It's easy to make sausage patties at home, and the result is juicy and flavorful. This delicious recipe contains no sugar or breadcrumbs!
As much as I enjoy pancakes for breakfast, I often gravitate towards savory breakfasts rather than sweet. I find them more substantial, more satiating. When it comes to a filling savory breakfast, meat and eggs are a classic combination, whether bacon, steak & eggs, or these tasty patties.
But why bother with making this recipe at home when you can simply buy them at the store? Well, the ingredients list for a well-known brand includes the following: Pork, Water, Corn Syrup, Salt, Spices, Dextrose, Monosodium Glutamate. 😲
There ARE better brands with a cleaner ingredients list. But it's so easy to make these patties at home, and the result is so very flavorful. And when you make them at home, you know exactly what goes into them!
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty keto breakfast. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Ground pork: I usually use lean ground pork - 85% lean and 15% fat.
Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you might want to reduce the amount you use, or the patties could come out too salty.
Spices: Lots of them! I like to use garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper. Please make sure the spices you use are fresh. A stale spice can easily ruin a dish.
Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. But if you'd rather use an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead. Another tasty option is to use butter or ghee.
Instructions
How to make homemade sausage patties? It's easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
Mix. You simply mix fresh ground pork meat with lots of spices. The spices are the secret ingredient here. They add a ton of flavor!
Shape. Now shape the mixture into patties. They won't be as perfectly shaped as commercial ones - don't worry about it! Homemade is not supposed to be perfect.
Cook. Fry the patties in olive oil until cooked through. See? Easy!
Variations and substitutions
I like to use garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper. But you can use other spices.
For example, you can replace the thyme with dried oregano, the garlic powder with onion powder (or use both!), and the smoked paprika with regular paprika. Dried mustard will also taste good in this recipe - you can add about a teaspoon.
You can also vary the ground meat you use. While pork is a classic, other options are good too, including ground beef, ground chicken, and ground turkey.
Serving suggestion
One of my favorite breakfasts is two of these tasty patties with fluffy scrambled eggs. It's a delicious meal that keeps me full for hours. On the weekend, when I have more time, I also add broiled tomatoes.
By the way, these patties are perfect if you feel like having breakfast for dinner! I often do that, actually.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power.
You can also make these patties in advance and freeze them for quick and easy midweek meals. Do make sure to place parchment paper or wax paper between the patties so that they don't stick to each other.
Frequently asked questions
It's surprisingly easy. You simply mix fresh ground pork with spices, form the mixture into small patties, then cook them in olive oil. They only need to be cooked for about 2 minutes per side over medium-high heat.
You need a small amount of oil - I use 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Ground pork, even lean ground pork, is fairly fatty and will quickly release rendered fat into the skillet while it cooks. I do recommend using a nonstick skillet.
Yes! Pork will give you the classic breakfast patty flavor. But you can also use ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey. If you opt for ground chicken or turkey, make sure to use dark meat. The white meat is too lean. You might also need to add more oil to the skillet if you use leaner meats.
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Recipe card
Breakfast Sausage Patties
INGREDIENTS
- 1 lb. ground pork 85% lean
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a medium bowl, use your hands to mix the ground pork and the spices. Shape the mixture into eight balls, then press on each ball to form patties, 2 oz each, ½-inch thick.
- Gently press your thumb into the middle of each patty to create a shallow dimple. This helps the patties hold their shape while they cook.
- Heat the oil in a large (14-inch) nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes. Swirl to coat.
- Place the patties on the skillet (you might need to cook them in two batches). Cook them until they are browned and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Their internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F. To check with a thermometer, insert the thermometer sideways into the patty, pushing it into the middle.
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NOTES
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 