How to Grill Linguiça (Brazilian Sausage) So It Stays Juicy
Linguiça is the first thing on the grill at almost every Brazilian churrasco. It's simple, but it's easy to ruin with too much heat. Here's how to cook it so it comes off browned outside and juicy inside.
What linguiça is
Linguiça is a Portuguese and Brazilian pork sausage seasoned with garlic, salt and spices. There are two main styles:
- Fresh (like linguiça toscana or house-made linguiça): raw pork that must be cooked through. This is the churrasco classic.
- Smoked and cured (like calabresa): already cooked, used sliced in feijoada, farofa and pizza.
Our linguiça caseira is made in-house and sold fresh. Look for it in the case with our other ready-to-cook seasoned meats.
How to grill it
- Medium heat, not high. Set up the grill with a hot side and a cooler side. Linguiça has a lot of fat; over high heat it bursts and flares before the center is cooked.
- Don't prick it. Piercing the casing lets the juices run out.
- Start on the cooler side with the lid closed for 12 to 15 minutes, turning every few minutes.
- Finish over the heat for 2 to 4 minutes to brown and crisp the casing.
- Check the center: fresh pork sausage is done at 160 °F.
Pan and oven methods
- Pan: put the links in a skillet with ¼ inch of water, cover and simmer for 8 minutes, then uncover and brown in their own fat for 5 more minutes.
- Oven or air fryer: 400 °F for 20 to 25 minutes in the oven (12 to 15 in an air fryer), turning once.
Linguiça with onions (linguiça acebolada)
Ingredients
- 1½ lb fresh linguiça
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- Lime wedges, to serve
Instructions
- Put the linguiça in a large skillet with the water. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 8 minutes, turning once.
- Uncover and let the water cook off. Brown the links in their own fat, turning, for about 5 minutes, until the center reaches 160 °F.
- Move the linguiça to a board and slice it into bite-size rounds.
- Add the oil and onions to the same skillet with a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until soft and golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Return the linguiça to the pan and toss with the onions for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot with lime wedges and toothpicks.
How to serve linguiça
- Sliced on a board with toothpicks as the first round of a churrasco.
- In a crusty roll with vinagrete, Brazilian-style "pão com linguiça".
- With rice, beans and farofa for a quick dinner.
Planning a party? Count linguiça as part of the total in our meat-per-person table.
Quick answers
What is linguiça?
A Portuguese and Brazilian pork sausage seasoned with garlic and spices. Fresh linguiça must be cooked through; smoked styles like calabresa are already cooked.
How long do you grill linguiça?
About 15 to 20 minutes over medium, indirect heat with the lid closed, then 2 to 4 minutes over direct heat to brown, until it reaches 160 °F inside.
Where can I buy linguiça near Davenport, FL?
Costa's Meat Market at 2169 Davenport Blvd makes linguiça caseira in-house. Call (863) 422-2313 to check today's batch.
Shop the counter at Costa's
2169 Davenport Blvd, Davenport, FL, in Webb's Town Center. Open Mon–Sat 8 am–8 pm and Sun 8 am–5 pm. Order online for pickup, call for custom cuts, or join the WhatsApp group for weekly specials.
