Juicy Turkey Breakfast Sausage (Print version)

Juicy turkey patties seasoned with savory spices, offering a healthy, protein-rich start to your day.

# What you'll need:

→ Ground Meat

01 - 1 lb ground turkey (93% lean)

→ Aromatics

02 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
03 - 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley

→ Spices

04 - 1 tsp kosher salt
05 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
06 - 1 tsp dried sage
07 - ½ tsp dried thyme
08 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
09 - ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Bindings

10 - 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for cooking

→ Sweetness

11 - ½ tsp maple syrup or brown sugar (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - In a large bowl, gently mix ground turkey, garlic, parsley, kosher salt, black pepper, dried sage, dried thyme, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, olive oil, and maple syrup if using; avoid overmixing.
02 - Divide mixture into 8 equal portions and shape each into a flat patty about 2.5 inches wide.
03 - Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of olive oil.
04 - Place patties in skillet without overcrowding and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until browned and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Transfer cooked patties to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil and serve immediately.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • These cook faster than you'd expect and taste nothing like typical turkey sausage—they're genuinely juicy and flavorful.
  • You can make them ahead and frozen patties cook from cold, making chaotic mornings actually manageable.
02 -
  • Never press down on patties while they cook—it squeezes out all the moisture and makes them tough, no matter how lean the meat is.
  • Cold patties straight from the fridge actually cook more evenly than room-temperature ones, so freezing them is a feature, not a hassle.
03 -
  • If your patties fall apart while cooking, your meat was too warm or overmixed; chill the mixture for 15 minutes and try again.
  • A meat thermometer is worth having just for this—once you know what 165°F feels like, you'll cook them perfectly every time by touch.

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