We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Store-Bought Sausages, and They All Said the Same Thing

“Sausages are such an underrated food,” says my chef dad (I come from a family of chefs and restaurant owners). “They are usually already seasoned, so all you need to do is heat or grill them and you’ve basically got lunch or dinner.” 

With so many different links out there, I asked a few of my favorite chef friends to share their favorite sausages. Their unanimous pick? Chorizo. 

My dad is a longtime chef, and he grew up in my family’s first Thai restaurant, Siam Gourmet (now Peppermint Thai), and he’s serious about meat. He’s the type of guy who is grilling year-round, and one of his favorite things to grill are sausages — more specifically, chorizo. It’s a “cheat code” when it comes to “easy” cooking, in part because “it makes everything a billion times more delicious.” 

The world of sausages is vast. There are all kinds of regional and international types and flavors, and even in just chorizo there’s both Mexican-style chorizo sausage that comes fresh and easily crumble-able, and Spanish-style that’s cured (and often smoked). Amelia Rampe, long-time food editor (formerly at The Kitchn!), food stylist, and former chef at ABC Kitchen, likes both — for different reasons. “Spanish-style chorizo I love for hosting. I’ll put it on a charcuterie board,” she says. “I love Mexican-style chorizo for tacos, breakfast burritos, chilaquiles, hashes, and more.” She’s also a fan of Cacique Pork Chorizo.

After chatting with the first two chefs, I wasn’t entirely surprised when Cheri Renee, chef and author of I Love My Blackstone Griddle Cookbook, dubbed Cacique Pork Chorizo as her favorite, too. “I love cooking with Cacique chorizo sausage. It has the perfect amount of flavor and is easy to cook on the griddle for tacos or chorizo and potatoes.”

Buy: Cacique Pork Chorizo, $1.89 for 9 ounces at Target

Are you a fan of Cacique chorizo too? Tell us about it in the comments below.