According to celebrated chef Julia, “Chicken sausage makes a deliciously wholesome, protein-packed breakfast.” But hold those forks! Not all chicken sausage is created equal.
To enjoy the perfect balance of flavor and nutrition in every maple, apple or sage-infused bite, there are a few preparatory need-to-knows before you reinvent your breakfast routine.
With chef-approved tricks for choosing, cooking and storing quality chicken sausage, you’ll be ready to dive in.
Key Takeaways
Chicken Breakfast Sausage is a leaner alternative to pork breakfast sausage made with ground chicken, spices and seasonings formed into patties or links. It provides a high protein breakfast meat that can be cooked in many ways.
How to Make Chicken Breakfast Sausage
Looking to try something new for breakfast? This homemade chicken breakfast sausage recipe is an easy way to whip up healthy chicken sausage patties.
Ground chicken is mixed with maple syrup, soy sauce and fresh herbs to create a delicious homemade sausage recipe. Follow these simple steps to form the mixture into chicken breakfast sausage patties.
Cooked in a skillet until browned, these breakfast sausage patties make a great addition to any morning meal.
Whether eaten plain or paired with your favorite toppings between an English muffin, homemade chicken breakfast sausage is a satisfying way to start the day.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the maple syrup, soy sauce, and fresh herbs. Mix until blended.
- Add the ground chicken and gently mix until just combined.
- With wet hands, form the mixture into chicken breakfast sausage patties.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage patties for 5-7 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
- Enjoy the homemade chicken breakfast sausage warm from the pan!
Making your own breakfast sausage patties from chicken lets you control ingredients to create a healthier option than store-bought. Whip up a batch of these chicken sausage patties for a nutrient-packed breakfast anytime.
Credit : Licious
Nutritional Information
While the chicken breakfast sausage recipe hits the spot taste-wise, you may wonder – just how healthy is it? Let’s explore the nutritional breakdown:
Key Nutrients
| Nutrient | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Protein | – A full pound of chicken provides nearly 100g of high-quality protein to fuel your morning.<br> – Protein helps you feel fuller for longer and supplies amino acids for growth and repair. |
| Healthy Fats | – Maple syrup, soy sauce and herbs lend satisfying fats without going overboard.<br> – Look for 3g or less fat per patty. |
| Low Sodium | – Homemade sausage avoids excess sodium from preservatives.<br> – You control the ingredients yourself to get 550mg sodium or less versus 1000+ in store brands. |
Calories and Portion Control
The homemade chicken sausage patties fit well in a balanced breakfast as part of meal prep due to:
Fewer Calories: At around 120 calories per patty, these fit well in a balanced breakfast as part of meal prep. Compare that to over 200 cals for many store-bought links.
Customizing the homemade chicken sausage recipe allows you to:
- Use lean chicken breast
- Decrease maple syrup
- Feel satisfied without guilt thanks to real whole ingredients
After cooking on medium-high heat, the protein packs the savory breakfast chicken flavors your family craves.
In summary, this breakfast sausage recipe makes the most of tasty, nourishing chicken for a balanced breakfast. Health and happiness go hand in hand when starting each day the homemade way!
Tips for Cooking
Now that you have the chicken breakfast sausage patties prepared, here are some cooking methods to enjoy them:
Cooking Methods:
Pan Fry: In a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, cook patties with 1 tsp oil for 5-7 minutes per side until browned and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Grill: Grill patties over direct heat for 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through. The grill marks add extra chicken sausage breakfast flavor!
Bake: Arrange patties on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Regardless of method, be sure not to overcrowd the pan or grill grates so patties brown properly. Use a instant-read thermometer to check doneness.
Storage:
Uncooked patties: Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze individually then bag for 3 months.
Cooked sausage: Leftover cooked patties will keep for 3-4 days covered in the fridge.
Whether served in breakfast sandwiches, atop an English muffin alone, or alongside eggs for a hearty maple breakfast, these chicken patties make any morning meal more wholesome. For variety, you could also substitute ground turkey or add other spices like black pepper. With proper storage, enjoy delicious homemade breakfast sausage all week long!
Benefits of Chicken Breakfast Sausage
There are several perks to choosing chicken sausages over traditional pork varieties for your breakfast recipe needs:
Higher in Protein and Lower in Fat than Pork
Chicken sausage is inherently leaner than pork sausage which tends to have higher fat levels (1). Each patty provides 5g of protein with only 2g of fat to fuel your morning in a healthy way.
Easy to Customize Flavor
Play around with different herbs and spices like black pepper, garlic or crushed red pepper to create unique flavors to suit your tastes.
More Versatile Cooking Methods
Chicken sausage cooks up beautifully when pan fried in a little oil over medium-high heat (2). It can also be grilled or baked until fully cooked at 165°F for convenient, on-the-go breakfasts.
Make Ahead and Freeze Option
Form raw patties from ground chicken breast, freeze individual patties, then cook direct from frozen. This easy homemade option saves precious time on busy weekday mornings.
