Nothing says summer like flaky pastry and a perfectly seasoned sausage filling, packed and ready for a sunny picnic. Sausage rolls are the unsung heroes of outdoor feasts—easy to share, satisfying to eat, and impossible to resist.
But with so many on the shelves, how do you know which ones deserve a spot in your picnic basket? This guide rounds up the tastiest sausage rolls to make your next picnic spread the best one yet.
1. Ginger Pig’s Traditional Sausage Roll
Holy meatiness, Batman! The moment this beauty hits your tongue, you’ll understand why foodies make pilgrimages to Ginger Pig butchers. Their sausage rolls are architectural marvels of flaky, butter-rich pastry housing coarsely ground pork shoulder seasoned with secret herbs.
The meat-to-pastry ratio deserves a standing ovation – substantial enough to satisfy carnivores but balanced perfectly with the delicate crust. No soggy bottoms here, folks!
2. Marks & Spencer’s Luxury All-Butter Sausage Rolls
M&S didn’t come to play with these bougie meat parcels. Their all-butter pastry shatters dramatically with each bite, raining delicious crumbs everywhere (wear dark clothes, you’ve been warned).
Inside lurks properly seasoned British pork with a hint of sage and black pepper that’ll make your taste buds do a little happy dance. Unlike those anemic supermarket versions, these bad boys pack serious meat – no mysterious air pockets or questionable gray filling.
3. Greggs’ Famous Sausage Roll
Cult status achieved! Greggs’ iconic sausage rolls have spawned memes, dedicated fan accounts, and near-religious devotion across Britain. At just £1.20, these humble handheld wonders deliver a crisp, 24-layer pastry jacket around mysteriously addictive seasoned meat that’s somehow both familiar and impossible to replicate.
The genius lies in their consistency – whether you’re in Newcastle or Newquay, that first bite delivers the same savory satisfaction. They’re served at the perfect not-quite-scalding temperature for immediate consumption.
4. Waitrose Duchy Organic Pork Sausage Rolls
Fancy pants alert! These royal-approved meat tubes (literally – they’re Prince Charles’ brand) justify their higher price tag with organic pork from happy pigs who probably had better living conditions than most humans.
The pastry achieves that mythical balance between robust enough to hold together yet delicate enough to melt away. Seasoning is subtle but sophisticated – think white pepper, sage, and a whisper of nutmeg that makes you feel posh just by association.
5. Sausage Roll from The Ginger Pig Butcher
Absolute units! These heavyweight champions from London’s elite butchery empire weigh in at what feels like a pound each. One could reasonably serve as lunch, not just a snack. The pastry? Butter-laden magic that shatters spectacularly, creating a mess worth every crumb.
Inside hides coarsely ground, properly seasoned pork shoulder that actually tastes like… wait for it… real meat! Revolutionary concept, I know. The secret weapon is their mysterious blend of herbs and spices that would make Colonel Sanders weep with inadequacy.
6. Morrisons The Best Outdoor Bred Pork Sausage Rolls
Supermarket sausage rolls that don’t taste like cardboard wrapped around mystery meat? Believe it! Morrisons’ premium range pulls off a minor miracle with these surprisingly excellent pastries that punch well above their weight class.
The pastry actually tastes like it contains butter, while the meat filling has visible herbs and a texture suggesting it once belonged to an actual pig. They’ve nailed that elusive crisp-yet-yielding texture that cheaper versions hopelessly attempt to mimic.
7. Fortnum & Mason’s Handmade Pork & Herb Sausage Rolls
Royalty in pastry form! F&M’s sausage rolls cost more than some people’s hourly wage, but one bite explains why. These aren’t just snacks; they’re edible status symbols wrapped in pastry so buttery it should come with a cardiologist’s business card.
The filling features heritage-breed pork mixed with hand-chopped herbs and a splash of something boozy (possibly brandy). Each bite delivers a perfect textural symphony – the shattering crunch of pastry giving way to savory, herb-flecked meat that makes regular sausage rolls taste like sad cafeteria food.
