Turkey Maple Breakfast Sausages with Fresh Herbs

Prep: 20 minCook: 15 min4 servingsmediumAmerican
Turkey Maple Breakfast Sausages with Fresh Herbs

These homemade turkey breakfast sausages combine lean ground turkey with sweet maple syrup and aromatic fresh herbs like thyme, sage, and rosemary. The maple adds natural sweetness while the herbs provide savory depth, creating perfectly balanced breakfast patties. Ideal for meal prep or weekend brunch, these sausages offer a healthier alternative to store-bought versions with no artificial preservatives. The brief freezing step makes the meat easier to handle and shape into uniform patties.

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 1 lb ground turkey
    ground chicken1:1

    Similar texture and flavor

    Full guide →
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
    honey1:1

    Different sweetness profile

    Full guide →
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped
    dried thyme3:1

    Use 2/3 tsp dried

    Full guide →
  • 2 tsp ground sage
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
    dried rosemary3:1

    Use 1 tsp dried

    Full guide →
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper(optional)
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
    coconut oil1:1

    Coconut flavor may be noticeable

    Full guide →

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place the turkey in the freezer for 20 minutes to make it easier to work with

  2. 2

    Combine the turkey with the maple syrup, herbs and salt and pepper and mix well to combine

  3. 3

    Form into sausage patties by hand or line a baking sheet with parchment paper and thinly spread the mixture and use a biscuit cutter to cut uniform sausages

  4. 4

    Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat and transfer 2-3 sausages at a time to the pan

  5. 5

    Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F

  6. 6

    Repeat until all of the sausages are cooked

Tips

Tip 1

Freeze the turkey briefly to firm it up, making the meat much easier to mix and shape into uniform patties.

Tip 2

Use a biscuit cutter on a parchment-lined sheet for perfectly round, evenly-sized sausages that cook consistently.

Tip 3

Don't overcrowd the pan - cook in batches to ensure proper browning and even cooking throughout.

Good to Know

Storage

Refrigerate cooked sausages up to 4 days in airtight container

Make Ahead

Mix and shape sausages up to 1 day ahead, refrigerate raw until ready to cook

Serve With

Serve hot with eggs, toast, or breakfast hash

Common Mistakes

Watch

Don't skip the freezing step or the meat will be difficult to handle and shape properly

Watch

Avoid overcrowding the pan to prevent steaming and ensure proper browning

Substitutions

ground turkey
ground chicken1:1

Similar texture and flavor

Full guide →
maple syrup
honey1:1

Different sweetness profile

Full guide →
avocado oil
coconut oil1:1

Coconut flavor may be noticeable

Full guide →
fresh thyme
dried thyme3:1

Use 2/3 tsp dried

Full guide →
fresh rosemary
dried rosemary3:1

Use 1 tsp dried

Full guide →
Find more substitutions →

FAQ

Can I make these sausages ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix and shape the sausages up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate them raw, or cook them completely and reheat when needed.

Can I freeze the cooked sausages?

Absolutely, cooked sausages freeze well for up to 3 months in freezer bags. Thaw overnight and reheat in a skillet or microwave.

What if I don't have fresh herbs?

Use dried herbs at 1/3 the amount - so about 2/3 tsp dried thyme and 1 tsp dried rosemary for similar flavor.