Incorporating versatile chicken breakfast sausages into your weekly breakfast recipes provides nourishment from lean protein. Explore new flavors while saving time – doesn’t that sound like a perfect way to start each day?
For a satisfying twist on your usual breakfast links or sausage links, give this recipe a try. The flavorful chicken variety is sure to become your new weekday favorite!
FAQ
How much maple chicken can I use in the breakfast sausage?
The maple chicken breakfast sausage recipe calls for 1/2 pound of maple chicken. Feel free to adjust the amount to your tastes.
More maple chicken will make the sausage taste more maple-y. Start with 1/2 pound and add more to the next batch if you want a stronger maple flavor.
What is the best type of pan to cook chicken breakfast sausage in?
A cast iron skillet or griddle is ideal for cooking breakfast sausage (3). The chicken sausages will cook evenly and the fat will drain away, keeping the sausage low in fat and calories.
A cast iron pan allows the sausage patties to get golden brown and cook the sausage over medium-high heat.
You can also use a large skillet but avoid non-stick pans which cannot get hot enough and may cause the sausage to steam rather than brown.
Can I make breakfast sausage without pork or turkey?
Yes, you can definitely make delicious breakfast sausage without any pork or turkey by using chicken or turkey instead of pork.
The maple chicken breakfast sausage recipe uses only ground chicken and clean ingredients to create a protein-packed pork-free breakfast sausage option.
Turkey can also be substituted for chicken to create a sausage that is lower in fat but still full of flavor.
What ingredients are essential for making breakfast sausage at home?
Some key ingredients that are essential for making delicious homemade breakfast sausage include ground meat (chicken, pork or turkey), salt, garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, and sage.
You may also want to add classic sausage flavorings like fennel seeds, rubbed sage or red pepper flakes.
Having quality meat, salt, and seasonings are crucial but feel free to experiment adding other veggies or spices you enjoy for endless flavor variations.
Can I make breakfast sausage patties and freeze them for later?
Yes, you can absolutely make breakfast sausage patties ahead of time and freeze them for a fast, hardy breakfast another day.
Form the raw sausage into patties and place them on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours, then transfer to a freezer safe ziplock bag or airtight container.
The frozen patties will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. When ready to eat, cook the frozen patties over medium heat until browned and fully cooked through. Freezing sausage patties is a great make-ahead strategy.
Is it better to buy store bought or make my own breakfast sausage?
There are benefits to both store bought and homemade breakfast sausage. Store bought is very convenient but often contains unwanted additives, excess salt and preservatives.
By making your own sausage, you have full control over the ingredients. You can use cleaner, real food ingredients and adjust seasonings to your taste. Homemade sausage also tends to be lower in fat, calories, and free of synthetic ingredients.
While it takes more time, the quality difference and flavor is worth it. You also have options to make plant-based, soy-free or gluten free varieties at home that are hard to find pre-made.
Conclusion
In conclusion, making your own chicken breakfast sausage is a tasty way to start your morning right. Whether you fix just a few sausage patties for yourself or the whole family, whipping up a batch at home means you control what goes into your food.
You can feel good knowin’ exactly what you’re eatin’ without any unwanted nasties in there. Plus, it’s real simple to do! Just throw in your ground chicken along with some maple, soy and fresh herbs for max flavor and you’re all set. Then slap ’em in a pan or on the grill until cooked through.
Well friends, I hope this recipe inspired y’all to get cookin’ up some homemade chicken breakfast sausage of your own!
Leave me a comment below and let me know – did you give it a try? How did yours turn out? I’d love to hear if you added any special seasonings I didn’t mention too.
And for all you sausage masters out there, please share any tips or tricks you’ve learned over the years. Who knows, maybe we can help each other create even tastier versions! Now go on and get those patties sizzlin’ – I’m gettin’ hungry just thinkin’ about it!
References
- https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/chicken-sausage
- https://meganvskitchen.com/how-to-cook-chicken-sausage-3-ways/
- https://butterypan.com/how-to-cook-breakfast-sausage/
Related Articles
- https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/homemade-chili-beans/
- https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/can-you-stuff-sausage-with-a-meat-grinder/
- https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/meatloaf-without-egg-or-milk/
Was this helpful?
I’m Mary R. Q. , a seasoned professional chef dedicated to elevating home cooking experiences. Through my expertise in the culinary arts, I provide practical cooking tips and insightful reviews of kitchen utensils on my blog, milkwoodrestaurant.com. As a passionate advocate for transforming everyday meals into extraordinary culinary adventures, I aim to empower home cooks with the knowledge and tools they need to create delicious and memorable dishes. I’m also an author of the book “1,001 Kitchen Tips & Tricks: Helpful Hints for Cooking, Baking, and Cleaning (1,001 Tips & Tricks)” which is sold on Amazon. Join me on a flavorful journey as we explore the art of cooking and the essential tools that make it a joy.
