Chicken Breakfast Sausage – Easy Homemade Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Breakfast Sausage

While pancakes are a weekend favorite, having a reliable chicken breakfast sausage recipe is essential for a balanced daily routine. These chicken apple sausages have become a staple in my kitchen for three main reasons:

• High in Protein & Healthy: A lean way to fuel your morning without excess saturated fats.
• Meal Prep Friendly: Easy to batch cook and freeze for busy weekdays.
• Kid-Approved: The natural sweetness from apples makes them a hit with the whole family.

If you are looking for more healthy morning inspiration, check out these top 25 meal recipes that offer a mix of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.

The combination of savory herbs and sweet apples creates a flavor profile that is hard to resist. Plus, making them at home means you control exactly what goes into your food—no mystery fillers or nitrates here!

How to Make Chicken Breakfast Sausage from Scratch

Store-bought sausages often contain high levels of sodium and preservatives. Making your own is not only healthier but surprisingly simple. All you need are fresh, whole ingredients.

Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Sausage

You only need eight simple ingredients to make this delicious chicken breakfast sausage:

• Ground Chicken: I recommend a mix of breast and thigh meat for the best balance of leanness and moisture.
• Apple: Use a sweet variety like Gala or Fuji to avoid tartness. Peel and mince finely.
• Onion: Minced yellow or white onion adds savory depth.
• Fresh Parsley: Adds a pop of color and fresh herbaceous flavor.
• Sea Salt: Enhances all the other flavors.
• Garlic Granules: Provides a consistent garlic flavor without burning.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper for a bit of heat.
• Avocado Oil: Helps keep the patties moist and aids in cooking.

Note: If you use all white meat chicken, you may need slightly more oil to prevent dryness. Thigh meat adds natural fat and flavor.

Mixing the Sausage Meat

The process is similar to making meatloaf or turkey burgers. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. While a spoon works, I highly recommend using clean hands (or food-safe gloves) to mix the ingredients. This ensures the spices and apples are evenly distributed throughout the ground chicken.

Forming the Patties

There are two easy ways to shape your chicken breakfast sausage patties:

1. Cookie Scoop Method: Use a large cookie scoop to portion the meat. Drop it onto your work surface and flatten with your palm. This ensures uniform size and even cooking.
2. Hand Rolling: Divide the mixture into 15 equal balls and flatten them into patties.

Thickness Tips for Freezing vs. Fresh Cooking

The thickness of your patties depends on when you plan to eat them:

• Fresh Cooking: Aim for about ¾ inch thick. They will shrink slightly but remain juicy.
• Freezing: Keep patties no thicker than ½ inch. This allows you to cook them directly from frozen without thawing, saving you time in the morning.

For another great make-ahead breakfast idea, try these healthy blueberry oat muffins.

Cooking Instructions

Cooking chicken sausage requires a gentle touch to maintain moisture. Here is how to get the perfect sear:

1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat with a small amount of avocado oil.
2. Add the patties in a single layer (work in batches if necessary).
3. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side until golden brown.
4. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Crucial Tip: Do not press down on the patties while cooking! This squeezes out the juices and results in dry sausage. Let them cook undisturbed to develop a nice crust.

Health Benefits of Homemade Chicken Sausage

Breakfast is often the meal where we lack sufficient protein. Chicken is an excellent lean source that keeps you full longer. Unlike commercial brands, this chicken breakfast sausage contains:

• No nitrates or preservatives
• No mystery fillers or “natural flavors”
• Lower sodium content
• Whole, recognizable ingredients

For more details on why homemade is better, you can read about breakfast sausage variations on BBC Good Food.

Paleo and Dietary Adaptations

This recipe is naturally Paleo, Gluten-Free, and Dairy-Free. By using avocado oil, you ensure the fats used are compliant with paleo guidelines. If you are watching your sodium intake, you can easily reduce the salt or use a sodium-free herbal blend.

Serving Suggestions

These sausages pair beautifully with a variety of breakfast sides. Try serving them with:

• Scrambled eggs or omelets
• Fresh fruit salad
• Toast or English muffins
• Hash browns or roasted sweet potatoes

If you enjoy egg dishes, these sausages go perfectly with country scrambled eggs for a hearty weekend brunch.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

One of the best features of this chicken breakfast sausage is its freezer-friendliness.

How to Freeze Raw Patties

1. Place formed patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. Flash freeze for 20-30 minutes until firm.
3. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper.
4. Label with the date and use within 3 months.

Cooking from Frozen

Cook frozen patties in a skillet over medium heat. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use turkey instead of chicken?

Yes, ground turkey works well in this recipe. Since turkey can be drier, ensure you don’t skip the avocado oil or the apple, which adds moisture.

What apples are best for sausage?

Sweet apples like Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp are ideal. Avoid Granny Smith unless you prefer a tarter flavor profile.

How do I know when the sausage is done?

The safest way is to use an instant-read thermometer. Chicken must reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into one patty; the meat should be white with no pink traces, and juices should run clear.

Can I bake these sausages?

Yes! Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Baking is a great option for cooking large batches simultaneously.

For another delicious poultry dish, try this air fryer whole chicken for dinner.

Chicken Breakfast Sausage

Serves: 15 sausage patties

Preparation: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins

Homemade chicken breakfast sausage is a healthier alternative to store bought. This chicken breakfast sausage recipe shows you how easy they are to make.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground chicken (use a mixture of chicken breast and chicken thigh if possible)
• 1 small apple – peeled and minced
• ⅓ medium onion – minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic granules
• ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil

Instructions

Make the chicken sausage meat

• In a large bowl, mix everything together well. I find the quickest and surest way to make sure everything is mixed well is to put on my food prep gloves, and use my fingers to really mix it together.

Make the chicken sausage patties

• There are a few different ways you can do this. I like to use a large cookie scoop. I scooped in the chicken sausage meat so it’s just almost full, released the scoop, then flattened with my palm. Alternatively, you can simply divide the sausage meat into 15 rough balls, and shape each ball into a sausage patty.
• Make 15 equal sized chicken breakfast sausages. I make them about ¾ inch thick if I’m going to cook them right away, but you can make them according to your preference.
• If you are going to freeze half the batch, make the ones you are going to freeze no thicker than ½ inch, if you plan to cook from the freezer. Otherwise, you will need to defrost the chicken sausage patties before cooking.

Cook the chicken breakfast sausage

• Heat a little oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties (you may need to do this in batches) and cook the first side for about 3-4 minutes, or until browned. Flip then cook the other side until browned and the sausage is cooked through.The most reliable way to check if a chicken sausage patty is cooked is to use an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature of each sausage should be 165°F / 74°C.
• If you are cooking from frozen, follow the same instructions, but you will need to increase the cooking time slightly. If the chicken breakfast sausage is brown but not cooked, turn off the heat and finish cooking.

Notes

If you are going to freeze breakfast chicken sausage, the best way is to place each sausage patty on parchment paper and freeze on a tray. You can place the chicken sausages in a freezer bag once the meat is slightly frozen (about 20-30 minutes).
You can also wrap the chicken breakfast sausages with a sheet of parchment paper between them and freeze as a stack. But you run the risk that some of the sausage patties may stick together. If you are cooking them again as a batch, then it shouldn’t be a problem as they will pop after a few minutes out of the freezer. But if you plan to cook only one chicken breakfast sausage at a time, then it is best to freeze lightly on a tray before putting the sausage patties on.

Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken Breakfast Sausage
Special Diet: Dairy Free, Gluten Free

Calories: 66kcal

Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate.