What Brand of Sausage Does IHOP Use? A Breakfast Lover’s Guide

As a breakfast lover, IHOP is one of my go-to spots for a delicious morning meal. Their fluffy pancakes, crispy hashbrowns, and savory omelets never disappoint! But one of my favorite things on their menu is the sausage links They’re always so juicy and full of flavor So I decided to do some investigating to find out exactly what brand of sausage IHOP uses to make their links so tasty.

A Quick Overview of IHOP’s Breakfast Offerings

Before we dive into the sausage, let’s take a moment to appreciate everything that IHOP has to offer on their breakfast menu. They have all the classics like pancakes waffles french toast, and omelets. But they also have some creative options like their Pancake Sandwiches, Breakfast Sliders, and Sweet Cream Crepes.

Some of my personal favorites include:

• The Classic Breakfast Combo Two eggs two bacon strips or sausage links, and two buttermilk pancakes. It’s a perfect sampler of all their bestsellers!

• The Simple & Fit Veggie Omelette: Egg whites, fresh spinach, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes. A great lighter option.

• Chicken & Waffles: Belgian waffle topped with fried chicken tenders, butter, and syrup. A sweet and savory combo!

No matter what you’re craving, IHOP has something to satisfy your breakfast needs. But now, let’s get into the main event – those beloved sausage links!

IHOP Uses Their Own Exclusive Breakfast Sausage Blend

After doing some digging, I discovered that IHOP makes their sausage links using their own exclusive spice blend and recipe. The exact ingredients are proprietary, but they work closely with their suppliers to get the sausage just right.

Some key facts about IHOP’s sausage links:

• Made from pork: The links are made from ground pork shoulder and trimmings for the right balance of fat to meat. This gives them their signature juiciness.

• Mildly seasoned: The seasoning blend contains spices like sage, black pepper, garlic powder, and a touch of cayenne for subtle heat. But it’s not overly spicy or salty.

• No fillers: Unlike some other commercial sausages, IHOP’s links contain no fillers, binders or artificial flavors. Just pork, seasoning, and natural juices.

• Smoked over hickory: After the sausages are made, they are smoked over hickory wood. This adds nice subtle smoky notes.

• Fully cooked: The links arrive at IHOP restaurants fully cooked so they just need a quick grill or griddle to finish.

How IHOP’s Sausage Compares to Popular Brands

Since we can’t purchase the exact IHOP sausage blend, I decided to compare it to some popular national brands to look for the closest match. I tried sausage links from Jimmy Dean, Bob Evans, Owens, and Johnsonville to see how they stacked up.

Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage: These links tasted the most similar in spice blend. They had hints of sage and black pepper like IHOP’s. The texture was also fairly juicy. The biggest difference was they weren’t smoked.

Bob Evans Original Sausage Links: These were also quite close flavor-wise with notes of sage and other breakfast spices. They had a nice texture but were a tad saltier than IHOP’s.

Owens Sausage Links: The seasoning on these was definitely more pronounced. I could taste lots of sage along with onion and garlic flavors. The texture was also a bit dense and chewy.

Johnsonville Original Breakfast Links: These links were the furthest from IHOP’s flavor. They had a very strong sage taste and the texture was quite soft.

The Verdict: Out of the nationally available brands, Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage comes closest to replicating the flavor and texture of IHOP’s links. Bob Evans would be my second choice.

Other Tips for IHOP-Style Sausage at Home

If you really love IHOP’s sausage and want to mimic it at home, here are a few other tips beyond choosing the right brand:

• Buy thick links – IHOP’s links are fairly large in diameter. Look for sausages around 1.25″ thick.

• Cook low and slow – Don’t rush the cooking process. Allow