• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me

Beyond The Chicken Coop logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
×
Home » Breakfast and Brunch

Published: Dec 3, 2023 by Kathy

Homemade Breakfast Sausage

Jump to Recipe

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

Pork sausage patty on a plate next to scrambled eggs.

Homemade breakfast sausage makes breakfast time extra delicious! This pork sausage is easy to make and is perfect for weekend and holiday breakfast or brunch.

Three homemade breakfast sausages on a white plate.

Pork breakfast sausage

Making your own breakfast sausage isn't difficult. You get to control the seasoning and you know exactly what's in your sausage.

I like to make this sausage for breakfast and I also use the sausage in several recipes. This recipe makes eight patties or a pound of bulk sausage, but you can easily double if you need a larger batch.

This homemade sausage cooks perfectly on the stovetop or you can bake the sausages in the oven.

Key ingredients

This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.

Ingredients for making breakfast sausage.
  • Ground Pork - You can often find it at your meat counter. You want unseasoned ground pork. Ask your butcher if you can't find it.
  • Brown Sugar - Just a touch of brown sugar is added (2 teaspoons!) The brown sugar helps balance the flavors without making the sausage sweet. It also helps with the browning of the sausage.
  • Salt - Use a coarse salt, like kosher salt.
  • Seasoning - Pepper, garlic powder, dried sage, thyme, parsley and rosemary.
  • Red Pepper Flakes - Give a bit of heat to the sausage without making it spicy. You can always add a bit more or a bit less.

Making homemade breakfast sausage

In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.

Ground pork and seasonings in a large bowl.
  1. Place the ground pork in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Sprinkle over all seasonings and the brown sugar.
Mixed pork sausage in a bowl.
  1. Use clean hands to combine everything. I dig my hands in and squeeze the pork through my fingers and knead lightly until everything is combined.
Forming balls with a cookie scoop.
  1. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour so the flavors can all meld together.
Uncooked breakfast sausage patties on a baking sheet.
  1. Form into patties by first portioning out the meat mixture with a cookie scoop and then flattening each round with your hands.

Recipe tips

  • Make certain your sausage meat is fully mixed. It's okay to get in there and mix that meat with your clean hands. It's the best way to mix the meat.
  • Allow time for the flavors to meld together. While you can cook the sausage right away, the flavors will be more pronounced if you give it at least an hour.
  • This recipe uses dried herbs, but if you prefer to use fresh herbs, increase the amount of fresh herbs by 3-4 times the amount of dried herbs.
  • Feel free to adjust the amount of herbs to your liking. Add a bit more sage, or omit the rosemary and thyme.
  • This sausage can also be cooked and used as bulk sausage. Skip forming the patties and cook in a medium pan breaking up the sausage while it cooks.

Frequently asked questions

How long does homemade breakfast sausage last?

The uncooked sausage mixture should be covered, refrigerated and used within 3-5 days.

How do I know when my sausage is fully cooked?

Cook until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

Ways to use breakfast sausage

  • Cook and serve with your favorite fried egg.
  • Serve with blueberry pancakes.
  • Cook the sausage and add to biscuits and gravy
  • Cook the sausage into crumbles and add to a tasty hash brown casserole.
  • Use the uncooked sausage in these stuffed mushrooms.
Breakfast sausage patties on a plate with scrambled eggs.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my breakfast recipes!

  • Pancakes with strawberries and syrup.
    Strawberry Pancakes
  • A slice of Rhubarb Coffee Cake on a small white plate.
    Rhubarb Coffee Cake
  • Chocolate Banana Muffin with chocolate chips on a white plate.
    Chocolate Banana Muffins
  • Homemade Croissants stacked on a cooling rack.
    How to Make Croissants
Three homemade breakfast sausages on a white plate.

Homemade Breakfast Sausage

Kathy Berget
Homemade breakfast sausage made with ground pork and seasoning. Perfect for breakfast or brunch.
5 from 51 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Chill Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 8 patties
Calories 154 kcal

Equipment

  • Measuring Spoons
  • Cookie Scoop (#20 size scoop)
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt (use a coarse salt, like kosher salt)
  • ¾ teaspoon ground sage
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

  • Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Use your hands to fully combine everything.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the flavors to fully meld together.
  • Remove from refrigerator and blend toether again.
  • Use a cookie scoop, #20 scoop or about 3 tablespoons, to form evenly-sized balls. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Flaten each ball into a 2-3 inch patty.
  • Cook in a lightly greased pan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side until sausages are cooked all the way through. 
  • Serve hot.

Notes

  • Make certain your sausage meat is fully mixed. It's okay to get in there and really mix that meat with your clean hands. It's the best way to mix the meat.
  • Allow time for the flavors to meld together. While you can cook the sausage right away, if you give it at least an hour, the flavors will be more pronounced.
  • This recipe uses dried herbs, but if you prefer to use fresh herbs, increase the amount of fresh herbs by 3-4 times the amount of dried herbs.
  • Feel free to adjust the amount of herbs to your liking. Add a bit more sage, or omit the rosemary and thyme.
  • This sausage can also be cooked and used as bulk sausage. Skip forming the patties and cook in a medium pan breaking up the sausage while it cooks.
To freeze:  Place mixed sausage in a freezer zip-top bag or wrap in butcher paper. Label and freeze. You can also freeze the patties, just layer with parchement paper between each patty. 

