How Many Calories Does Chicken Sausage Have? Find Out Now!

Credit: Unsplash.com (Photo byPariwat Pannium)How Many Calories Does Chicken Sausage Have? Chicken sausage packs approximately 147 calories per 75 g link, with about 7.8 g of fat (1). On average, per 100 g, chicken sausage provides around 153 kcal, 9 g fat, 16 g protein, and just 2 g carbs. So yeah, it’s like nature’s protein bomb, good stuff with enough fat to keep it tasty, and barely any carbs to speak of.A standard 100 gram serving usually hits somewhere between 150 and 180 calories, which ain’t bad considering what you’re getting. It’s definitely easier on the waistline than its pork cousin, but there’s more to this story than just numbers on a scale. Let’s break down what’s really going on inside that casing.

Key Takeaways

• A typical link (100g) of chicken sausage clocks in at 150-180 calories, not too shabby for something that tastes this good
• You’re looking at about 15-20g of protein per 100 g of protein per serving, plus 3-12g per 100g depending on recipe depending on recipe of fat depending on how fancy the butcher got with the recipe
• What goes into the sausage matters big time, dark meat adds calories, those mystery fillers might spike the sodium, and don’t even get me started on what some brands do with seasonings

Chicken Sausage: What’s Really in That Link?

Let’s get real about chicken sausage,  that “healthy” alternative everyone’s been talking about lately. Yeah, it’s got less of the bad stuff than pork sausage, but there’s more to the story. Each link (about 75g) carries 150-200 calories, give or take. Scale that up to 100g, and you’re looking at ~130-175 calories. Why the range? Well, every company’s got their own recipe, some go heavy on the lean meat, others throw in extra stuff for flavor. Here’s where it gets interesting: protein’s the star of the show at 12-16g per 100g of sausage. Fat content’s all over the place though, bouncing between 7-13g (and remember, fat packs more than twice the calories of protein, 9 calories per gram versus protein’s measly 4). That’s why many pay close attention to chicken sausage fat content when comparing brands.

 

What’s Really in That Chicken Sausage?

credit: Health Benefits 108

 

Standard Link (75g) Breakdown

A regular link weighs in at 150-200 calories,  not too shabby for dinner. That’s your typical supermarket variety, though numbers bounce around based on whether they’ve used breast meat (leaner) or thigh meat (fattier), plus whatever else they’ve thrown in there for good measure.

• Most links hit about 150-200 calories
• Basic store brand? Probably around 160 calories per link

Take Tesco’s British chicken sausages – they’re sitting at 134 calories per link. Switch to Heck’s Simply Chicken, and you’re down to 118 calories. Pretty big difference, right? Just shows how much recipes matter.

The 100g Picture

Looking at 100g makes it easier to compare (cause let’s face it, not every brand makes the same size links). Most chicken sausages land somewhere between 150-180 calories per 100g.

• Tesco’s running high at 178 calories
• Heck’s keeping it lean at 157 calories

Why such different numbers? It’s all about what goes in the mix. Thigh meat’s gonna jack up those calories faster than breast meat, and don’t even get me started on what some brands sneak in there for filler.

Breaking Down the Good Stuff in Chicken Sausage

Let’s dig into what’s actually making up those calories – cause knowing this stuff helps figure out if these links belong on your plate.

The Protein Story

Chicken sausage brings a solid15-20g per 100 g. Each gram of protein adds 4 calories, so do the math: that’s between 48-64 calories just from protein. Not bad at all.

• Most brands hit around 12-16g per 100g
• Simple math: protein calories = grams × 4

Fat: The Real Calorie Boss

Here’s where things get interesting, fat’s the heavyweight champ of calories. You’re looking at 3-12 g per 100g, and each gram of fat packs 9 calories.

• Fat varies big time (3-12 g per 100g)
• Those 9 calories per gram add up fast

Carbs: The Afterthought

Carbs barely show up to this party, maybe 1-5g per 100g. They’re mostly hanging around because of fillers like breadcrumbs or whatever else got tossed in during production, making people wonder if chicken sausages have carbs at all.

• Usually just 1-5g per 100g
• Watch out though – some fancy varieties sneak in extra fillers

What Goes Into Your Chicken Sausage Really Matters

The difference between a decent chicken sausage and one that’ll blow up your diet? It’s all in the details.

The Cut Makes the Calories

Let’s talk about chicken parts. Dark meat from thighs? That’s gonna pack more calories than breast meat, simple as that. Most manufacturers mix it up, but here’s the deal:

• Thigh meat = more fat, more flavor, more calories
• Breast meat = leaner, fewer calories, maybe a bit drier

The Extra Stuff They Throw In

Companies love adding water and spices – makes the sausage juicier and tastier. But here’s what that means:

• More water = heavier sausage but same calories (they’re just spread out more)
• Those fancy spice blends? They’re not adding calories, but watch that sodium count

Chicken vs. Pork: The Real Story

Switching from pork to chicken sausage can indeed slash a significant caloric load. Pork sausage clocks in at around 250–300 kcal per 100 g, whereas chicken sausage typically lands at 150–200 kcal per 100 g (2). That aligns well with the idea of “cutting 100 calories per link.” Additionally, one source even shows cooked pork sausage at about 324 kcal per 100 g, compared to 189 kcal per 100 g for chicken sausage, making pork roughly 70% higher in calories. No wonder folks watching their waistline often choose chicken.

