Forget Jimmy Dean – use this Breakfast Sausage Seasoning to make your patties and links so much tastier. It is super quick and easy to mix together your own spices and store them for up to a year. Use this DIY blend on busy mornings in ground chicken, pork, or turkey for the best sausage recipe!
It’s unfortunately too common… You’re craving breakfast sausage but you’re out! Or the only one you have is frozen.
But did you know it’s so easy to transform ground meat into the best breakfast sausage?
All you need is this simple sausage seasoning mix!
And the best part is this recipe works with ground pork, chicken, and even venison. (Try this Chicken Breakfast Sausage for a real treat.)
It is also simple to double or even triple the batch and store it to use for later.
So, next time you’re craving homemade instead of Jimmy Dean sausage, give this recipe a try.
Ingredients
The simple ingredients you need to make this Breakfast Sausage Seasoning recipe include:
- 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, or leave it out for a mild flavor.
How to Make Breakfast Sausage Seasoning
These are the steps to follow to make this Breakfast Sausage Seasoning recipe:
Combine Ingredients
It is so easy to make this seasoning at home. 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.
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.
Store
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.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Don’t skip. While you can leave out the red pepper flakes and brown sugar, you absolutely need fennel and sage.
- Double up. You can easily make a big batch to have some ready when you need it.
- Just enough. Don’t store this mix in a large container, use one with barely enough room.
- Cool and dry. Be sure to store this blend in a spice cabinet or dry pantry away from heat and humidity.
- Get creative. Serve this seasoning with your favorite protein alongside toast and eggs for a healthy and flavorful breakfast.
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 immediately or 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!