Capsaicin Free Whole30 Chicken Apple Breakfast Sausage
Breakfast sausage that actually tastes exciting without any heat is harder to find than it should be — most store-bought options sneak in cayenne or chili powder, which makes mornings miserable for anyone avoiding capsaicin. This version skips the red pepper entirely (the flakes listed are marked optional and easy to leave out) and leans on warm, aromatic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, sage, and thyme to build real depth of flavor. Grated apple is the secret weapon here — it adds a subtle natural sweetness that balances the savory herbs beautifully, and squeezing out the moisture before mixing means you get a proper golden sear instead of a soggy patty. Ground chicken keeps things light while still delivering satisfying protein, and avocado oil handles the heat without any fuss. The 30-minute chill in the fridge is a small step that makes a big difference, giving the patties structure so they hold together perfectly in the pan. These are the kind of patties that make you genuinely look forward to getting out of bed — clean ingredients, bold flavor, and zero compromise on the things that matter most at the breakfast table.
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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)
Can be omittedred pepper flakes
- 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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