This breakfast dish has quickly become a family favorite. It is great because it can be used in many ways, is high in protein, and is easy to make. On a busy school morning, it makes it easy to make a tasty, healthy hot breakfast. You know those mornings. If you wake up at 6:47 in the morning to organize Rainbow Loom bands, your kids aren’t paying attention, and their socks don’t match (which, thankfully, is the trend these days). The permission slip you signed yesterday is missing, and it’s due today. And while you’re brushing your teeth, your daughter gets toothpaste on her school shirt, and you have to dig through the laundry pile (five loads, none folded) because getting a new shirt from her room will wake the toddler, and no one wants to wake this toddler! Or maybe that’s just our mornings…
This dish can feed 4 to 6 people, depending on how hungry they are and whether you serve fresh fruit, toast, or other sides. I am using our large baking dish that easily accommodates a dozen eggs. We also have a smaller baking dish available that is great for 6-8 eggs.
Start by browning your breakfast sausage. I use one pound of MSG-free, nitrate/nitrite-free, and phosphate-free Jimmy Dean All Natural Regular Pork Sausage. (Plus it’s gluten free, which matters to some. ) Yes, organic would be preferred, unfortunately that’s not in the budget this week.
Remove the fat from the sausage or place it on a paper towel to soak up the oil. If you want to save money, put half of the browned sausage in a bag and freeze it for later.
I get my eggs from a local farm on a weekly basis. Not only are they beautiful, but they have a deliciously rich flavor.
Eight to six eggs will do if you don’t need as many. Twelve eggs is what works best for our family. Beat your eggs and add milk.
I’m not big measuring, I just pour some in until it looks pretty good. Around 1/2 – 3/4 cup organic whole milk.
After you beat the eggs and milk so they’re fluffy, toss in 1/4 cup-ish grated cheese. We change it up around here, which is mostly due to what I have on hand. Some days I use cheddar, other days it’s been mozzarella and parmesan. For a great kick add pepper jack cheese!.
Next add 1 1/2 cups torn baby spinach. If you’re cooking with the kids this is a fun thing for them to be doing. While you’re busy beating eggs your little helper can be tearing baby spinach leaves. It doesn’t have to be extra tiny or sliced or all the same size. Just let the kids grab a few leaves and rip them up a couple times.
At any point you can add your sausage and salt and pepper to taste. Which, really is an odd thing to say. Who is going to put salt and pepper in raw egg soup, taste it, and then add more salt and pepper? Really? Don’t do that. Just add some. and then add more after it bakes if it wasn’t enough.
This is where our additions end because of the taste preferences of our 5 minions. You can make this dish even tastier by adding things like fresh mushrooms, diced bell pepper, broccoli, chunks of ham, onion, kale, etc. if you don’t have any minion helpers or if they have different taste preferences. Have fun with it. Get creative. Throw in anything you like! (Just don’t tell the kids until after they have eaten it!).
Before I pour my egg mixture into my baking dish, I spritz the dish with grapeseed oil. You could use Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil or even butter I suppose. I have made this several times before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware. **Use plastic wrap to cover the dish and put it in the fridge overnight if you are making this the night before but don’t want to bake it until the morning.
I bake mine in my convection oven at 350 for 40 minutes. I honestly don’t know if it takes longer to bake in a conventional oven. Just be sure that the egg in the middle is completely cooked before you serve and enjoy!.
Take note of this baking dish: I’ve made this before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware. The eggs stuck to both of those dishes regardless of how well I oiled the pan. The casserole that was baked in the DowntoEarthenware Baking Dish was very easy to cut up, and the eggs didn’t stick at all. Beautiful results!.
When it comes to pre-cooked frozen breakfast sausages, Jimmy Dean is one of the most well-known brands. Their sausage patties and links are a staple in many households. But because of worries about nitrates in processed meats, a lot of people want to know if Jimmy Dean sausages have them.
We’ll look closely at Jimmy Dean’s sausage ingredients, nutrition facts, and processing methods to see if their sausages have any added nitrates or nitrites or other ingredients that should be avoided.
