Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sausage Recipe

Jimmy Dean sausage is simply the perfect choice of meat to have for breakfast.

It is extremely flavorful and filling, which is an important factor when we’re talking about the most important meal of the day.

While you can get the Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage at nearly any food store and supermarket chain, you may wonder if it is possible to replicate this flavor in your own kitchen.

The answer is yes, as the secret lies in a perfectly balanced, aromatic mixture of different seasonings we’ll reveal in this copycat Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage recipe.

How to make Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage

Being that the Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage is widely available and easy to find, some people may wonder why even bother with making it from scratch in the first place?

Making your own breakfast sausage allows you to have full control over the ingredients.

There are no artificial flavors or coloring, and you’re also free to adjust the seasoning and make this recipe your own.

Also, once you make your own fresh breakfast sausage at home, you’ll never go back to the store-bought stuff, as the flavors and textures simply can’t compare.

Without further ado, here’s what you’ll need to make your own pork sausage at home.

Ingredients:

(4 servings)

• 16 oz ground pork
• 1/4 tsp dried sage (rubbed)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp coriander
• 1/4 tsp red pepper(crushed)
• 1/4 tsp Accent seasoning (optional)
• vegetable oil

Instructions:

Step 1:

Grab a large bowl, then add in the ground pork, as well as all the listed seasonings.

Using a wooden spoon, or better yet – your hands, make sure that you’ve mixed all the seasonings into the meat.

Take your time with this step, as you want to ensure that the mixture is cohesive.

If you’re having a hard time creating the mixture, you can add the tiniest bit of oil to help the ingredients blend together.

Step 2:

In order to allow for the meat to fully absorb all these flavors and aromas, you want to cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave it for at least 15 minutes.

However, keep in mind that you will get the best results (both flavor and texture-wise) if you leave the mixture in the fridge overnight.

This will allow for the pork to marinate in the seasoning mixture, while also making it easier for you to shape the meat afterward.

Since this sausage is typically served for breakfast, you can make the mixture the night before and prepare the sausage in the morning.

Step 3:

Take the sausage mixture out of the fridge and start making sausage patties.

To do so, you want to start with small balls that you will then press into the sausage patties.

The size and the thickness of the patty are completely up to you, but avoid making them too thick as they may take more time to cook thoroughly.

The optimal thickness of the Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage patty is about 1/2 inch.

Step 4:

Warm up a bit of vegetable oil (about 2 tablespoons) in a skillet over medium-high heat.

Once the oil is heated up, cook the breakfast sausage for about 10 minutes on each side.

Depending on the thickness of the patty, you may have to cook them a bit longer to get that golden brown color.

If you’re unsure when your breakfast sausages are thoroughly cooked, you can always use the meat thermometer and check when the internal temperature is at 165°F.

Ingredient substitutions

When you look at the list of ingredients, you can conclude that this Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage recipe is quite simple.

While there aren’t many ingredients to substitute in the first place, you can still tweak the recipe – whether you’d like to adjust it to your personal preference, or simply find a good substitute for an ingredient you don’t have.

1. Ground turkey

Ground turkey is an ideal replacement for ground pork if you’re simply not a fan of pork meat, or you’re looking for a leaner version.

You can still follow this recipe and make the sausage mixture exactly the same, but keep in mind that ground turkey (being a leaner meat cut), is a lot drier than ground pork.

That being said, we’d recommend adding a little bit of vegetable oil into the meat mixture itself.

It will help you combine the meat with the dry seasonings, but also add a little bit of moisture to the sausage.

2. Ground beef

Yet another substitute for ground pork is ground beef, which offers a pretty similar texture, but a different aroma and flavor.

Depending on the beef cut that was used for ground beef, the mixture may be fatty enough, or a bit dry.

If you notice that the sausage mixture is falling apart as you’re attempting to form the breakfast sausage patties, you’ll need to add a little bit of oil as a binding agent.

3. Sea salt, oregano, and basil

Accent seasoning is a completely optional ingredient in this breakfast sausage recipe.

However, if you’d still like to incorporate something similar but don’t have the actual Accent seasoning – mixing sea salt, oregano, and basil will do.

Accent seasoning is essentially a mix of sea salt, oregano, basil, and thyme – and being that thyme is already listed in the ingredients, all you need to do is create your own blend of the mentioned seasonings.

Keep in mind that you only need a pinch of these three seasonings, as the sausage mixture is already well seasoned.

4. Cumin

If you’re all out of coriander, or you simply avoid using it in your cooking, you can use cumin instead.

Cumin will add just the right amount of smokiness and earthiness to the sausage.

What to serve with Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage

What are the best side dishes and condiments to combine with homemade sausage? Here are the best options that will complement fresh sausage perfectly.

Eggs

Eggs and cooked sausage make for an ideal breakfast duo – whether you’d like scrambled eggs, an omelet, cooked, or fried eggs.

This is a breakfast combination that never fails, and you can always complete it with your favorite cheese, side salad, or condiments.

Mustard

Pork sausage is best enjoyed with a side of mustard which brings out the intense flavor of the sausage but still brightens up the dish.

Mustard will also pair perfectly with any other side dish you decide to serve with breakfast sausage – including eggs.

Cheddar cheese

You can serve it fresh next to the sausage, or add a few slices of cheddar cheese on top of the sausage patties while they’re still cooking to allow it to melt.

Either way, the sweetness of the cheddar cheese will balance out the sharp, peppery, savory flavors of the fried Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage.

Hash browns

If you want an unforgettable breakfast, you will pair your homemade, fresh breakfast sausage with a side of crispy, golden hash browns.

Hash browns complement pretty much any breakfast meal as they’re quite neutral, and they’re a perfect option if you’re looking to add some carbs to your plate in the morning.

How to reheat Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage

Who wouldn’t want to warm up some leftover Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage patties for dinner?

Here’s how you can do it without drying out the sausage and making the patties chewy and tough.

How to reheat Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage on the stovetop

This is probably the easiest and the most effective way of reheating your homemade breakfast sausage.

Heat up a little bit of vegetable oil in your skillet over medium heat, then add in the sausage patties and cook them on both sides for about 8-10 minutes.

If the patties are a bit thicker, you can lower the heat, pour in a little bit of water, and cover the skillet with a lid to allow the steam to cook the sausage all the way through without drying it out.

How to reheat Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage in an air fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 320°F (if it requires preheating).

Lay the sausage patties onto the rack, or into the air fryer basket, then sprinkle a little bit of water on top to lock in the moisture.

Cook the sausage for about 10 minutes, flipping the patties halfway through.

How to store Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage

When it comes to storing your homemade Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage, there is a difference between the raw and the cooked sausage.

Let’s see how to safely store the breakfast sausage in both cases.

Store in the fridge

Uncooked, raw sausage can be stored in the fridge, but for no longer than 2 days.

As for the cooked sausage, you can keep it in the fridge for 4 days maximum.

Store in the freezer

Both cooked and raw sausage can be stored in an airtight container or a freezer bag, but should be used up within 3 months.