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pattyCalories: 154kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 10gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 324mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 25IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

This recipe was originally published in April 2015. The recipe, images, and information have all been updated.

More Breakfast and Brunch

  • Almond Poppy Seed Muffins on a baking rack.
    Almond Poppy Seed Muffins
  • An apple banana muffin on a small blue plate.
    Banana Apple Muffins
  • Cinnamon cake donuts stacked on a small plate.
    Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
  • Breakfast sausage cooked in the oven.
    Breakfast Sausage in Oven

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan Langheld says

    October 27, 2024 at 2:20 pm

    5 stars
    I made this after grinding up some pork. so I kept out a 1 1/4 # of ground pork. used the recipe exactly except I did put in 1/4 c of maple syrup. I fried one patty and it was delicious. For my taste I will double the sage. Thank you for such a clear recipe.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      October 29, 2024 at 12:03 pm

      Thanks so much! I like the addition of maple syrup! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Janet. Moore says

    December 08, 2023 at 10:08 am

    I would like to do my own ground pork, I have a meat grinder. Do you have any suggestions for the part of the pork to use?

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      December 08, 2023 at 12:10 pm

      Hi Janet,
      You'll want to use something with fat, like a boneless pork butt. You want about about 20-30% fat to meat. My husband will sometimes request extra pork fat from the butcher if the pork we are using is a bit lean.
      Let me know how it turns out!
      Kathy

      Reply
  3. Danielle @So Munch Love says

    April 23, 2015 at 12:22 am

    Wow, my stomach is growling looking at this. I am a HUGE fan of breakfast sausage. I make a homemade turkey Italian sausage that is loaded with fennel, but I haven't made my own breakfast breakfast sausage. Now I'm feeling inspired. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 24, 2015 at 6:05 pm

      Thanks, Danielle!

      Reply
  4. Rachelle says

    April 15, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    30 pounds of sausage! Oh my! I'm glad you were able to scale it back a bit. We have a meat grinder attachment for the Kitchenaid and have made sausage that is more like a hot dog that you put on a bun with mustard. It was totally fun and delicious. Chris loves grinding meat (I think he feels manly) so we will have to try breakfast sausage because I LOVE me some gravy biscuits! Yours looks like it would be perfect!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 15, 2015 at 6:14 pm

      30 pounds is a lot, but it's great to have it in our freezer!

      Reply
  5. Annie @ The Garlic Diaries says

    April 15, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    5 stars
    This is so cool! I need to get a meat grinder so I can do stuff like this.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 15, 2015 at 6:15 pm

      In the meanwhile, you can buy pork already ground from your butcher. Grinding your own is fun though!

      Reply
  6. Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says

    April 14, 2015 at 8:48 am

    Love homemade breakfast sausage! I've subbed ground turkey for pork & real maple syrup for brown sugar for a healthier version & it was yummy but yours looks amazing!!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 14, 2015 at 7:45 pm

      Ground turkey and maple syrup sound like a great combination.

      Reply
  7. yummychunklet says

    April 14, 2015 at 5:50 am

    Great looking homemade sausage!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 14, 2015 at 7:46 pm

      Thanks! It was delicious.

      Reply
  8. Lori from LL Farm says

    April 13, 2015 at 10:40 am

    Hi Kathy,
    Thanks for sharing the recipe. We love using sage in ours also.
    Lori

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      April 13, 2015 at 4:46 pm

      Sage is what makes it so good!

      Reply
5 from 51 votes (49 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

The author holding a chicken.

I'm Kathy, and I love to create delicious recipes from scratch utilizing many ingredients that we grow and raise. I'm a recipe creator, food photographer, and cookbook author!

More about me →

Grilling Time

  • Skewered shrimp on a plate.
    Honey Lime Shrimp
  • Grilled ribs on a bed of lettuce.
    Smoked Baby Back Ribs
  • Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers on a white dinner plate.
    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers
  • Grilled chicken thighs on a white plate.
    Italian Dressing Chicken
  • Flatbread rounds on a brown paper bag.
    Grilled Flatbread
  • Grilled lemon chicken breast on a plate with baby potatoes and a green salad.
    Honey Lemon Chicken
  • A glass jar filled with an orange glaze with jalapenos.
    Jalapeno Apricot Sauce
  • A whole chicken on a can of beer on the grill.
    Beer Can Chicken on Grill

Popular Recipes

  • A single muffin topped with a crumbly topping on a plate.
    Banana Oatmeal Muffins
  • Breakfast sausage cooked in the oven.
    Breakfast Sausage in Oven
  • Crispy fish fillets topped with lemon wedges.
    Pan Fried Walleye
  • Gravy pouring over a pile of mashed potatoes.
    Homemade Brown Gravy
  • Crispy fish cakes on a white platter with lemon wedges.
    Fish Cakes
  • Pasta twirled around a fork and in a large white bowl.
    Garlic Butter Pasta

Cookbooks

Two cookbooks piled on a counter.

Featured In...

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

Footer

↑ back to top

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Disclosure Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 Beyond the Chicken Coop LLC ®

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.