Divine earthy flavors married into a delicious juicy BREAKFAST TURKEY SAUSAGE. Each piece is filled with a hearty sensational low-carb ground turkey that makes every bite feel like a holiday. So make every morning special with this homemade breakfast sausage using only 8 simple ingredients!
Whenever I go out looking for sausages in the grocery store, I often look for something that makes it special – a WOW factor! I often see pork and beef or even blood sausages available in the frozen section but are those really the only options? So I thought, I could probably make something not so common. I could make an extra special breakfast sausage from a different kind of meat. And POOF! Ground Turkey Sausage – my friends.
Served with eggs and some veggies on the side and VOILA! Hearty breakfast in no time. Don’t let me stop you from eating this wondrous meal anytime you want coz you could also eat this easy sausage for lunch or even dinner.
What is Turkey Sausage?
The first sausages were believed to be from ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia) at around 3100BC. As time went by, different countries developed their own sausages, Italy and Germany being two of the most popular producers of sausage.
Turkey Sausage is actually a healthy innovation from traditional pork sausage or blood sausage. Why is it healthier? I’ll tell you more about this below. It is a mixture of ground turkey meat, natural turkey fat, salt, and some seasonings to bump up the flavor. No fillers or anything in between. What can I say, homemade always gets the upper hand!
Turkey Sausage vs Pork Sausage
Of course, the O.G. sausage is made from pork and lots of yummy recipes were developed through this. But since the world is moving into a healthier culture, food innovated the same way. So here’s a quick comparison of Turkey Sausage vs Pork Sausage.
Generally, turkey is leaner than pork, meaning it is more protein-dense and has less percentage of fat. But it would still be subject to the same amount of natural fat mixed into the sausage. Taste-wise turkey sausages are more customizable, because turkey has a natural mild meat taste, depending on the amount of herbs you add into the sausage mixture while pork has a more distinct meaty flavor.
If you’re counting your calories, turkey sausage is gonna be your best option because it has about half as much calories as pork sausage. The saturated fat level is also significantly lower than the latter.
In essence, turkey sausage is a healthier option but the only difference between the two is the meat used. The rest of the ingredients are, in one way or another, similar.
Breakfast Turkey Sausage Ingredients
This Turkey Sausage Recipe has natural ingredients so you know that it is really healthy and good for your body. The fun thing about making it at home is that you can try different variations of this recipe to make it your own.
What I will show you is my own take on this beautifully delicious breakfast sausage. So let’s take a look at what we’ll need.
Salt – is a natural flavor enhancer, aside from this it also draws out excess moisture via the process of reverse osmosis because of this it helps prolong the life of the sausage.
Pepper – pepper is a basic spice setter. It can be paired with almost anything, that’s why it is considered as a flavor bridge. It acts as a common ground for two different flavors, in this case, the turkey and the spices.
Garlic – have you ever smelled that euphoric aroma when you fry a sausage? Most probably you’re smelling the glorious scent of the oils and juices from the garlic being fried. I super love that smell because it tells me that my sausage is going to be all right.
Sage – ahhh sage, it has a pungent earthy flavor that makes any meal hearty. This spice is one of the main herbs that make our turkey sausage recipe earthy.
Thyme – usually used as a marinade or garnish, this precious herb gives a distinct earthy spike to our breakfast sausage. It is often used in lean meats such as Turkey and Sausage as the taste of this herb perfectly blends together with the natural juices of the meat.
Cayenne Pepper – want a spicy kick to your sausage to make it unforgettable? Add this spice to have a smoky aftertaste that lingers. The flavor from this spice also goes well with our side dish recommendations below. Feel free to adjust this depending on your heat preference.
Honey – a natural source of sweetness from our friendly bees, its composition is also beneficial to prolonging the life of our Turkey Breakfast Sausage because it has little to no moisture due to its peroxide composition.
Ground Turkey – of course, a ground turkey sausage will not be complete without ground turkey. Since it is leaner than pork, I suggest that you ask your local butcher to have your turkey meat finely ground to pieces.
Recipe Variations
If you’re feeling artistic, you can try these other variations of my Turkey Sausage recipe specially curated for different taste profiles.
- If you want to try an Italian take on this breakfast sausage, replace the cayenne pepper with oregano and drizzle a bit of olive oil on the mixture. You’ll be able to smell the difference as you fry.
- For a smoky honey-cured effect, replace the cayenne pepper with Spanish paprika and coat the outside of your turkey sausage with a brush of honey. It would turn your sausage redder and have a sweeter first bite. Kids love this!
- For a holiday favorite, add pineapple juice to the ground turkey before adding the honey. This cures the meat with a sweeter taste. Also, add rosemary to the list of herbs to have a full taste of the turkey meat.
- Replace the cayenne pepper with my Creole Seasoning to have a more savory complex flavor. Add a few red chilis to give it a nice kick, too.
What to Serve with Turkey Breakfast Sausage?
They aren’t lying when they said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And it wouldn’t be complete without our essentials – carbohydrates, protein, and some greens wouldn’t hurt your perfectly mixed and matched breakfast. Here are just some of my favorites for this sausage recipe.
- Scrambled Eggs or this Western Omelette
- Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- French Toast
- Creamy Polenta
- Sauteed or grilled veggies
How To Make Breakfast Turkey Sausage
Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl or plate. Place ground turkey in a large bowl, then add the blend of spices to the bowl of ground turkey. Mix well with your hands, then add honey and continue until fully combine.Â
Shape into patties, about 8 patties. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or preferably overnight for the patty to absorb all the flavors of the spice. Heat oil or butter in a large skillet or cast iron, then add patties. Fry for about 4 minutes per side or until no longer pink in the middle. Do not overcook patty. Place patties on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.Â
Breakfast Turkey Sausage
Ingredients
- ¾ -1 teaspoon (3.75g-5g) saltÂ
- 1 ½ teaspoon (3g) black pepperÂ
- 1 teaspoon sage spice Â
- 1 teaspoon (5g) minced garlicÂ
- 1 teaspoon (0.80g) fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thymeÂ
- ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) cayenne pepperÂ
- 1 pound (453.59g) ground turkeyÂ
- ½ -1 tablespoon (9g-18g) honeyÂ
Instructions
- Combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl or plate. Â
- Place ground turkey in a large bowl, then add the blend of spices to the bowl of ground turkey. Â
- Mix well with your hands, then add honey and continue until fully combine. Shape into patties, about 8 patties.
-  Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or preferably overnight for the patty to absorb all the flavors of the spice.Â
- Heat oil or butter in a large skillet or cast iron, then add patties. Fry for about 4 minutes per side or until no longer pink in the middle. Do not overcook the patty.Â
- Place patties on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.Â
Tips & Notes:
- You can make a big batch and freeze. Wrap each patty in plastic wrap; then place in a zip lock bag or resealable freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3Â months.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.Â
Nutrition Information:
Akua Marfo says
Living in the UK, I can’t get Jimmy Dean sausage. This is the next best and healthiest thing!! Love it! Give it a try! So delicious and simple to make!
Imma Adamu says
Thank you for the feedback!
Mary says
tried this recipe and used freshly ground chicken instead of turkey and they turned out delicious! the patties came out moist and very flavorful. husband loved them and made a second batch already. 🙂
Patty Morris says
Can you use groun chicken instead of turkey?
imma africanbites says
Yes, you can use lean ground chicken.