Directions
- Preheat your pellet grill to 225°F. Choose wood pellets that complement the flavor of the sausage; hickory, apple, or pecan work well.
- While the grill is preheating, prepare the rope sausage by removing any packaging and opening the casing. You can leave the sausage whole, cut into smaller pieces, or butterfly cut them. Optional: place cut sausage pieces into a cast iron skillet to braise.
- Once the pellet grill is preheated, place the prepared rope sausage directly on the grill grate, cut side up. Arrange the sausage pieces evenly, leaving space between them for the smoke to circulate. If using a cast iron, place it near the center of the grill to heat the pan through.
- Close the lid of the pellet grill and let the sausage smoke at 225°F for approximately 1 to 2 hours, depending on the thickness of the sausage and the level of smokiness you desire. Rotate the sausage halfway through the smoking process for even cooking.
- While smoking, mix melted butter with BBQ rub and brush onto the sausage every 15 minutes.
- After 1 to 2 hours, check the internal temperature of the sausage using a meat thermometer. The sausage should reach an internal temperature of 165-170°F.
- Lightly brush the sausages with BBQ sauce and leave on grill for 5 minutes.
- Once the sausage reaches the desired internal temperature, carefully remove it from the pellet grill and transfer it to a serving platter. Let the sausage rest for a few minutes before serving.
