Homemade Breakfast Sausage Recipe

on Oct 27, 2023 Unfortunately, I was never able to find any store-bought breakfast patties that I liked. Either they were high in sodium, full of preservatives and additives or simply had ingredients and spices that I didn’t enjoy. I know what you’re thinking: “Come on Sneji, not everything needs to be homemade 😩!” And I agree. However, some things, like this homemade breakfast sausage recipe, are just worth the time and effort because once you taste the difference, you’ll walk by that breakfast sausage aisle at the grocery store like it was your weird ex from high school 😵‍💫. The true inspiration behind this recipe though, is my hubby Steve’s late Zio Iginio. Each year we would get together as a family and spend the day making homemade sausages using Zio Iginio’s special recipe. Zio’s trick was adding cinnamon and cloves to his sausages, which gave them a beautifully sweet, spicy 🌶️, and woody flavor. To honor his culinary tradition while adding a modern twist, my breakfast sausage recipe incorporates sweet maple syrup and healthy avocado oil. Give this recipe a try and get ready to never reach for store-bought breakfast sausages again!

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Breakfast Sausage Recipe

This breakfast sausage recipe is a game-changer! Whether you make them as part of your breakfast sandwich, eat them alongside some fluffy scrambled eggs 🍳, or make a huge batch to freeze and cook as you go, you will absolutely love starting your day with these guilt-free patties. Not only are these breakfast sausages preservative-free and healthier than most store-bought versions, but they are also completely customizable. Don’t like pork? No problem, you can simply use a different ground meat, like beef, turkey, or chicken. Not feeling the spices? All good – you can sub in your favorite spices and herbs instead. The point is, that you can tailor the flavor to your liking while controlling exactly what goes into your sausages. Now that’s what I call a win-win 😌!

How to Prepare This Homemade Breakfast Sausage Recipe

To prepare these breakfast sausages, start by adding your ground meat of choice to a big bowl 🥣. Keep in mind that fattier meats like pork and beef will have a lot more flavor, while leaner meats like ground chicken and turkey will be dryer due to their lower fat content. Add the maple syrup 🍁 (or brown sugar), and seasonings and mix well. If you want the real Italian experience, use your clean hands, and get in there! Here, you have the option of letting the meat rest in the fridge covered for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Once the mixture is ready, use a tablespoon to scoop out 16-18 equal-sized balls. Be sure to have a bowl of water or some oil handy so that the meat doesn’t stick to your hands ✋ as you shape the patties. Roll each mini portion into a ball, flatten them gently with your wet hands, and set aside. If you want to enjoy these at a later time, you can opt for the freezer method ❄️ at this point. Simply place the shaped patties on a lined baking sheet (with parchment paper), and put the tray in the freezer. Once the patties are solid you can transfer them into a large Ziplock bag or container adding a piece of parchment paper between each patty to prevent them from sticking. If you’re eager to enjoy these sausages right away, add a little oil to a pan, let it heat up, and fry them in batches for about 2 minutes on each side. You can also opt to make these in the air-fryer if you prefer. Be sure not to overcook them in order to maintain maximum flavor and juiciness 🤌!

Variations and Substitutions

This homemade breakfast sausage recipe leaves plenty of room for improvisation! Here are some suggestions:

Instead of pork, you can use different kinds of ground meat like chicken, turkey, beef, or a combination of meats for a unique flavor. If you’re looking to change up the sweetener, instead of maple syrup, consider using brown sugar, honey, or a sugar substitute. You can also experiment with different spices and herbs 🌿. If you’re not a fan of cinnamon or cloves, simply substitute them with spices you enjoy more. Some alternatives are nutmeg, smoked paprika, or allspice. Instead of dried sage, consider adding herbs like thyme, oregano, or rosemary. For a spicy twist add some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper 🌶️ to the meat mixture. Although I have personally not tried this, if you are vegan or vegetarian, you can try making meatless breakfast patties by substituting the meat with some crumbled firm tofu or another plant-based meat substitute. I used avocado oil 🥑 to give these breakfast sausages a healthier twist but feel free to use other oils like coconut oil or olive oil.

Best Served With

These homemade breakfast sausages are the perfect protein source for your breakfast sandwiches. Simply place the cooked sausage patty into a toasted English muffin along with a fried egg, some melty cheese, and any other toppings you enjoy in the morning. Try adding these to my Homemade Egg McMuffin recipe. Serve these breakfast patties alongside fluffy scrambled, fried, or poached eggs 🍳 and toast for a classic, diner-style breakfast experience. Take a look at my tutorial on how to Poach the Perfect Egg! If you’re vegetarian check out my Egg-Free Scramble. Enjoy these breakfast sausages with some pancakes for a sweet and salty flavor combo. Try my Healthy Pancakes, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, or Protein Pancakes. Place your sausages into a tortilla for a flavorful breakfast wrap with some scrambled eggs, cheese, and salsa or guacamole. Alternatively, add this breakfast sausage to my Viral Feta Fried Egg recipe. Crumble the cooked breakfast sausages and add them to your omelet or any of my egg bakes such as my Cheddar Egg Bake or Zucchini Egg Bake.