Making healthier sausage meat at home with ground beef, turkey, chicken, or pork requires homemade Italian sausage seasoning.
Any type of ground meat can be used to make a delicious and healthy sausage with homemade Italian sausage seasoning, which can be made from spices you already have at home.
I frequently keep lean sausage on hand and use it in a variety of dishes, including stir-fries, breakfast hash, and quick pasta dishes. But lately, I’ve been considering that there must be a straightforward method to make it at home without having to pay more for store-bought brands.
According to research, there are countless ways to prepare healthy homemade sausage, and the key is the seasoning. I tried numerous combinations, and this one ended up being our favorite. You won’t even notice the additional fat because it has the same flavor as authentic Italian sausage, I guarantee it.
Now there are countless ways to use this recipe, and it can be incorporated into any dish that calls for ground meat or ground sausage. Additionally, ground chicken, beef, turkey, pork, or bison can be used to make it. I have even used it successfully with vegetarian crumbles.
I typically use it to make meatballs, sausage patties (great for breakfast), and ground sausage. It also goes without saying that you can adjust the spice mixture to your preferences. Since paprika isn’t a typical Italian sausage seasoning, some might opt to omit it. Others might prefer more fennel, more heat, and/or less paprika.
What’s in Italian Sausage Seasoning?
The following ingredients are essential to the flavor of homemade Italian sausage seasoning:
- parsley
- Italian seasoning
- black pepper
- fennel seed
- paprika
- red pepper flakes
- salt
- onion
- garlic
**Pro Tip: Adding pre-mixed Italian seasoning may appear to be cheating. Most people already have this in their spice cabinet, according to our research. If not, you can make some of your own using our recipe. **.
How much Italian sausage seasoning to add to meat?
There is enough of this homemade Italian sausage seasoning to season two pounds of meat. Depending on how flavorful you like your food, you can use more or less. We advise using the entire recipe in two pounds of meat as a starting point, then making adjustments from there.
What meat do you use for sausage?
Use ground turkey, which is our preferred option, ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork.
I incorporate this Italian sausage into my lasagna, meatballs, soup, and spaghetti sauce. You can always use Italian sausage in place of ground beef to give any Italian dish a flavor boost.
How to Store Bulk Sausage Seasoning
I frequently make a large quantity of this flavorful sausage. You can either shape it into patties and cook them right away or freeze them to cook later (I actually enjoy having an Italian sausage patty for breakfast along with some vegetables).
You can also brown the meat and freeze it. With all of your savory Italian dishes and sauces, this makes it incredibly simple to pull out and use!
**Pro Tip: We used dried onions and garlic if we made a large batch of this. For a single batch, we use freshly chopped onion and garlic. **.
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Italian Sausage Seasoning Recipe
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
- Fennel seed, 1/2 teaspoon (we use whole, but you can crush the seeds if you prefer)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons salt
- if not making a large batch, we use fresh minced garlic.
- If not making a large batch, we use fresh minced onions at 1 teaspoon.
- 2 pounds ground beef (or turkey, chicken or pork)
- In a small bowl, combine all of the seasonings. Add the seasonings to 2 pounds of ground beef. Brown or cook as desired in a large skillet.
- Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
“Fake Sausage” Seasoning: How to Make Any Ground Meat Taste Like Sausage!
FAQ
What is the distinctive flavor in Italian sausage?
The flavor of Italian sausage comes from the spice fennel. Frequently, ground fennel is combined with whole or cracked fennel seeds in the dish. The whole or cracked fennel seed will aid in enhancing the spice’s visibility, while the ground fennel will add a distinctly fennel-flavored flavor.
What is a good substitute for Italian sausage?
The 5 Best Substitutes for Italian Sausage1 – Pork Sausage. 2 – Bratwurst. 3 – Toulouse Style Sausage. 4 – Chorizo. 5 – Andouille Sausage.
What gives sausage its distinctive flavor?
Pork has a mild flavor that can be paired with a variety of seasonings and spices to create breakfast sausage. The savory flavors of fennel, sage, rosemary, thyme, garlic, and smoked paprika are what give this breakfast sausage recipe such depth of flavor.
What is a good substitute for sausage meat?
Chicken. The most intelligent way to satisfy your sausage craving is probably with the chicken variety. Most contain under 150 calories per link and 70% less fat than pork sausage Plus, the flavor options are endless.