Artificial Flavors Free Whole30 Chicken Apple Breakfast Sausage
Breakfast sausage is one of those morning staples that can be surprisingly hard to find in a clean, additive-free form — most store-bought options are loaded with fillers, preservatives, and synthetic flavoring you'd rather not think about before your first cup of coffee. This version builds all of its flavor from scratch, using fresh sage, thyme, warm spices, and a secret weapon: finely grated apple that gets squeezed nearly dry before it ever hits the bowl. That technique is the key to getting a proper golden-brown sear instead of sad, steamed patties, and it makes a real difference in both texture and taste. The cinnamon and nutmeg add just enough warmth to complement the savory herbs without tipping into dessert territory, and a little hit of red pepper flakes keeps things interesting. Ground chicken keeps the patties light, while avocado oil helps them develop that deep, caramelized crust you want from a breakfast sausage worth waking up for. Chilling the patties before cooking is a small step that pays off big — they hold their shape beautifully and cook evenly all the way through. Whether you're meal-prepping for the week or making a proper weekend breakfast spread, these are the kind of patties that make you forget the packaged stuff ever existed.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ cup apple, peeled and finely grated (about 1 small apple)
- 2 tsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
Instructions
- 1
Grate the apple on the fine holes of a box grater, then squeeze the grated apple firmly in a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towel until most of the liquid is removed — the apple should feel nearly dry. This keeps the patties from steaming instead of browning.
- 2
Combine the ground chicken, squeezed apple, sage, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix with your hands until the seasonings are evenly distributed, about 30 seconds — do not overwork the mixture.
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