Beyond Just Calories: The Other Numbers That Matter

The calories might look good on paper, but chicken sausage’s got some other numbers worth checking out – especially if you’re keeping an eye on your health.

Cholesterol: Not as Bad as You’d Think

Every 100g serving carries about 70-80mg of cholesterol. Not exactly healthy food territory, but it won’t send your doctor into panic mode either.

Salt: Now That’s Another Story

Here’s where things get dicey. We’re talking 600-900mg of sodium per 100g. Do the math and that’s nearly a third of what you should eat all day. Some brands really go nuts with the salt shaker, claiming it’s for flavor but probably just hiding bland meat. And those fancy seasoning blends? They’re usually just fancy ways of adding more sodium. The truth is, if you’re watching your blood pressure, you might want to think twice about making these links a daily thing. Sure beats pork sausage, but that’s not saying much.

FAQ

How many calories per serving are in chicken sausage, and what do the nutrition facts say about total fat?

Chicken sausage calories per serving usually range from 130 to 180. The nutrition facts label also shows total fat, protein, and carbs. Depending on the serving size, fat can be as low as 3 grams or as high as 12. Calories from fat often make up the largest share since fat is more calorie-dense than protein.

What do nutrition facts and analysis reveal about saturated fat in Italian chicken sausage compared to regular Italian sausage?

Nutrition facts and analysis show that Italian chicken sausage usually has less saturated fat than traditional Italian sausage. A typical serving size of chicken sausage has about 2 grams of saturated fat, while pork sausage often has twice that. Calories from fat also run lower in the chicken version, making it a leaner choice when comparing the two.

How does serving size affect calories from fat in chicken apple sausage or chicken sausage with natural flavors?

Serving size matters a lot when looking at calories from fat. A small link of chicken apple sausage may have around 100 calories, while a larger chicken sausage with natural flavors could carry nearly twice that. The bigger the portion, the higher the calories per serving, and most of those extra calories come from fat.

Do natural hog casings or natural flavors change the total fat or calories per serving in italian chicken sausage?

Natural hog casings don’t change the calories per serving very much. They’re mostly there to hold the sausage together. What really shifts the total fat is the type of meat used in italian chicken sausage and the seasonings added. Natural flavors can influence taste, but they usually don’t add extra calories.

Can apple sausage or chicken apple sausage contain lemon juice concentrate, and does it show up on nutrition facts?

Yes, apple sausage and chicken apple sausage often list lemon juice concentrate on the ingredient panel. It’s there to keep the flavor bright and balance sweetness, not to add significant calories. Nutrition facts still focus on protein, total fat, saturated fat, and calories per serving. Calories from fat usually dominate, even with fruit or juice in the mix.

How do calories from fat compare to protein in the nutrition facts of chicken sausage?

Calories from fat usually make up a bigger share than calories from protein in chicken sausage. The nutrition facts label shows fat providing 9 calories per gram, while protein gives only 4. That means even a small serving size can shift the balance if the sausage has more fat than lean meat.

Why does serving size matter when reading nutrition facts and analysis for chicken sausage?

Serving size is the key to making sense of nutrition facts and analysis. A smaller link may look low in calories, but doubling your portion doubles everything total fat, saturated fat, and calories from fat. Always check the label to see how calories per serving stack up to what you actually eat.

Does Italian chicken sausage have different nutrition facts and analysis compared to chicken sausage?

Italian chicken sausage is usually seasoned differently, but the nutrition facts and analysis can look similar to plain chicken sausage. Both offer fewer calories from fat than traditional pork sausage. The main difference is flavoring, since Italian chicken sausage often carries spices that don’t add many calories.

How do nutrition facts and analysis show the balance of total fat, saturated fat, and calories per serving in chicken sausage?

Nutrition facts and analysis make it easy to see how fat affects calories per serving. Total fat may range from 3 to 12 grams, and saturated fat makes up part of that. Since fat has more calories per gram, it often explains most of the calories from fat in a serving of chicken sausage.

 

Conclusion

Look, chicken sausage isn’t perfect, but it’s a decent choice if you’re watching calories while still wanting something that actually tastes good. In fact, many people turn to it when asking whether chicken sausage is good for weight loss compared to pork sausage.Just keep an eye on those labels, some brands sneak in extra fat and sodium. Pick ones made with breast meat if you’re really counting calories, or grab the thigh-meat versions if taste matters more.

 

Related Articles

1. https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/do-chicken-sausages-have-carbs/
2. https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/chicken-sausage-fat-content/
3. https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/is-chicken-sausage-good-for-weight-loss/

 

References

1. https://www.nutritionix.com/food/chicken-sausage
2. https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/nutritional-value-of-sausages