Tennessee has a way of turning a simple butcher counter into a road trip destination, and smoked sausage is often the reason. Across the state, small meat markets and family shops are still smoking their own links, curing their own meats, and building followings that stretch well past the county line.
Some of these places double as sit-down eateries, others are strictly grab-and-go, but all of them share one thing: sausage worth planning a drive around. Below are seven spots, from the Smoky Mountain foothills to Memphis, that give you a real reason to fill a cooler and hit the road.
Bring an appetite and maybe an empty freezer.
1. Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams & Bacon, Madisonville, TN
Plenty of people drive right past this spot on their way to Gatlinburg and the Smokies for years before they finally pull over. Once they do, they tend to come back.
Benton’s has built its name on getting the smoke exactly right, whether it lands on bacon, country ham, or sausage. The country pork sausage and smoked bulk sausage are longtime favorites alongside the bacon that put the shop on the map.
Google Maps sums it up as a popular bacon provider that also sells country ham, sausage, and other smoked meats. The service tends to run friendly and quick, which suits a stop you can make while passing through.
The shop sits at 2603 US-411 in Madisonville and keeps simple hours, open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM and closed Sunday. Plan on in-store pickup only, since there is no delivery, and note the paid parking lot.
If you are headed east toward the mountains, this is an easy detour that pays off in your cooler.
2. Shaffer Farms Custom Meat, Summertown, TN
Twenty-two to twenty-four hours. That is how long the meats here spend in the smoke, and it shows up in the deep smoke lines and thick bark on every cut.
Shaffer Farms is a butcher shop with an attached eatery, so you can shop the counter or sit down and eat. The lineup leans into Texas BBQ favorites like marbled brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and, of course, that sausage.
Counter service keeps things casual, and the menu runs from lunch and dinner plates to dessert and coffee. It is a solid stop for solo diners, groups, and families, with indoor seating and outdoor seating both available.
You will find it at 4 Vaughn Staggs Rd in Summertown, open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and closed Sunday. Reservations are not accepted and there is usually a wait, especially Saturday afternoon, but parking is free and plentiful.
Meals land in the $10 to $20 range per person, which makes the drive out here easy math.
3. TN Craft Butcher, Murfreesboro, TN
Where else can you grab a hand-cut steak, a couple of brats, and a smoked meatloaf under one roof? TN Craft Butcher covers a lot of ground for one counter.
Google Maps calls it a butcher shop offering an array of hand-cut meats, including exotics. The real draw for sausage fans is the homemade selection, with several choices of brats and sausage plus smoked hot fresh food ready to go.
People who take butchery seriously in Middle Tennessee tend to rank the steaks and homemade sausage here near the top. You will also find a strong selection of BBQ rubs, sauces, and accessories to round out a cookout.
The shop is at 3921 Franklin Rd E in Murfreesboro and keeps generous hours: Monday through Thursday 9 AM to 7 PM, Friday 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday 8 AM to 7 PM. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon into evening are the busiest windows, so early mornings are your best bet for a quick visit.
4. Buster’s Butcher, Memphis, TN
Steaks may pull you through the door at Buster’s, but the house-made sausage is what earns the return trips.
Described as a butcher shop specializing in steaks, sausages, and various homemade goods, this Memphis spot leans hard into quality and sourcing. The meat selection is regularly called one of the best in the city, and the spice case backs it up.
The steaks get plenty of praise, yet it is the sausage made in-house that tends to become a habit for regulars. Prices are described as decent, which is a nice surprise for this level of quality.
Find it at 199 S Highland St in Memphis, open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from noon to 6 PM. Service is onsite pickup and shopping with no delivery, so it is built for a quick in-and-out.
If you are in the University area and want to stock a freezer with something better than the grocery store, this is the counter to hit.
5. Euro Delights Market & Cafe, Knoxville, TN
For a different take on smoked sausage, this Knoxville market brings the flavors of the European continent to Kingston Pike.
Euro Delights is a European store stocked with meats, cheese, fresh produce, and imported goods you will not easily find elsewhere in town. The smoked sausage here draws its own crowd, and the cured and dried meat selection is a big part of why shoppers keep it in their grocery rotation.
Beyond the meat case, there is a bakery, European sweets, and even sausage kvas for the curious. The produce gets good marks too, so it works as more than a one-item stop.
The market and cafe sit at 7838 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM and closed Sunday. Saturday afternoon and evening are the busiest, while mornings run quiet.
You will find on-site parking, free wi-fi, and a restroom, which makes it comfortable to browse a while.
6. Hunters Harvest Meat Processing, Clarksville, TN
Want your summer sausage with a little less pepper next time? At Hunters Harvest, they will actually adjust the batch for you.
Listed as a meat processing shop with several specialties and a focus on deer processing, this Clarksville operation runs on custom work and a friendly, small-shop approach. The summer sausage has a strong reputation, and the prices stand out against what meat costs in stores these days.
That willingness to tweak a recipe to a customer’s taste is the kind of thing you only get from a place that knows its regulars. Selection and flavor both earn steady praise.
You will find it at 435 Dover Rd in Clarksville, open Tuesday through Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM, Friday 9 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM, with Monday and Sunday closed. An appointment is required, so call ahead at 931-552-8087 before you make the drive.
In-store shopping is available with no delivery.
7. New York Butcher Shoppe, Nashville, TN
Burnt end sausage and wagyu hot dogs are not phrases you hear at most butcher counters, but they fit right in here.
New York Butcher Shoppe is a meat specialist that also sells produce, specialty items, and prepared foods like stuffed pork chops. The rotating selection is aimed at people who want the freshest and finest, from A5 filets and ribeyes to prime beef of nearly every cut.
The smoked and seasoned meats are where sausage lovers should look, with burnt end sausage and specialty links joining the wagyu offerings. Prices are described as fair for the quality, and many Nashville shoppers consider this the top butcher in town.
The counter is at 2002 Richard Jones Rd B-108 in Nashville, open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from noon to 6 PM. In-store pickup, shopping, and catering are all available, and there is free street parking for a quick visit.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.