Homemade turkey breakfast sausage made with ground turkey, spices, and a touch of maple syrup. Healthy, unprocessed, and more delicious than store-bought.
If you love breakfast sausage, its time to start making your own turkey sausage patties at home. They take less than 20 minutes to make from start to finish and make the perfect breakfast side.
When it comes to breakfast, I lean towards savory dishes like omelets, frittatas, and eggs. Paired with bacon or sausage, its a simple breakfast that I will happily eat every day. However, when it comes to breakfast sausage, I normally have two problems. The healthy breakfast sausage options tend to be very expensive and the more affordable options tend to be really high in saturated fat or sugar.
Thats why I started making my own! With just a few simple ingredients, its easy to make really tasty turkey sausage at home. Make up a big batch and you can even freeze extras for later.
Turkey sausage is a healthy, tasty alternative to pork sausage It has a milder flavor than pork sausage, so seasoning is key to bringing out the best flavor. With the right combination of herbs and spices, you can make your turkey sausage bursts with flavor Here are some tips on how to season turkey sausage like a pro.
Choose Your Turkey Sausage Base
There are a few options when it comes to the base for your seasoned turkey sausage:
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Ground turkey breast – This is the leanest option, with around 10% fat content. It can dry out faster during cooking.
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Ground turkey thigh – Has more fat, around 17%, so it stays moister as it cooks More fat also means more flavor
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A blend of breast and thigh meat – This gives you the best of both worlds – added moisture and flavor from the thigh meat and leaner nutrition profile. Many brands use an 85/15 blend.
For the most flavorful sausage, I recommend using ground turkey thigh or a breast/thigh blend. The extra fat keeps the sausage juicy and helps the flavors melt together.
Seasoning Ingredients for Turkey Sausage
Herbs and spices are key for making turkey sausage taste like the real deal. Here are some seasoning ingredients to have on hand:
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Salt – Forms a flavor base. Use 1 teaspoon per 1 pound of meat.
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Black pepper – Provides warmth Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 1 pound.
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Sage – Earthy, woodsy flavor. Use 1 teaspoon per 1 pound.
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Thyme – Fresh, aromatic flavor. Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per pound.
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Crushed red pepper – Adds heat. Use just a pinch or up to 1/4 teaspoon per pound.
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Garlic powder – Provides richness. Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per pound.
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Onion powder – Adds savoriness. Use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per pound.
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Brown sugar – Helps with browning and balances other flavors. Use 1 tablespoon per pound.
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Paprika – For color and subtle sweetness. Use 1 teaspoon per pound.
Mix and Match Herbs and Spices
Part of the fun of making your own sausage is playing with different herb and spice blends.
Some blends to try:
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Italian – basil, oregano, fennel, garlic
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Breakfast – sage, thyme, pepper
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Mexican – cumin, oregano, chili powder, cayenne
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Greek – oregano, marjoram, rosemary
Start with a base blend, taste, and tweak until you find your perfect combo.
How to Season Turkey Sausage
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Choose ground turkey. Go for thigh meat or an 85/15 blend for the most flavor and moisture.
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Mix seasonings – Use about 1-2 teaspoons of seasoning per pound of meat. Mix in a bowl before adding meat.
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Add ground turkey and mix gently until combined. Don’t overmix or the sausage will become dense.
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Chill mixture – Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. This allows flavors to meld.
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Form into patties or cook as crumbles. Cook thoroughly until no longer pink inside.
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Pan fry, grill, or bake – Cook over medium heat with a touch of oil to prevent sticking.
Cooking and Serving Turkey Sausage
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Cook patties in a skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of oil. Cook 4-5 minutes per side.
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Bake patties at 400°F for 20 minutes, flipping halfway.
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Grill over medium heat for 6-8 minutes per side.
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Add crumbles to pasta sauce, chili, soups, breakfast dishes.
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Serve with eggs, hashbrowns, beans, rice, veggies, pasta.
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Use in sandwiches, breakfast tacos, pizza, casseroles and more.
With the right seasoning, you can make irresistible turkey sausage at home. Have fun playing with herbs, spices, and flavor combos to find your family’s new favorite.
Is turkey breakfast sausage healthy?
