Homemade Pork Breakfast Sausage

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 09/19/23
Tested by
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Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 13 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 8 Patties

In general, homemade is better than store-bought, and this spiced pork sausage is no exception. Taking a mere 15 minutes, and calling for just ground pork and pantry spices, this sausage mixture makes breakfast patties with a kick; if you want a milder sausage, feel free to leave out the cayenne and red pepper flakes or use a little less.

For even fresher sausage, grind pork loin or lean pork shoulder with a meat grinder or mince it in the food processor. Remember to cook ground pork to a minimum of 160 F, using a​ food thermometer to check the temperature. To always have homemade breakfast sausage on hand, multiply the recipe, cook all of the sausage patties, and freeze some for later. Serve with your favorite egg dishes and a side of fruit.

A breakfast plate with two sunny side up eggs, three pork breakfast sausage patties, and a cup of coffee

The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

"These well-balanced breakfast patties had a nice touch of warmth from the nutmeg and pepper. The sage certainly gave them a true breakfast sausage flavor. Avoid overmixing to prevent dense, tough patties." —Craig Ruff

Homemade Pork Breakfast Sausage/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground pork

  • 1 teaspoon packed light or dark brown sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried ground thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/8 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola, for frying

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make homemade pork breakfast sausage

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  2. In a large bowl, combine the pork, brown sugar, salt, pepper, thyme, sage, allspice, nutmeg, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using. Mix with your hands until just blended.

    A bowl of ground pork seasoned with brown sugar, salt, pepper, thyme, sage, allspice, nutmeg, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  3. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

    A large nonstick pan with oil

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  4. Shape the pork mixture into eight (2-ounce) patties, about 1/2-inch thick. Fry on both sides until golden and the internal temperature registers 160 F on a food thermometer, 7 to 9 minutes total.

    A spatula flipping a pork breakfast sausage patty in a nonstick skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

  5. Serve hot.

    A plate of cooked homemade pork breakfast sausage patties

    The Spruce Eats / Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Recipe Variations

  • For a traditional sage flavor, use 2 teaspoons of dried rubbed sage and omit the thyme, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  • For a healthier version, substitute ground turkey meat for the pork, which will lower the level of saturated fat.

Is There a Difference Between Breakfast Sausage Patties and Links?

In addition to the differences in shape, there are other variations between breakfast patties and links. Some links have a casing while patties do not, and patties are often more strongly flavored compared to the links.

 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
205 Calories
12g Fat
2g Carbs
24g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 205
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 67mg 22%
Sodium 367mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 362mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)