Ravens Tailgate Recipe: Italian Sausage Burgers Topped With Tomato Sauce and Sautéed Onions and Peppers

Can you believe it?  Ravens tailgating season is almost here!  I wanted to post a really simple tailgate recipe that doesn't require too much grill mastery.   I mean it's been more than half a year since we've been grilling at the M+T Bank parking lot, some of us may be a bit rusty!  Don't be discouraged, however.  While this is easy, it is really a fantastic tailgate.  Italian sausage burger patties topped with provolone cheese, tomato sauce and sautéed onions and peppers!  Here's how:

Ingredients (for 6 burgers):

• Italian Sausage Burger Patties (look in your frozen food section, Johnsonville and Wegmans sell a box of 6)
• Hamburger Rolls (pack of 6 at least)
• Any pre-made tomato or marinara sauce (about 2 jars)
• Sweet onions or Vidalia Onions (2 large sized onions)
• Red peppers, green peppers, and/or yellow peppers (about 6 total)
• Olive oil (for sautéing the onions and peppers)
• Six slices of provolone cheese

A few hours before you head out to the parking lot slice your onions and peppers. Put a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and set the stovetop to medium high heat. Then toss in the peppers and onions. Stir the mix quite a bit to ensure that everything softens and browns nicely.   After the onions and peppers are finished place them into an aluminum tin and pour the tomato sauce in.  Mix everything up.  These are ready for transport to the stadium. 

You may be confused at the term "sausage burger patty."  Well, imagine an Italian sausage that is shaped like a hamburger.  You can eat it on a hamburger bun and grill it just like a hamburger.  It's pretty cool and provides a bit of intrigue at your tailgate.   These patties are fairly easy to grill. Medium or medium low heat is recommended (that's about being able to hold your hand 3-5 seconds one inch over the hot grill). They take about 5-10 minutes per side, if frozen.

Once you get to the stadium get that medium/medium low heat going.  Place the aluminum tin full of onions and peppers and tomato sauce on the grill and get it bubbling.  Put the frozen sausage patties right on the grill.  Keep the heat no more than medium and flip them after 5-10 min.  Melt the provolone cheese on top (keep your grill dome closed to melt the cheese well).

Grab the hamburger buns, put a warm Italian sausage burger on the bun and top with the sautéed onions/peppers.  Add some extra tomato sauce while you're at it!

For something easy like this I'll serve these burgers along with some kettle chips.  Let's go Ravens!

John is the author of the internet food blog http://www.grilling24x7.com. Check out more grilling recipes and tips at http://www.grilling24x7.com and follow John on Twitter at http://twitter.com/grilling24x7.