Nightshade Free Whole30 Chicken Apple Breakfast Sausage
Breakfast sausage is one of those morning staples that can quietly sneak in fillers, sweeteners, or spice blends loaded with ingredients that don't work for everyone — but this homemade version keeps things clean and completely transparent. Ground chicken gets mixed with freshly grated apple, warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and fragrant herbs like sage and thyme, creating a patty that's savory with just a hint of natural sweetness. The apple does double duty here: it adds moisture and a subtle fruity note without any added sugar, and squeezing it nearly dry before mixing is the trick that gives you a proper golden sear instead of a steamed, pale patty. Every spice in this recipe is a single-ingredient powder — no tomato, no paprika, no cayenne hiding in a premixed blend — so it's genuinely safe for anyone avoiding nightshades, including the optional red pepper flakes which you can simply leave out. Avocado oil in a hot skillet gets these patties deeply browned on both sides, which means real flavor and a satisfying texture in every bite. They're the kind of thing you can batch-cook and reheat through the week, making busy mornings a lot easier without any compromise on what's actually going into your food.
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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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