How to Season Pork Sausage for Delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage

Breakfast sausage is a staple in many households. The savory and slightly sweet flavor makes it a perfect complement to eggs, hashbrowns, biscuits, and more While you can easily grab a package of breakfast sausage at the grocery store, making your own at home allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor. The key to crafting flavorful homemade breakfast sausage is properly seasoning ground pork

With the right blend of spices and proper seasoning technique, you can make breakfast sausage with ground pork that rivals any brand name. This article will walk through everything you need to know to make delicious seasoned pork sausage for breakfast.

Why Make Your Own Breakfast Sausage?

There are several benefits to seasoning your own pork sausage rather than buying premade breakfast sausage

• Control ingredients By making it yourself you can avoid mystery ingredients, preservatives, and high sodium levels found in store-bought versions.

• Customize flavor: Adjust spices to your taste preferences for the perfect blend of savory, sweet and spice.

• Save money: Homemade is cheaper per serving compared to packaged breakfast meats.

• Use quality meat: Pick high quality ground pork shoulder for the best texture.

• Cook how you want: Make patties, bulk sausage, links, and more.

• Store or freeze: Make a batch to have breakfast sausage ready when you need it.

Choosing the Right Ground Pork

The first step is selecting the right pork for your breakfast sausage. Here are some tips:

• Cut of meat: Choose ground pork shoulder, also labeled pork butt. It has the right balance of fat to lean meat. Avoid extremely fatty or lean cuts.

• Grind: Opt for medium or coarse ground pork. Finely ground meat can turn mealy.

• Fat ratio: Look for 85% lean (15% fat) up to 80% lean (20% fat) ground pork. Higher fat equals more flavor and moisture.

• Freshness: Use fresh pork within 2 days or freeze until ready to use.

• Quantity: Plan 4-5 ounces of uncooked pork per breakfast sausage patty. Adjust recipes accordingly.

Breakfast Sausage Seasoning Essentials

The seasoning is what really makes breakfast sausage stand out. Here are key spices and ingredients to include:

• Salt: Enhances flavor. Use approximately 1 teaspoon per pound of sausage.

• Sage: Signature breakfast sausage flavor. Use dried rubbed sage.

• Black pepper: Boosts spice flavor. Freshly cracked pepper is ideal.

• Brown sugar: Adds sweetness to balance sage. Dark brown sugar has more molasses flavor.

• Red pepper flakes: Provides subtle heat. Use sparingly to not overwhelm.

• Ground ginger or nutmeg: Extra savory warmth. Just a pinch adds depth.

• Garlic and onion powder: Umami flavors. Use instead of fresh to avoid soggy texture.

• Marjoram or thyme: Provides earthiness. Use dried herbs for potency.

• Cayenne pepper: For extra spicy sausage (optional). Go light or it overpowers.

• Cloves or allspice: For extra richness (optional). Adds warmth.

Mixing the Perfect Sausage Seasoning

To allow flavors to develop, it is best to mix the seasoning in advance before adding it to the meat.

Here is a general seasoning blend ratio for 1 pound of ground pork:

• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground sage
• 1 teaspoon light or dark brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon dried marjoram or thyme
• 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• Pinch of ground cloves, ginger, or allspice (optional)

Steps for mixing:

• Combine all dry ingredients in a small bowl
• Whisk together thoroughly so flavors distribute evenly
• For best results, allow to sit for 10-30 minutes before using so flavors meld

Taste and adjust herbs, spices, and sweetness if needed. Store extra in an airtight container.

Incorporating Seasoning into Pork

Once your seasoning blend is prepared, you can work it into the ground pork. Here is the process:

• Place pork in a large mixing bowl
• Sprinkle desired amount of seasoning blend over pork
• Using clean hands, gently mix until blended throughout
• Add more seasoning if needed based on taste
• Mix just until combined, do not overwork meat

Use approximately 1 1⁄2 to 2 tablespoons of seasoning blend per pound of ground pork.

Forming the Sausage Meat

After seasoning, shape the sausage meat into patties or links. Here are some tips:

For Patties

• Divide pork into equal portions based on desired size
• Roll portions into balls, then gently press into patties
• Make indentations with your thumb on both sides to prevent puffing as it cooks
• For consistent cooking, form patties of equal size and thickness
• Place patties on a parchment lined baking sheet until ready to cook

For Links or Rolls

• Divide pork into portions for each link
• Flatten a portion into an oval shape
• Place a toothpick at one end and tightly roll up the sausage around it
• Repeat with remaining sausage, leaving toothpicks in place
• Twist sausage links in opposite directions to create links
• Remove toothpicks after cooking

Chill sausage in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes which helps the meat firm up for shaping.

Cooking Your Homemade Sausage

The shaped, seasoned sausage can be cooked immediately or frozen for later use. Here are cooking methods:

• Skillet: Cook over medium heat until browned and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side.

• Grill: Grill over direct medium heat, rotating until browned and interior reaches 160°F.

• Oven: Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.

• Slow cooker: Cook on low for 2-3 hours until internal temperature reaches 160°F.

Cook frozen sausage patties or links from frozen by increasing cook times. Internal temperature should reach 160°F. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Serving Ideas for Breakfast Sausage

Homemade breakfast sausage is endlessly versatile. Some tasty ways to serve it include:

• Breakfast sandwiches with eggs and cheese on biscuits or English muffins

• Breakfast burritos wrapped in tortillas with eggs, cheese, and veggies

• Scrambled into skillet dishes like hashbrowns or frittatas

• Sausage gravy over freshly baked biscuits

• Mixed into corn bread batter before baking

• Crumbled over salads, pizza, pasta, or baked potatoes

• Added to soups, stews, casseroles, and more

Get creative with how you use your homemade seasoned pork sausage! Adjust the spice blend to complement whatever you add it to.

Storing and Freezing Pork Breakfast Sausage

Properly stored, homemade breakfast sausage will last 4-5 days refrigerated. For longer storage, freeze sausage patties or rolls in an airtight container or freezer bag for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.

Pre-portioned and frozen sausage makes week day breakfasts a breeze. Cook up a batch on your next day off to have easy quick meals ready to reheat during your busy work week.

Make Your Own Signature Sausage

Once you get the basics down, have fun playing with your own custom spice mixes and flavor combinations. Add fresh herbs, different sugars or sweeteners, spices like cinnamon or cardamom, citrus zest, even diced apples or cranberries. The options are endless for crafting your own signature sausage!

With quality pork, homemade seasoning, and the right cooking method, you can make restaurant-worthy breakfast sausage easily at home. Your family will love waking up to the savory, craveable flavor of homemade sausage sizzling on the griddle.