8. Aldi’s Specially Selected Hand Finished Sausage Rolls
Budget supermarket, bougie results! Aldi’s premium sausage rolls perform black magic by tasting twice as expensive as they actually are. The pastry achieves that perfect shattery-yet-substantial texture that usually requires a second mortgage to afford.
Inside lurks properly seasoned British pork with visible herbs and a perfect meat-to-pastry ratio. No mysterious gray filling or suspicious air pockets here! They’ve somehow eliminated the greasy puddle that typically forms under cheaper offerings.
9. Lidl Deluxe Outdoor Bred Pork Sausage Rolls
Bargain hunters, rejoice! Lidl’s posh sausage rolls deliver champagne taste on a lemonade budget. These unassuming pastry parcels hide a filling that’s actually identifiable as real pork – not the mysterious meat paste found in cheaper alternatives.
The pastry achieves that elusive golden crispness without collapsing into a million crumbs the moment your teeth make contact. Each bite delivers a perfect harmony of buttery crust and savory filling that’s generously seasoned with black pepper and herbs.
10. Pieminister’s The Mighty Sausage Roll
Absolute unit alert! Pieminister’s monster creation is the heavyweight champion of the sausage roll world – practically a meal disguised as a snack. Their free-range pork filling comes mixed with caramelized onions and a hint of wholegrain mustard that’ll make your taste buds stand at attention.
The pastry deserves its own Instagram account – golden, flaky layers that shatter dramatically with each bite. Unlike those pathetic pencil-thin versions elsewhere, these beefy boys have serious heft and proper meat distribution throughout.
11. PAUL Bakery’s French-Inspired Sausage Roll
Ooh la la! The French aren’t typically known for sausage rolls, but PAUL’s version shows they should be. Their twist on this British classic involves impossibly flaky all-butter pastry that creates more crumbs than a toddler eating crackers.
The filling screams sophistication – herby pork with hints of garlic and thyme that would make your standard sausage roll hang its head in shame. Each one is hand-rolled and slightly irregular, proving its artisanal credentials.
12. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Outdoor Bred Pork Sausage Rolls
Supermarket sausage rolls usually inspire the enthusiasm of filing taxes, but Sainsbury’s premium offering is the exception. These surprisingly excellent meat tubes feature all-butter pastry that actually tastes like… wait for it… butter! Revolutionary concept.
The pork filling contains visible herbs and seasoning that suggests a human was involved in its creation, not just a factory machine. Each bite delivers a satisfying ratio of meat to pastry without the suspicious air pockets or gray mystery zones found in lesser rolls.
13. Gail’s Bakery Sausage Roll
Hipster bakery alert! Gail’s sausage rolls cost approximately the same as a small car payment, but they’re worth every penny of financial ruin. These artisanal beauties feature hand-laminated pastry with visible butter layers that shatter like your diet willpower.
The filling is coarsely ground outdoor-bred pork mixed with fennel seeds, sage, and a whisper of nutmeg that elevates it from mere snack to culinary experience. Each roll is hand-formed, resulting in those coveted imperfections that scream “artisanal” and justify the £4.50 price tag.
14. Co-op Irresistible Outdoor Bred Pork Sausage Rolls
Surprise contender alert! Co-op’s premium sausage rolls have no business being this good. While you’re popping in for milk and toilet paper, these unassuming pastry parcels are quietly outperforming competitors twice their price.
The pastry hits that sweet spot between robust enough to hold together yet delicate enough to flake dramatically. Inside, properly seasoned British pork studded with herbs creates a filling that actually tastes like meat from an animal, not a laboratory.
15. ASDA Extra Special Outdoor Bred Pork Sausage Rolls
Budget supermarket, bougie taste! ASDA’s premium range performs sorcery with these sausage rolls that taste like they should cost twice as much. The pastry shatters satisfyingly with each bite, creating the mess that separates great sausage rolls from merely adequate ones.
Inside lurks properly seasoned British pork with visible herbs and a texture suggesting actual meat, not the mysterious pink substance found in cheaper alternatives. The meat-to-pastry ratio hits that sweet spot – substantial filling without overwhelming the delicate crust.