Home » Keto Breakfast Recipes » Beef Sausage
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This juicy and flavorful beef sausage is easy to make at home with lean ground beef, spices, and olive oil.
I like to make several of them ahead of time and enjoy them throughout the week! They reheat beautifully in the microwave.
Savory breakfasts can be just as good as sweet ones, and this beef sausage is excellent proof. Served with eggs, these sausages are perfect for breakfast or brunch. They are delicious and filling, and you can make them in advance and reheat them.
To make these sausages, simply mix ground beef with seasonings, shape the mixture into patties, then cook the patties in olive oil for a few minutes.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- Variations
- Instructions
- Expert Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing Leftovers
- More Sausage Recipes
- Foodie Newsletter
- Recipe Card
- Reviews
Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this beef sausage recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Ground beef: I use lean ground beef (85% lean and 15% fat). A leaner mixture will be too dry. I experimented with a 90/10 mix, and it wasn't as good.
- To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, dried sage, and red pepper flakes.
- Olive oil: I use it to fry the patties.
Variations
- You can cook the patties in butter instead of olive oil. It's delicious!
- The spice combination I use, especially thyme and sage, is classic. But you can experiment with your favorite spices. Tasty options include dry mustard and oregano. You can add a teaspoon of each.
- Add 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan to the mixture for added flavor.
- You can form the mixture into eight small patties instead of four large ones. If you do, they'll be ready faster; cook them for about 3 minutes per side over medium heat.
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making homemade beef sausage:
Combine the beef with the spices, and use your hands to mix everything together.
Divide the mixture into four large patties or eight small ones.
Cook the patties in olive oil until cooked through, 4-5 minutes per side, over medium heat.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to four days in an airtight container.
Expert Tips
- When combining the meat with spices, try not to over-mix, as over-mixing will result in dense sausage. However, you should ensure the mixture is uniform and the spices are distributed throughout.
- You can double this recipe, cook the beef sausage in batches (or use a double-burner griddle), and keep the leftovers in the fridge for a few days. They also freeze well.
Recipe FAQs
What kind of meat is breakfast sausage made of?
It's typically made with ground pork. However, some people prefer to avoid pork for various reasons, and for them, beef is an excellent option that tastes great, much like beef bacon is a great alternative to oven bacon.
Can sausage be made from beef?
Yes, absolutely. Although it's typically made with pork, beef is a flavorful option that pairs well with typical sausage seasonings. Other options include ground chicken and ground turkey.
What's the difference between a burger and a sausage patty?
There are two main differences. The first is the meat used - beef for burgers (like these grilled hamburgers) and pork or chicken for sausages. Although, as you can see here, sausage CAN be made with ground beef.
The second main difference is the seasoning. A burger is often seasoned very minimally, with just salt and pepper. Sausages are heavily seasoned and often contain spices such as paprika, sage, and thyme.
Serving Suggestions
I usually serve beef sausage with fluffy scrambled eggs, almond flour biscuits, and fresh berries. It's a wonderfully filling breakfast or brunch that keeps me full for hours.
Sometimes, I serve these sausages for dinner with just about any side dish, such as roasted Brussels sprouts or mashed cauliflower. They also pair well with salads like creamy cucumber salad or tomato salad.
Storing Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. They keep well; you can reheat them in the microwave at 50% power.
I also enjoy them cold with Dijon mustard or sriracha mayo, fresh-cut veggies, and quick pickles or pickled red onions.
Sometimes, I have one of them in a cloud bread sandwich and pretend I'm eating a burger!
More Sausage Recipes
- Sausage Egg Muffins
- Sausage Patties
- Sausage Stuffing
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Recipe Card
4.97 from 32 votes
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Juicy Beef Sausage
This juicy and flavorful beef sausage is so tasty and filling. You can make several of them ahead of time and quickly reheat them each morning.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time55 minutes mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 277kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef 85/15
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon of any other salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Place the ground beef, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, dried sage, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl.
Use clean hands to combine these ingredients into a uniform mixture. Don't over-mix.
Divide the mixture into four ½-inch thick patties. You can also divide it into eight small patties if you wish.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook them until browned and cooked through, for about 4-5 minutes per side.
Serve immediately. I like to serve them with fried eggs.
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Notes
- You can form the mixture into eight small patties instead of four larger ones. If you do, they'll be ready faster - you'll need to cook them for about 3 minutes per side over medium heat.
- When combining the meat with the spices, try not to over-mix (over-mixing will result in dense sausage), but make sure the mixture is uniform and the spices are distributed throughout.
- You can easily double the recipe, cook the patties in batches (or use a double-burner griddle), and keep the leftovers in the fridge for a few days. They also freeze well.
- You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. They keep quite well; you can reheat them in the microwave at 50% power.
Nutrition per Serving
Serving: 1 sausage patty | Calories: 277 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.5 g | Protein: 21 g | Fat: 20 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Sodium: 355 mg | Fiber: 0.5 g
About the Author
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.
Reader Interactions
Comments
Chelle
We've been looking for a beef breakfast sausage for a couple years now. This one hit the spot. Thank you. Now onto a smoked chicken summer sausage...any suggestions?Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm glad this recipe worked for you, Chelle! Smoked chicken summer sausage sounds magnificent - I'll add it to my list!
Reply
Virginia
I really loved this recipe. I give 5 stars all the way! I must say I did add fresh garlic and onions. Thank you so much for sharing.Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Virginia! Thank you for the review and for sharing your delicious additions.
Reply
Melanie
This is soooo good! I even made it with 96% lean ground beef and it is terrific, I love the amount of heat (spice).Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Melanie! Thanks for the review.
Reply
Amanda
Our family enjoys the flavor of this sausage!! I use beef or turkey. I make patties or just brown the ground meat with all the seasonings and then use it for biscuits and gravy!! So delicious! (We eat it with homemade whole grain biscuits or almond flour biscuits - both are SO GOOD).Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Amanda,
I'm so glad your family likes this recipe! Thank you for reviewing it and for sharing how you serve it. Sounds delicious!Reply
Brian Bostock
Just wish to ask, when you say 'red pepper' do you mean chili? I intend to try this very soon but need to know for sure.
Thank you.Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Brian,
Great question. I mean red pepper flakes. I went ahead and changed the recipe card to make it clearer. Thank you!Reply
Danielle Thompson
Why not over mix? I want to mix mine thoroughly so they stay together better. I do it for rissoles too in my thermomix. is there any reason aside from texture or aesthetics?
Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Hi Danielle,
Great question! Over-mixing makes the sausages dense. If you don't mind this, you can mix as much as you want.Reply
Anna
Love this recipe and use it often! I go easy on the red pepper but let me say that smoked paprika is absolutely the right choice for sausages! Thanks Vered!!!Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Yay! I'm so glad you like this recipe, Anna! Smoked paprika is one of my favorite spices.
Reply
Steve Barth
I would like to make 100 pounds of this sausage for an event. The spice ratio is noticeably high. Do you have a recipe for larger amounts you can share?
SteveReply
Vered DeLeeuw
Wow. 100 pounds? I'm sorry, Steve, I only tested this recipe up to two pounds, and then I simply doubled the spices.
Reply
Katie
I'm going to cut the salt in half for my next batch. flavor is great - highly recommend!Reply
Vered DeLeeuw
Glad you liked the flavor, Katie! Certainly, if you use any salt other than Diamond Crystal Kosher salt, you should use just 1/2 teaspoon. I edited the recipe to reflect that. Thanks for your feedback!
Reply
