone you know cannot handle the high fat in pork. For a healthier alternative, I recommend seasoned ground turkey or chicken sausage. They are lower in fat, easy to handle, and a healthier meat. Bison is also a leaner meat that tastes a lot like beef. Just remove the casings of whatever sausages you choose.

One of the ingredients, parsley, is a great herb to add because of its fresh and mild bitter taste. But when you chop it too much or unevenly, it ends up on the cutting board more than in your food. To chop parsley well, make sure to have a sharp knife. Take a small amount from the large bunch and chop them in a rocking motion (up and down) until you get to the end of the leaves. It is recommended to save the leafless parts for stocks.

What to Serve Them With

Sausage rolls are sometimes paired with sauces or dips like ketchup, honey mustard, cheese dip, HP sauce, garlic aioli, BBQ sauce and chipotle sauce. This is an easy way to change up flavors and let everyone pick their favorite.
They also pair well with a lot of beverages. Beer is the most popular, but a wine such as Riesling or a grape juice for the non-drinkers works just as well.
As for side dishes, you can try roasted or grilled vegetables, potato salad, coleslaw or green beans.

Storage & Reheating

The cooked sausage rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat them in the oven at 350ºF for best results or you can use a microwave.
The rolls can be frozen before they are baked and after. Heat them from frozen in the oven.