Beef Free Whole30 Chicken Apple Breakfast Sausage
Ground chicken gets a serious flavor upgrade here, seasoned with fresh sage, thyme, warm cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg for a breakfast sausage that tastes far more complex than the ingredient list suggests. The secret weapon is finely grated apple ā squeezed nearly dry before mixing in ā which adds a subtle sweetness and keeps the patties tender without making them soggy. That extra step of pressing out the moisture is what gives each patty a deep, golden-brown crust instead of a pale, steamed finish. Chilling the formed patties before cooking is another small move that pays off big, helping them hold their shape and develop that satisfying sear in the skillet. For anyone avoiding beef, finding a breakfast sausage with real depth of flavor can feel like a tall order, but this one delivers without any compromise. It's the kind of recipe that makes a weekday morning feel worth waking up for.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
- 1 lb ground chicken
- Ā½ cup apple, peeled and finely grated (about 1 small apple)
- 2 tsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- Ā½ tsp garlic powder
- Ā½ tsp onion powder
- Ā½ tsp ground black pepper
- Ā¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- Ā¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Ā¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Ā¾ 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 ā 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 ā do not overwork the mixture.
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