What is the Top Rated Breakfast Sausage? A Comprehensive Guide

Breakfast sausage is a beloved staple that can instantly elevate any morning meal. From savory sausage patties and links to spicy maple chicken apple sausage, there are so many delicious options to choose from. But with the breakfast sausage section at the grocery store overflowing with choices, how do you know which brand is really the best?

As a seasoned food writer and avid home cook, I decided to investigate what is truly the top rated breakfast sausage according to both expert reviews and enthusiastic home cooks. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover how to evaluate breakfast sausage, review the top rated brands, provide tips for cooking breakfast sausage to perfection, and share some of my favorite breakfast sausage recipes. Grab a hot cup of coffee and let’s dive in!

How to Evaluate Breakfast Sausage

Not all breakfast sausages are created equal. Here are the key factors that impact quality and taste:

Meat Content Most traditional breakfast sausage contains ground pork though turkey chicken, and plant-based varieties are also popular. High quality sausage should have plenty of meat with minimal fat and fillers.

Spicing: The best breakfast sausages are seasoned with a balanced blend of savory spices like sage, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Avoid sausages with artificial flavors or an overly-salty taste.

Texture From crumbly sausage patties to juicy sausage links with a satisfying snap texture plays a big role. Quality sausage should be coarse but not mushy.

Preparation: Fresh, homemade sausage tastes best. However, high quality pre-packaged options retain good flavor and texture.

Appearance: Properly cooked breakfast sausage should be lightly browned on the outside while moist on the inside. Avoid sausage that looks overly greasy or shriveled up.

Taste: Above all, flavor is what matters most! The ideal breakfast sausage has a well-rounded, mildly spicy taste.

With these criteria in mind, let’s highlight the top rated breakfast sausage brands on the market.

The Top Rated Store Bought Breakfast Sausages

Based on expert testing and home cook reviews, these pre-packaged breakfast sausages consistently rise above the rest:

1. Jimmy Dean Original Pork Sausage

With over 50 years experience crafting quality breakfast meats, Jimmy Dean is a trusted leader in pre-cooked frozen sausage. Their original pork breakfast sausage receives high marks for its quintessential sage-forward seasoning, hearty meatiness, and juicy texture. The links have an appetizing old-fashioned appearance with light browning. With minimal fat, these sausages don’t skimp on flavor. Jimmy Dean original pork sausage is widely available, budget-friendly, and pleasing to sausage lovers of all ages.

2. Jones Dairy Farm Breakfast Sausage

For a premium artisanal sausage, Jones Dairy Farm is a cut above regular grocery store brands. Made from pork sourced from family farms in Wisconsin, Jones Dairy Farm breakfast sausages contain no hormones, artificial ingredients, or preservatives. The signature sage seasoning has a perfect hint of maple sweetness. While pricier than typical drugstore varieties, food critics praise the exceptionally high quality meat. The links have an audible snap when you bite into the natural lamb casings.

3. Applegate Organic Chicken Apple Sausage

This juicy organic chicken sausage from Applegate Farms is a fresh departure from classic pork links. Sweet apples, sage, garlic, and spices come through in every bite. With no added sugar, the subtle apple flavor balances beautifully with the savory chicken and light seasoning. The texture walks the line between coarse and tender. Made from humanely raised chickens with no GMOs, Applegate Organic Chicken Apple Sausage appeals to health-conscious eaters. While expensive, fans say it’s worth the occasional splurge.

4. Beyond Meat Plant-Based Breakfast Sausage Links

For vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians seeking a meatless alternative, Beyond Meat’s plant-based Breakfast Sausage is impressively realistic. Crafted from a blend of pea, rice and fava bean protein with beet powder for color, the pre-cooked links mimic the texture and taste of pork sausage. Garlic, sage, black pepper and a touch of maple provide familiar breakfast sausage flavor. While not identical to traditional pork, Beyond Meat’s creation comes surprisingly close for a plant-based swap.