Overview of Jimmy Dean Sausages
Jimmy Dean is known for their wide range of pre-cooked frozen sausage products like:
- Sausage patties
- Sausage links
- Turkey sausage
- Chicken sausage
- Pre-cooked sausage crumbles
They offer classic pork sausage along with turkey and chicken varieties. The sausages come fully cooked so they just need to be quickly heated before eating
Jimmy Dean sausages are popular due to their convenience, consistency, and variety of flavor options. But what exactly is in them? Let’s explore further.
Do Jimmy Dean Sausages Contain Nitrates?
After reviewing multiple Jimmy Dean sausage ingredient labels added nitrates or nitrites are not present in their regular pork sausage products. This includes their popular Original Pork Sausage Patties and Links.
Instead, they use ingredients like paprika extract and caramel color to naturally enhance the color and flavor. No man-made chemical preservatives like sodium nitrate or nitrite are added.
However, Jimmy Dean’s uncured turkey and chicken sausages do contain nitrates from natural sources like celery powder. But their regular pork sausages have no added nitrates based on current ingredient labels.
Other Notable Ingredients in Jimmy Dean Sausages
Jimmy Dean’s original pork sausage doesn’t have any added nitrates, but their sausages do have the following:
-
Pork and salt provide the main flavor.
-
Sugar, corn syrup, and dextrose add sweetness.
-
Spices and flavorings enhance taste.
-
Paprika extract and caramel color provide visual appeal.
-
Soy protein concentrate helps bind the sausage.
-
Preservatives like BHA, BHT, and citric acid are used.
So in general, the ingredient list is not too controversial. But the added sugars, artificial colors, and preservatives may be concerning for some.
Nutrition Facts for Jimmy Dean Sausages
Here are the basic nutrition facts for Jimmy Dean’s popular Original Pork Sausage Patties:
- 230 calories
- 18g fat
- 480mg sodium
- 12g protein
The sausages are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Half the calories come from fat. The sodium content is also very high at 20% of the daily value.
So while nitrate-free, Jimmy Dean sausage is high in other less healthy components. Moderation is key for those watching their diet.
How Jimmy Dean Sausages Are Processed
To ensure safety and consistency, Jimmy Dean uses the following process:
-
Meat is ground, seasoned, and stuffed into casings to form raw sausage links and patties.
-
The raw sausage then undergoes a cooking process to fully cook it.
-
The cooked sausage is quickly frozen and packaged.
-
It is shipped frozen to stores. Consumers finish cooking the pre-cooked sausage.
The pre-cooking step helps kill pathogens and renders the sausage shelf-stable when frozen. So just a quick reheat is needed before eating.
The Bottom Line: Should You Be Concerned?
To summarize, regular Jimmy Dean pork sausage contains no added nitrates based on current ingredient labels. But the sausages are high in sodium, fat, and calories compared to unprocessed meat.
While occasional consumption should be fine for most, eating Jimmy Dean sausage regularly may be unhealthy due to the high sodium and saturated fat content. Those with certain medical conditions like hypertension or heart disease may need to avoid it completely.
Jimmy Dean’s turkey and chicken sausages provide a lower fat alternative. Going with unprocessed fresh meats like chicken breast and adding your own spices results in an even healthier option.
So in moderation, Jimmy Dean sausage can be incorporated into a balanced diet. But for your main protein sources, leaner fresh meats are likely the healthier way to go. Limit intake of processed meats high in sodium and saturated fat for optimal nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some additional common questions about nitrates in Jimmy Dean sausages:
Do Jimmy Dean turkey sausages contain nitrates?
Yes, their uncured turkey and chicken sausages contain nitrates from natural sources like celery juice powder. But their regular pork sausages do not.
What are the health concerns around nitrates?
Nitrates may convert to cancer-causing nitrosamines in the body. Nitrites can also form methemoglobin that reduces oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. The FDA limits added nitrates/nitrites in processed meats.
What is typically used for color in cured meats?
Traditionally, nitrates and nitrites provided the characteristic pink color in cured meats like bacon and sausage. Now, ingredients like beet powder or caramel provide natural coloring.
Are nitrates added to all cured and smoked meats?
