Make your own homemade breakfast sausage with this recipe for Turkey Sausage patties! They’ve got that perfect sweet-and-savory balance, with a nice peppery flavor to jazz things up.
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Why You’ll Love This Turkey Breakfast Sausage Patty Recipe
- Easier Than You Think. Making sausage seems like something that would be complicated. Don’t you need casings and special equipment? Nope! This turkey sausage starts with ground turkey, which is seasoned with breakfast sausage flavors, and then formed into patties. It’s that simple!
- Excellent for Meal Prep. Make these sausage patties at the beginning of the week and enjoy them for the next several days as a quick and easy breakfast option. They also freeze well, so you can make extras and save some for later.
- Healthier Option. This homemade turkey sausage is made with lean ground turkey instead of pork, and when you DIY it, you can avoid the preservatives, additives, and fillers in store-bought processed sausage. That’s a win!
- Budget-Friendly. Making your own turkey sausage at home is not only healthier, it’s also a great way to save some money on groceries, and helps you skip the breakfast drive thru.
How to Make Turkey Sausage
The Ingredients
- Ground Turkey. I recommend using 90% to 95% lean.
- Olive Oil. This adds necessary moisture to keep the turkey sausage from drying out since it’s leaner than pork.
- Pure Maple Syrup. The real deal, not pancake syrup! Breakfast sausage has a mild sweetness to it, and I love the flavor maple adds to the equation.
- Seasonings. Dried sage, kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and ground nutmeg.
The Directions
- Combine. Add all of the ingredients except the canola oil to a bowl.
- Mix. Use a fork or your hands to combine.
- Form Patties. Divide the sausage mixture into 6 patties.
- Cook the First Side. Place a skillet over medium high heat and cook the patties in the canola oil until browned on the bottom.
- Finish. Flip and cook the other side until the turkey sausage reaches 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- Make Sausage Crumbles. Instead of forming patties, create crumbles by skipping forming the patties and breaking up the turkey sausage mixture into small pieces while it cooks.
- Use Different Seasonings. Customize the seasonings to your liking by adding herbs like thyme or rosemary, or instead of breakfast sausage, try adding Italian seasonings and fennel seeds for an Italian turkey sausage vibe.
- Give Them Some Smoky Flavor. Add smoked paprika or a splash of liquid smoke to give your turkey sausage patties a smoky flavor. (Note that a little goes a long way with the liquid smoke!)
What to Serve with Turkey Sausage
- Eggs. Cottage Cheese Eggs and fresh fruit make for a well-rounded, high-protein breakfast.
- Pancakes. If you like your savory with sweet! Try these fluffy Oatmeal Pancakes or Protein Pancakes.
- Waffles. These Blender Whole Wheat Waffles are one of my favorites!
- Breakfast Potatoes. Home Fries and Sweet Potato Hash Browns are perfection with sausage.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Don’t Overmix the Meat. Overmixing the ground turkey can make your sausage dense and tough. Mix just until everything is combined.
- Use Your Hands. A fork works, but your hands are your best bet. Don’t be squeamish!
- Don’t Press Down on the Patties While Cooking. Resist the urge to press down on the patties with a spatula while you cook them. Yes, that sizzling sound is irresistible, but it’s also the sound of the moisture seeping out and evaporating off the pan. The result? Sad, dry sausage patties.
Turkey Sausage
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 patties
Making your own breakfast sausage is surprisingly easy! These sweet and savory turkey sausage patties take 20 minutes and are juicy and delish.
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey 90% to 95% lean
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes reduce to ⅛ teaspoon if sensitive to spice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons canola oil for cooking the patties
Instructions
- In a large bowl, place the turkey, olive oil, maple syrup, sage, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg. With a fork or your fingers, gently combine being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Form into 6 patties—they will be about 3 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter.
- To cook, heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium high. Once the skillet is good and hot, add the patties to the skillet, leaving some room around them. Cook on the first side for 3 minutes, until they turn golden brown.
- Flip and cook on the other side until the patties are cooked through, about 2 minutes more—they should reach 165°F on an instant read thermometer. Transfer to a plate.
- Repeat with remaining patties. Enjoy!
Notes
- TO STORE: Transfer the cooked turkey sausage to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm the sausages in a skillet set over medium heat until they’re warmed through, or heat the patties in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Place the cooked turkey sausage patties in an airtight container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating for the best results.
Nutrition
Serving: 1patty (of 6)Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 14gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 56mgPotassium: 173mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 82IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
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Ground turkey is one of my favorite proteins to cook with! Here are some more recipes that put it to use:
Made them last night, and they were incredible. The spices blend perfectly, giving the sausages a fantastic flavor without being too greasy. They were great on their own or as part of a dish. I’m definitely going to be making these regularly!
Great to hear, thank you Karen!
I tried it out earlier, and it turned out better than I could have hoped. The sausages were flavorful and had the perfect amount of seasoning. I made it along with scramble eggs this morning, and it was a hit with the whole family. Definitely going to add this to my regular rotation! Thank you so much!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Celestine!
I was a bit skeptical at first, but after trying it, I’m hooked. The texture is perfect, and the taste is even better. I used them in a pasta dish, and the sausages held up beautifully, adding a wonderful depth of flavor. It’s a keeper for sure!
YAY so happy to hear it Nadine, thank you!
I won’t lie, I questioned how ground Turkey would end up tasting like breakfast sausage, but I fully trust Erin and decided to try it. Well, as Julia Roberts so famously said, “BIG MISTAKE – HUGE!” These were exceptional and no one even guessed they were turkey. I’m buying a Costco size pack of ground turkey now so I can make a bunch to freeze. Thank you, Erin!!
Yay! So glad to hear you enjoyed them, Taylor! Thank you!
Can you air fry these? Any idea how long they would need?
Thanks
Hi Julie, I haven’t tested them out in the air fryer so it would be hard to say how long, but it should definitely work! If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Tried this recipe, the only thing we added was some regular bread crumbs because we decided to make burgers instead. Well they turned out delicious and would definitely make them again!
So happy to hear! Thank you Mike!
I was skeptical. I love breakfast sausage. But I am seriously impressed with this recipe and didn’t miss the pork at all! I like that it has less saturated fat and is super easy to make. Don’t hesitate and try it for yourself. I’m a nutrition coach and recommend many of her recipes to clients. This will be another on that list. I have never been let down by one of her recipes. Thank you!!
Yay! Thank you so much, Lindsey!
Absolutely delicious! I made this for my son’s girlfriend who doesn’t eat pork, and she was so happy! She even asked for the recipe. I know “fluffy” isn’t the best word to describe meat, but the patties were so tender, fluffy (haha) and flavorful. We all agreed on that! I will definitely make these again. Yum!!
So glad they were a hit, Rachel! Thank you!