Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (2024)

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals and if you follow me on Instagram, you know I love a big savory breakfast. I also strive to get in lots of protein at breakfast to help me feel my best. This breakfast sausage recipe helps me so do while being the perfect accompaniment to a savory breakfast.

This recipe is inspired by the blueberry breakfast sausages they have at Whole Foods. While theirs are delicious, if you look at the ingredients, they are sweetened with maple syrup and brown sugar and also have canola oil in them. So I decided to make my own.

Plus, making sausage at home is really quite simple. While they will more than likely be in patty form rather than link form, they are just as delicious. All you need is ground meat, some ad-ins if you like, and your spices/seasonings.

The end result of this breakfast sausage recipe is a perfect balance. I find the blueberries add enough sweetness to offset the savory sausage and no added sugar is needed. And since I used lean pork, there are lower in fat than typical breakfast sausages and packed with more protein.

Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (1)

Why we love this homemade breakfast sausage recipe

  • easy to make– they come together in about 20-25 minutes
  • better thanstore-bought breakfast sausage– not only do they taste great, but there are no added nitrites or nitrates, fillers, and binders
  • 9 grams of protein per patty!
  • customizable to your liking– change out the spices to change the flavor from week to week
  • great for meal prep for the week

Is breakfast sausage healthy?

Breakfast sausages can be a healthy addition to any diet when made with the right ingredients. When making them at home, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients. There are no added nitrites or nitrates, fillers, binders, or artificial ingredients. They also aren’t loaded with sodium and just a pinch of sea salt is used for the whole recipe.

What gives breakfast sausage that distinct taste?

The combination of spices, usually sage, fennel, and thyme, give breakfast sausage their unique and distinct flavor. Other spices can also be used as well and sometimes they are sweetened with maple syrup or sugar.

Ingredients

  • ground pork– I used lean 90/10 ground pork
  • garlic powder
  • thyme
  • sage
  • cinnamon
  • ginger
  • nutmeg
  • fresh blueberries– for a natural touch of sweetness
  • salt and pepper
  • oil, for frying
Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (2)

How to make breakfast sausage

  1. Combine your ingredients.Add ground pork, spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a medium or large bowl. Using your hands, mix to combine. Add in the blueberries and carefully mix to combine. Form sausage mixture into 10 equal-size patties. When forming the sausage patties, try to enclose the blueberries with some of the meat so they stay in place and do not fall out when cooking.
  2. Cook.Heat up a large skillet or cast iron over medium heat. Add oil and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add sausage patties in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 2-4 minutes until browned and cooked through. You may have to cook in two batches depending on how big your pan is.
  3. Enjoy!Serve with your favorite breakfast items and enjoy!
Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (3)
Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (4)
Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (5)

Make them in the oven

If you want to make a double batch or just don’t want to sit by the stove to cook these, you can easily bake them in the oven. Form sausages and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.

What to serve with breakfast sausage

You can treat this recipe as an addition to breakfast or serve them as is with other classic sides. Here are some ideas:

  • at breakfast with eggs, toast or potatoes, and veggies
  • in abreakfast saladwith greens, veggies, poached eggs,avocado, and dressing
  • in breakfast sandwiches
  • with any kind of roasted or sautéed veggies and roasted potatoes
  • alongside pancakes or waffles
Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (6)

Meal prep

These breakfast sausage patties are excellent for meal prep! Make a batch at the beginning of the week (I love to meal prep on Sunday) and you have an easy breakfast side during the week.

Storage and reheating

  • fridge– homemade sausage patties will last 4-5 days in the fridge in a tightly sealed glass container.
  • freezer– freeze in a large container or in individual servings in plastic wrap. Defrost in the fridge overnight. They should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
  • reheating– to heat them up, you can lightly pan-fry in a little oil (be careful not to overcook and dry them out) or pop them in the microwave for a minute.
Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (7)

Substitutions

  • ground pork– ground chicken, ground turkey, or even ground beef would work for this recipe. Swapping out the pork will change the nutrition profile and flavor.
  • garlic– you can use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder. Use 2-3 cloves or 1 tablespoon worth.
  • spices– you can swap out or add spices for ones like fennel seeds, onion powder, or red pepper flakes to change the flavor.
  • fresh blueberries– apples would be a good substitute for blueberries.

More healthy breakfast recipes

  • chicken apple sausage
  • chicken hash
  • breakfast stuffed sweet potatoes (3 ways!)
  • sweet potato sausage hash

If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREEHow to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!

Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (8)

Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe

Author: Kelly Nardo

This homemade breakfast sausage recipe is so delicious and so easy to make! Just ground pork, spices, and fresh blueberries for a sweet and savory easy breakfast side. Gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, paleo, and Whole30.

Print RecipePin Recipe

Course: Breakfast

Calories: 94kcal

Protein: 8.9g

Carbs: 1.5g

Fat: 5.8g

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 patties

equipment

  • cast iron skillet

ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground pork (I used 90/10)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon gound sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup blueberries (80 grams)
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • oil, for frying

instructions

  • Combine your ingredients.Add ground pork, spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a medium or large bowl. Using your hands, mix to combine. Add in the blueberries and carefully mix to combine. Form sausage mixture into 10 equal-size patties. When forming the sausage patties, try to enclose the blueberries with some of the meat so they stay in place and do not fall out when cooking.

  • Cook.Heat up a large skillet or cast iron over medium heat. Add oil and let it get hot, about 30 seconds. Add sausage patties in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 2-4 minutes until browned and cooked through. You may have to cook in two batches depending on how big your pan is.