5. Al Fresco All Natural Chicken Sausage

Made from chicken seasoned with just a handful of natural spices, Al Fresco chicken sausage has an unbeatable homemade taste. Containing no added sugars or artificial preservatives, the short plump links have a simple wholesome quality. Al Fresco keeps the spice blend basic but balanced, focused on accentuating the chicken. Many reviewers favor this brand for having one of the purest flavors that lets the chicken shine rather than masking it. The only downside is that Al Fresco sausages tend to be on the pricier side.

Tips for Cooking Breakfast Sausage Perfectly

Now that you’ve selected a top quality breakfast sausage, it’s time to start sizzling! Here are my tips for cooking breakfast sausage to juicy, flavorful perfection every time:

• Use a heavy skillet – Cast iron or stainless steel work best to crisp up the sausage thoroughly without burning. Non-stick pans can cause sticking.

• Preheat properly – Heat the skillet over medium before adding sausage to prevent steaming. Starting with a hot pan helps the sausages brown.

• Don’t overcrowd – Cook sausages in a single layer with space between each one. Crowding the pan causes steaming instead of browning.

• Brown well – Cook sausages on each side for 5-7 minutes until nicely browned. Turn frequently for even coloring.

• Check internal temperature – Use a meat thermometer to confirm sausages reach 160°F minimum for food safety.

• Drain excess grease – Tilt the pan and use a spoon to remove excess fat as sausages cook. Draining on paper towels also helps.

Follow these steps for irresistibly flavorful sausage patties, links, or loose sausage meat every time. Now let’s get cooking!

5 Breakfast Sausage Recipes to Make Today

From comforting casseroles to quick weeknight dinners, breakfast sausage shines in all types of dishes. Here are a few of my personal favorite ways to use up a package of breakfast sausage:

1. Cheesy Sausage and Potato Casserole

This savory bake loaded with tender potatoes, gooey cheese and spicy sausage is pure comfort food. Easy to throw together on a chilly weekend morning, it reheats beautifully too. The recipe scales up or down nicely to feed a crowd or small family.

2. Creamy Sausage Gravy

No breakfast spread is complete without a side of scratch-made sausage gravy. Simmering crumbled sausage in a velvety milk and flour roux creates an iconic country-style gravy that’s heavenly spooned over biscuits. Much better than anything from a packet!

3. Simple Breakfast Tacos

Whip up these easy breakfast tacos in minutes for a fun twist on sausage and eggs. Crispy sausage, fluffy scrambled eggs, and melty cheese wrapped in a warm tortilla make a satisfying hand-held breakfast. Quick to customize with your favorite taco fillings too.

4. Sausage-Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers

For a fun appetizer or side dish, try stuffing bite-sized sweet mini peppers with Italian sausage, cheese, and seasoning. Baked until tender with melty cheese oozing out, they make a delicious pop-able snack or accompaniment to pasta.

5. One Skillet Sausage Pasta

When dinner time comes around, transform breakfast sausage into a zesty entrée by sautéing with veggies, pasta, and Parmesan. Quick, budget-friendly, and infinitely customizable, this skillet sausage pastaalways satisfies.

With so many options, there’s no reason breakfast sausage should be limited to just breakfast. Get creative with recipes and enjoy quality sausage any time of day.

The Final Verdict on Top Rated Breakfast Sausage

At the end of the day, flavor, texture, ingredients, and preparation separate the best breakfast sausages from the mediocre ones. While classic brands like Jimmy Dean and Jones Dairy Farm take top honors for their quintessential sage pork sausage, chicken apple and meatless varieties from Applegate and Beyond Meat offer tasty alternatives. When shopping, look for minimal fat and fillers, quality spices, and good meat content.

I suggest tasting a few different brands side-by-side to decide your own ultimate favorite. Cook them properly in a hot skillet until browned and 160°F internally. Then incorporate your choice of top rated breakfast sausage into omelets, breakfast tacos, casseroles, pasta dishes, and more. With endless ways to enjoy quality breakfast sausage, you’re sure to devour every last morsel.