No. Products labeled uncured use natural nitrate sources while regular smoked meats likely contain man-made sodium nitrate or nitrite. Check the ingredients list to know for sure.
Are there health benefits of nitrates in meats?
Some studies show nitrates from vegetables may have cardiovascular benefits. But more research is needed on health effects of nitrates specifically from processed meats rather than vegetables.
So in conclusion, Jimmy Dean’s original pork sausage contains no added nitrates or nitrites based on current ingredient labels. Consumers can enjoy them occasionally as part of an overall healthy diet.
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This breakfast dish has quickly become a family favorite. It is great because it can be used in many ways, is high in protein, and is easy to make. On a busy school morning, it makes it easy to make a tasty, healthy hot breakfast. You know those mornings. If you wake up at 6:47 in the morning to organize Rainbow Loom bands, your kids aren’t paying attention, and their socks don’t match (which, thankfully, is the trend these days). The permission slip you signed yesterday is missing, and it’s due today. And while you’re brushing your teeth, your daughter gets toothpaste on her school shirt, and you have to dig through the laundry pile (five loads, none folded) because getting a new shirt from her room will wake the toddler, and no one wants to wake this toddler! Or maybe that’s just our mornings…
Back to the point of the post.
This dish serves 4-6 depending on the appetites you’re feeding and if you offer fresh fruit or toast or any other sides. I am using our large baking dish that easily accommodates a dozen eggs. We also have a smaller baking dish available that is great for 6-8 eggs.
Ingredients needed:
Start by browning your breakfast sausage. I use one pound of MSG-free, nitrate/nitrite-free, and phosphate-free Jimmy Dean All Natural Regular Pork Sausage. (Plus it’s gluten free, which matters to some. ) Yes, organic would be preferred, unfortunately that’s not in the budget this week.
Brown Sausage in a small to medium pot on the stove.
Remove the fat from the sausage or place it on a paper towel to soak up the oil. If you want to save money, put half of the browned sausage in a bag and freeze it for later.
I get my eggs from a local farm on a weekly basis. Not only are they beautiful, but they have a deliciously rich flavor.
Eight to six eggs will do if you don’t need as many. Twelve eggs is what works best for our family. Beat your eggs and add milk.
I’m not big measuring, I just pour some in until it looks pretty good. Around 1/2 – 3/4 cup organic whole milk.
After you beat the eggs and milk so they’re fluffy, toss in 1/4 cup-ish grated cheese. We change it up around here, which is mostly due to what I have on hand. Some days I use cheddar, other days it’s been mozzarella and parmesan. For a great kick add pepper jack cheese!.
Next add 1 1/2 cups torn baby spinach. If you’re cooking with the kids this is a fun thing for them to be doing. While you’re busy beating eggs your little helper can be tearing baby spinach leaves. It doesn’t have to be extra tiny or sliced or all the same size. Just let the kids grab a few leaves and rip them up a couple times.
At any point you can add your sausage and salt and pepper to taste. Which, really is an odd thing to say. Who is going to put salt and pepper in raw egg soup, taste it, and then add more salt and pepper? Really? Don’t do that. Just add some. and then add more after it bakes if it wasn’t enough.
This is where our additions end because of the taste preferences of our 5 minions. You can make this dish even tastier by adding things like fresh mushrooms, diced bell pepper, broccoli, chunks of ham, onion, kale, etc. if you don’t have any minion helpers or if they have different taste preferences. Have fun with it. Get creative. Throw in anything you like! (Just don’t tell the kids until after they have eaten it!).
Before I pour my egg mixture into my baking dish, I spritz the dish with grapeseed oil. You could use Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil or even butter I suppose. I have made this several times before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware.** If you are preparing this the night before and don’t want to bake it until the morning then you can cover your dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight.
I bake mine in my convection oven at 350 for 40 minutes. I honestly don’t know if it takes longer to bake in a conventional oven. Just be sure that the egg in the middle is completely cooked before you serve and enjoy!.
** Note about this bakeware: I have made this several times before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware. The eggs stuck to both of those dishes regardless of how well I oiled the pan. The casserole baked in the DowntoEarthenware Baking Dish was extremely easy to cut and came our without any of the egg sticking. Beautiful results!