  • Enjoy!Serve with your favorite breakfast items and enjoy!

nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 patty)

Calories 94Calories from Fat 52

% Daily Value*

Fat 5.8g9%

Saturated Fat 1.6g10%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 28mg9%

Sodium 89mg4%

Potassium 12mg0%

Carbohydrates 1.5g1%

Fiber 0.3g1%

Sugar 0.7g1%

Protein 8.9g18%

Vitamin A 0.4IU0%

Vitamin C 0.7mg1%

Calcium 12mg1%

Iron 0.6mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe or anything from Eat the Gains, leave a comment and rating to let people know how you liked it! Also, make sure to post it and tag me so I can see all of your creations!! @eatthegains and #eatthegains on Instagram!

Homemade Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Recipe - Eat the Gains (2024)

FAQs

What gives breakfast sausage its distinctive flavor? ›

Breakfast sausage (or country sausage) is a type of fresh sausage, typically made from pork, that is a common breakfast food in the United States. In the United States, the predominant flavorings used for seasoning are black pepper and sage. There are also varieties seasoned with maple syrup or cayenne pepper.

What is the best fat ratio for breakfast sausage? ›

Sausages should contain 25-30% fat. This may seem like a lot but many commercially made sausages contain 50% fat. So, you need 250-300g of fat per 1kg of sausage mix. Like most things to do with sausages, it is not necessary for the ratio of fat to meat to be perfect.

Why does breakfast sausage taste different? ›

To start with, most breakfast sausages are made with a variety of specific herbs. The most important of these is sage. This addition gives breakfast sausage its woodsy, slightly peppery, herbal flavor, and it's found in most classic store-bought varieties at the supermarket.

How to cook breakfast sausage like a restaurant? ›

Preheat a broiler. Place the pan under the broiler and broil the sausages, turning once, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a warmed platter and serve hot.

What makes sausages taste better? ›

Mix in your favourite combination of herbs and spices.

Experiment with different combinations to find your favourite. Paprika, basil, and thyme is a delicious combination. A mixture of sage, marjoram, and chilli works well.

What is the most popular sausage seasoning? ›

Some of the most popular whole herbs and spices used in sausage making are:
  • Tellicherry Peppercorns.
  • Fennel Seed.
  • Yellow Mustard Seed.
  • Allspice Berries.
  • Dill Seed.
  • Celery Seed.
  • Anise Seed.

What is the most important ingredient in sausage? ›

MUSCLE MEATS. Skeletal muscle meats from slaughtered animals are the principal ingredients used in sausage production. However, the different skeletal muscles vary not only in their contents of fat, water and proteins, but also in their water binding and emulsifying properties, colour, etc.

Why add ice water to sausage? ›

As sausage ingredients are mixed together, a great amount of heat is generated, it is important to add ice as an ingredient rather that water to quickly and effectively remove that heat to prevent the product from cooking during the mixing process.

What grind size for breakfast sausage? ›

For loose sausage like breakfast I like the fine plate, which on my machine is 3/16". For brats and other cased sausages I typically run the coarse plate, which is 3/8".

Should breakfast sausage be ground twice? ›

It's really up to personal preference. If you like a coarse, chunky sausage then once should be enough. If you prefer a smoother sausage, then you probably want to grind it twice. We recommend to put our meat through the mincing machine twice.

Is Jimmy Dean sausage the same as breakfast sausage? ›

Dean founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage brand of breakfast sausage, which was originally called "Pure Pork Sausage." The Jimmy Dean Sausage company did well, in part due to Dean's own extemporized, good-humored commercials.

What is the white stuff coming out of breakfast sausage? ›

It's mold. Yup, you read that right.

What is breakfast sausage seasoning made of? ›

In this top-rated recipe, ground pork is seasoned with the following ingredients: brown sugar, sage, salt, black pepper, marjoram, red pepper flakes, and cloves. These spices and seasonings give the breakfast sausage a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy flavor that's impossible to resist.

Why do you boil breakfast sausage? ›

Sausages should reach 155–165°F (68–74°C). Alternatively, boiling them before cooking in a pan or on a grill can ensure that they're thoroughly cooked and remain moist. Boiling and baking are the healthiest ways to cook sausage, whereas deep frying is the least healthy due to the added fats and calories it involves.

Is it better to cook sausages in the oven or pan? ›

One of the healthiest ways to cook sausages is in the oven. It's super easy to do, and unlike frying or grilling, baking sausages doesn't require any extra oil.

Why is breakfast sausage different from regular sausage? ›

Unlike Italian sausage, breakfast sausage often combines ground pork with ground beef to achieve a milder and more versatile flavor. Breakfast sausage is also seasoned differently than Italian sausage. It usually contains a blend of herbs such as sage, thyme, and rosemary, along with salt and pepper.

What is the distinctive flavor in Italian sausage? ›

Fennel is the spice that gives Italian sausage its Italian flavor. Often the fennel is a mixture of whole or cracked fennel seed and ground fennel. The whole or cracked fennel seed will help to give good visibility to the spice while the ground fennel will contribute a very distinctive fennel flavor.

Why does sausage sometimes taste like licorice? ›

The main difference in Italian sausage when compared to other sausages is the seasoning. The particular ingredient that usually sets Italian sausage apart is fennel. This is a licorice scented herb that gives Italian sausage its unique taste that is different than other types of sausage.

What is a breakfast sausage that tastes like McDonald's? ›

According to the former chef, they're the closest match he's found. Walmart's Great Value sausages and McDonald's sausages both contain pork, water, salt, corn syrup, dextrose, and sugar. They also both have natural flavorings. Where they differ is in the preservatives.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6742

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.