Easy Breakfast Turkey Sausage Recipe

You've heard it a hundred times: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Despite many of us admittedly ignoring that advice and settling instead for coffee and cream, it's true, breakfast is an easy meal to load up on nutrients, protein, and fuel for the day. The truth is, most of us would love bacon and eggs every morning, paired with homemade hash and a side of toast (and maybe a white mimosa), but find ourselves instead running out the door with hardly more than a piece of fruit. What if breakfast was a little easier, without compromising that homemade flavor? Turkey sausage is the answer.

Pork sausage is the typical meat used for breakfast, but this recipe developed by Michelle McGlinn shows that turkey can be used in the same way for a healthier option. With the help of a little mayonnaise, the turkey is kept moist and can be reheated for quick breakfasts throughout the week. Pair the sausage with eggs or serve them up on ciabatta for a delicious breakfast sandwich, and save yourself from that mid-morning hunger.

You don't need many ingredients to make these, which makes this recipe even better. Grab ground turkey, mayonnaise, garlic, fresh sage, salt, and pepper. To use dried sage instead of fresh, use just 1 tablespoon instead of 2. If you can't find sage at all, swap the herb for rosemary, thyme, or even oregano.

Put all the ingredients in a bowl and use your hands to mix them together until just combined. The mayonnaise moistens the turkey but goes a long way, so you won't need more than a tablespoon here. Don't overwork the meat when mixing or the turkey will become tough and dry — mix just until the mayonnaise is incorporated and the spices are distributed, then prepare to form patties.

If you've ever formed burger patties out of beef or turkey, you'll be familiar with this process. Form a mid-sized ball out of about 2 tablespoons of the turkey mixture, then press flat in your palms, shaping into a circle. Unlike burger patties, sausage patties will be thinner and smaller, about the size of your palm. Because they shrink when cooked, make them a little wider and about ¼ inch thick. As you form the patties, place them on a parchment-lined sheet, then put them in the freezer. Freeze them as individual patties first, so they don't stick together once bagged. If you plan to make these right away, pop them in the freezer for a few minutes to set.

We like using a cast iron skillet for these for a good, dark crust, but if you don't have a cast iron, nonstick is a good option instead. Heat a thin layer of oil in the skillet and place the turkey patties over medium heat. Press down on the patties with a spatula to help them retain their shape, then let them cook until browned. Flip the patties and brown the other side, then remove and place on a paper towel to drain excess oil.

Turkey sausage is just as versatile as pork and can be used far beyond breakfast. If you'd like to start your day with turkey sausage, try pairing them with simple eggs and toast or using them in sandwiches with egg and greens. You can put them on English muffins, ciabatta, or bagels and top them with cheese for a super simple sandwich, or dress it up with chipotle aioli.

For lunch, add the turkey sausage to a salad or burger bun with sprouts. You can also cook it crumbled and put the turkey into burritos or a skillet hash.

You can store the cooked turkey sausage, too, by placing it in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, pop the sausage in the microwave and heat through for about 2 minutes. Easy, right? No more skipping breakfast!