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The best sausages for BBQ season, from hot links to cheese dogs
Including classic and spicy, these are the best bangers for your grill
Tested by Georgia TurnellGHI Food & Drink Tester
We think the sizzle of hot sausages on the BBQ is one of those quintessential summer sounds (and the smell is even better). We love packing ours into buns with all our favourite sauces, grilled onions and toppings.
So, in our quest to bring you all the best BBQ food this summer, our tasting panel at the Good Housekeeping Institute has been busy tasting a range of sausages, from classic to flavoured. We’ve also spotted plenty of inspiration taken from Texan BBQ, a nod to the World Cup frenzy set to take over our summer. These are the best bangers for your buck.
Best sausages to buy in 2026
This year’s line-up included everything from spicy chorizo options to cheese-infused creations, alongside crowd-pleasing classic bangers and spicy lamb links.
- 1
Best overall and best value sausage
Aldi Specially Selected Caramelised Onion and Vintage Cheddar Ultimate Sausages 454g
Read review - 2
- 3
- 4
Best spicy sausage
Tesco Finest BBQ Pork, Arrabiata, Roasted Peppers & Burrata Sausage 440g
Read review - 5
How we test sausages
Our tasting panel sampled 17 sausages to find the best. They were looking for richly flavoured pork, lamb or beef with a natural grassy, slightly sweet flavour and a good level of seasoning. Where flavours or additional ingredients had been added, these needed to be well-integrated and complement the natural flavour of the meat.
Aldi Specially Selected Caramelised Onion and Vintage Cheddar Ultimate Sausages 454g
Aldi Specially Selected Caramelised Onion and Vintage Cheddar Ultimate Sausages 454g
Score: 89/100
This full-flavoured banger is packed with cheese and caramelised onion. It’s super juicy and testers thought it would be perfect in a hot dog bun with extra onions. A winner for both kids and adults.
The Jolly Hog Proper Porker Sausages 400g
The Jolly Hog Proper Porker Sausages 400g
Score: 88/100
The Jolly Hog has kept things classic with this well-seasoned pork sausage. Panellists praised the balance – one said it was “exactly what you want from a classic sausage.”
Unearthed Bavarian Frankfurters Hot Dogs 200g
Unearthed Bavarian Frankfurters Hot Dogs 200g
Score: 85/100
If you’re looking for a “proper” hot dog, call off the search. These authentic frankfurters are the real deal, with a well-balanced smoky flavour and bouncy bite. They’re also a favourite of Nigella’s apparently, and if it’s good enough for the domestic goddess... Just don’t cook them in the meecro-wah-vay.
Tesco Finest BBQ Pork, Arrabiata, Roasted Peppers & Burrata Sausage 440g
Tesco Finest BBQ Pork, Arrabiata, Roasted Peppers & Burrata Sausage 440g
Score: 82/100
Tesco’s super-sized spicy sausages also have a cheesy twist, although it’s more subtle than our winning bangers. Roasted yellow pepper, chilli and paprika complement the juicy pork, delivering a lingering heat. Serve in a bun with plenty of ketchup for a hot dog that leaves a lasting impression.
Exceptional by ASDA Pork & Beef Texan Style Hot Dogs 360g
Exceptional by ASDA Pork & Beef Texan Style Hot Dogs 360g
Score: 81/100
A staple of Texan BBQs, hot links are known for their punchy spice – and ASDA gets the balance just right. Combining cherrywood-smoked pork with Aberdeen Angus beef, this is another standout sausage that brings the heat, with testers calling it “really delicious.”
London Smoke & Cure Hand-Linked Free Range Maple & Bacon Sausages 700g
London Smoke & Cure Hand-Linked Free Range Maple & Bacon Sausages 700g
Score: 81/100
London Smoke & Cure may be a small outfit, but its expertise in creating quality produce – from smoked salmon to sausages – is evident in every bite. This classic pork link pairs sweet maple syrup with salty, smoky bacon to make an even better banger. Outrageously oversized with a coarse, rustic texture, it’s best piled high with fried onions or served alongside potato salad.
Riverford Organic Lamb & Mint Sausages 400g
Riverford Organic Lamb & Mint Sausages 400g
Score: 80/100
Made with organic lamb mince and seasoned with mint, Riverford’s organic offering is a winning combination, providing a fresh take on the classic BBQ banger. Rich and well-seasoned, several testers described it as a “nice, meaty sausage”, with a convincingly homemade texture.
Morrisons Limited Edition Signature Lamb Merguez Sausages 275g
Score: 77/100
Every great cook-out should feature an excellent merguez sausage, and these lamb supermarket bangers are wonderfully full-flavoured. Lightly spiced, with plenty of garlic and paprika, we’d serve them on warm flatbread, with pickles and plenty of salad.
Iceland Iceland Chorizo Style Sausage Swirls 480g
Iceland Iceland Chorizo Style Sausage Swirls 480g
Score: 75/100
Iceland has upped the stakes with this full-flavoured, chorizo-style sausage. Bold and spicy, with notes of garlic, chilli and smoky paprika, these swirls would make an excellent centrepiece alongside a generous helping of cooling slaw.
Waitrose No.1 BBQ British Pork & Wagyu Beef Hot Links Sausages 400g
Waitrose No.1 BBQ British Pork & Wagyu Beef Hot Links Sausages 400g
Score: 73/100
Think wagyu is just for burgers and steaks? Think again. Here, it’s put to excellent use in an aromatic sausage inspired by Texan BBQ. Blended with classic British pork and an “interesting mix of spices” – think chilli, coriander, ginger, nutmeg and paprika – it’s deliciously complex. Serve in buns with cheese, pickles, and a side of potato salad.
M&S Collection Lamb Chipolatas with Rosemary & Garlic 240g
M&S Collection Lamb Chipolatas with Rosemary & Garlic 240g
Score: 72/100
Described as “a roast dinner in sausage form”, these lamb chipolatas are flavoured with rosemary and powerful garlic. While a little oily, the sausage is moist, deliciously chewy and smells amazing. Serve with a dollop of tzatziki on the side.
These also passed...
- Co-op Irresistible Chorizo Style Sausages, £3.65 for 400g
- The Green Butcher Pork Sausages with Chilli & Fennel, £9.35 for 400g
- Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Hot Honey Pork Sausages, £3.25 for 400g
- The Ginger Pig Scotch Bonnet, Honey & Coriander, £13.83 for 750g
Read on for more Taste Approved treats
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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