The perfect ratio of herbs, spices, and brown sugar combine to make the best breakfast sausage seasoning for patties and links! It works great with ground pork, turkey, chicken and even venison, too. Ready in just minutes and easy to store to use year-round!
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If you’re anything like me, you’re starting a lot of mornings (or ALL mornings!) with breakfast sausages! They’re delicious alongside eggs, with toast, or simply to get a dose of protein in the morning.
My go-tos are this Chicken Breakfast Sausage or Chicken Apple Sausage, or some Applegate Chicken Maple Sausage links from the store.
Yes, storebought packages are super convenient! But there’s nothing like the flavor you get from making your own sausage with your own breakfast sausage seasoning.
Why You’ll Love This Seasoning
- You need far fewer ingredients than you’re probably thinking.
- It is simple to double or even triple the batch and store it to use for later.
- The best part: this recipe works with ground pork, chicken, and even venison. (Try this Chicken Breakfast Sausage for a real treat.)
Ingredients in Sausage Seasoning
- Fennel seeds. Actually the dried fruit of the fennel plant, this is essential to get that sausage taste.
- Brown sugar. Adds the perfect amount of sweetness, but you can leave it out if you’re watching sugar intake. If needed, you can sub with coconut sugar for a Paleo- and refined sugar-free alternative.
- Thyme. This herb is sweet and peppery and adds a depth of flavor.
- Sage. Rubbed sage is easy to find and needed for an authentic taste.
- Red Pepper Flakes. This is optional, but perfect if you want an extra kick. Leave it out for a mild flavor.
Ingredient Swaps
You should be able to find everything you need at the grocery store in the spice section. This recipe calls for a variety of dried herbs. While you can substitute ingredients, be sure to use fennel. If you’re watching your sodium intake, add less salt, as well.
How to Make Breakfast Sausage Seasoning
Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
1. Combine Ingredients
After you have gathered all of the ingredients, add them to a medium or large bowl. You can also use the container you will be storing it in.
Whisk the ingredients until well combined.
2. Use or Store the Spice Mix
This spice mix goes perfectly with ground chicken, pork, beef, or even venison.
When you’re ready to use it, mix about 1 tablespoon of spice mix per pound of ground meat. You can increase or decrease the amount of spices depending on your taste preference.
If you’re saving some for later, it is essential to store this mixture in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry space.
Avoid areas near heat, like the stove. The best place to keep this blend is in a spice cabinet or dry pantry. Also, try to use a container that just barely fits the spice mixture to keep it fresh the longest.
FAQs
Traditionally, breakfast sausage is flavored with a blend of spices and herbs, mainly fennel, sage, and thyme. Additional ingredients like rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, or even cayenne pepper can be used, as well.
To make breakfast sausage, add a sausage seasoning to ground turkey, chicken or pork, or even ground beef. Either brown the meat or form into breakfast sausage patties and cook in a large skillet with olive oil.
Typically both sausages are made from pork, though breakfast sausage can also be beef, turkey, or chicken. However, the spices are different. Breakfast sausage is usually fennel, sage, and thyme while pork sausage also has paprika, cayenne, and onion powder.
More Homemade Seasoning Mixes
Once you see how quick and easy it is to make your own seasoning mixes, give one of these a try next:
- Homemade Chili Seasoning
- Homemade Italian Seasoning
- Homemade Fajita Seasoning
- Easy Greek Seasoning
- Blackened Seasoning
- Taco Seasoning
- Burger Seasoning
- Ranch Seasoning
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Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. fennel seeds
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. thyme dried
- ½ tsp. ground sage
- ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Add everything to either a small bowl or the jar that you will be storing it in. Mix well until everything is combined.
- Use approximately 1 tablespoon to season 1 pound of ground meat. (Recipe yields 3 Tablespoons.) Store in a cool, dry place for up to 1-2 years.
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Notes
- This recipe makes enough to season 2 pounds of ground meat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Will this mixture work on deer to make a deer breakfast sausage?
Yes it should! It just won’t be quite as moist since deer meat is quite a bit leaner than sausage.
This was good, but for us, too much fennel and not enough sage. Will halve the fennel and double the sage next time. Thank you for sharing.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Teresa! You can definitely increase or decrease amounts to your preference. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Absolutely spot-on for breakfast sausage! Used this tonight for a pack of ground turkey; only recommendation I have is to make more than you think you’ll need, because your (other humans in the house) are going to eat all of it.
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Andiun! Love this advice! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!