Turkey breakfast sausage comes in all different varieties – some of very healthy and some arent very healthy. The benefit of making turkey sausage at home is that you control the ingredients and can make them work for your health goals. This version with lean ground turkey and spices is packed with lean protein and nutrients, making it a very healthy option.
When looking at store-bought turkey sausage, look for an option that is low in saturated fat, sugar, and nitrates.
Here are the answer to some of the most common questions about making homemade turkey breakfast sausage.
This homemade turkey breakfast sausage is made with ground turkey, spices, and maple syrup. Store-bought turkey sausage can be made from various parts of the turkey, but is usually made from ground dark meat turkey combined with fat and spices.
Some turkey sausage, especially links, has pork as well so make sure to check the label.
This recipe works great in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees. Place the patties in a single layer and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Ingredients and Easy Swaps
Here is everything you need to make this recipe.
- Ground turkey: This recipe works with 93% lean ground turkey, 85% lean ground turkey, or ground dark meat turkey. The more fat content, the more it will taste like traditional sausage, which is usually made with higher-fat meat. Swap in ground pork or ground chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Maple syrup: This gives the sausage patties a hint of sweetness and is really great with breakfast sausage which is traditionally a bit sweet.
- Spices: Traditional breakfast sausage has a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, sage, and red pepper flakes. If you are going for more Italian sausage style flavor, use this homemade Italian sausage seasoning.
Turkey Breakfast Sausage Patties Recipe – Easy, Quick, & Flavorful
FAQ
What seasonings for turkey sausage?
- Mix together turkey, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, sage, thyme, marjoram, and red pepper flakes in a bowl until well combined. Shape turkey mixture into patties.
- Working in batches, fry patties in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and no longer pink in the center, 6 to 8 minutes.
How do you add flavor to sausage?
Garlic and onion powder: Aromatics are a must for sausages. Adding a good amount of garlic powder and onion powder adds those layers of flavor. Dehydrated onion flakes or garlic pieces could also be used.
How to season a turkey for best flavor?
- Add the salt, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to a small bowl.
- Stir until all of the spices are combined and evenly distributed.
- To season a turkey, generously brush a 12-15 pound turkey with olive oil or melted butter.
What spices go well with sausage?
Garlic, cumin, chili powders, cayenne pepper, onion powder, black pepper, white pepper, coriander, mustard seeds, thyme, rosemary, sage, fennel, paprika and nutmeg are all viable beef sausage seasonings. Use whatever combination of flavors you like.
How do you season ground turkey sausage?
For bulk sausage, combine loose ground turkey and spices in a large bowl. Use clean hands to thoroughly mix and incorporate seasonings into the meat. For sausage links and patties, mix seasonings into the meat before forming and cooking. Or sprinkle seasonings directly onto formed raw sausage to allow flavors to seep in while cooking.
Does turkey sausage need seasoning?
But like any sausage, it needs the right blend of seasonings to truly shine. Under-seasoned turkey sausage tastes bland, while overdoing the spices can make it too hot or overwhelming. With the proper seasoning technique, you can bring out the best in turkey sausage and make it a star player in your dishes.
Can you make turkey sausage with pork?
And not only make turkey sausage, but also make it with pork or chicken. Turkey sausage is good for breakfast or when cooked in stews or soups. In a large bowl, combine all of the seasonings and mix. Add the turkey and mix until the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the meat. Form the meat into patties.
Should you marinate turkey sausage before cooking?
Marinading turkey sausage in liquid seasoned with herbs, salt and acid can also infuse flavor. Patience yields the most flavor payoff when seasoning turkey sausage. Give bulk seasoned meat or formed raw patties/links at least 30 minutes at room temperature for spices to absorb before cooking. Overnight in the fridge is even better.
How do you season a ground turkey?
There are plenty of easy ground turkey recipes out there. But, you will always need spices like olive oil, kosher salt and pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder. You can add minced garlic, and freshly chopped onions and peppers, for an extra edge. How to season a turkey for best flavor?
Are turkey sausage patties good for breakfast?
Turkey sausage patties are delicious for breakfast or any other time you’re in the mood for them. You only need a few ingredients that include ground turkey and some seasonings. I’ve used this same recipe to make pork sausage, and it’s just as good. After you make this sausage, you may never want to use the store-bought version again.