Ground Turkey Breakfast Sausage (Maple Sage)

This easy Ground Turkey Sausage Recipe has all the delicious flavor and seasonings of breakfast sausage but with lean ground turkey. It’s quickly browned in a skillet and tastes just like regular breakfast sausage with simple ingredients and spices, including maple, sage, rosemary, garlic, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce.

ByNicole Bonilla
Dairy-Free diet-friendly recipe
Gluten-Free diet-friendly recipe
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A plate of breakfast ground turkey sausage with a spoon.

This ground turkey breakfast sausage recipe delivers all the savory, herbed flavor you crave from pork sausage but without the digestive heaviness and additional fat. Made with lean ground turkey, maple syrup, sage, rosemary, garlic, and paprika, it browns up perfectly in just minutes and adds serious protein power to any breakfast. What sets this recipe apart is how the maple balances the herbs for that authentic breakfast sausage taste, while being so much gentler on your stomach than the regular stuff.

I developed this recipe because I love the flavor of breakfast sausage but it doesn’t always agree with my tummy. I’ve found ground turkey is leaner and way easier on my digestion. Plus, it’s perfect for boosting the protein in breakfast burritos, scrambled eggs, or even loaded breakfast sweet potatoes.. I literally keep a batch-prepped container of this in my fridge at all times because it makes stress-free mornings so much easier, and my family requests it way more than any store-bought version!

I love cooking this up in my HexClad Hybrid pan which combines the best of cast iron, stainless steel, and non-stick pans.

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Why You’ll Love This Breakfast Turkey Sausage Recipe

  • Incredible Flavor: The combo of sage, rosemary, and garlic makes these turkey sausages taste amazing—just like your favorite breakfast spot!
  • So Simple to Make: You’ll have homemade sausage on the table in less than 20 minutes, start to finish.
  • Super Versatile: Perfect for breakfast sandwiches, meal prep, or as a side to your eggs.
  • Everyone Loves It: Even picky eaters can’t resist the savory, slightly sweet flavors.
A plate of cooked ground turkey sausage maple, sage and rosemary.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here is everything you need to make the best loaded breakfast sweet potatoes:

Ground Turkey: You can also use ground turkey breast. No turkey? No problem! Ground chicken for chicken sausage or lean ground pork for pork sausage work just as well and are just as tasty.

Worcestershire Sauce: Don’t have it on hand? Swap it with soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos.

Salt: Use whatever you have—sea salt, kosher salt, or even pink salt for a fancy touch!

Garlic Powder: Fresh garlic works great, but just chop it finely so it blends well.

Ground Sage: You can use rubbed sage or even fresh sage if you’ve got some in the fridge.

Crushed Rosemary: Fresh rosemary adds a nice pop of flavor, or dried works fine too.

Paprika: Smoked paprika gives it a smoky twist, or go with chili powder for a little heat.

Thyme: Dried oregano or fresh thyme are great substitutes—use what you have!

Maple Extract: Skip it if you want, or try a touch of real maple syrup or honey for a hint of sweetness.

Black Pepper: White pepper works if you want something milder, or skip it altogether.

Close-up of breakfast ground turkey sausage with maple, sage and rosemary on a plate with a spoon.

How to Make My High-Protein Breakfast Turkey Sausage Recipe

Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step instructions for making my easy crumbled ground turkey. The instructions are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

Step 1: Brown the Ground Turkey Sausage

Bring a skillet to medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of light olive oil and 1 pound of ground turkey. Break it up with a spatula and sprinkle in the 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon each of salt, garlic powder, ground sage, rosemary, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and 1/8 teaspoon maple extract (optional). Continue to stir occasionally until the meat is no longer pink and cooked through. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.

Adding all the seasonings to the ground turkey sausage in a skllet.
Mixing the ground turkey sausage with a spatula

My Expert Recipe Tips

  • Don’t Overcook It: As soon as you no longer see pink meat it is done.
  • Pump Up the Flavor: If you’re a fan of bold flavors, add an extra pinch of sage or rosemary.
  • No Maple Extract? No Problem: These are delicious even without the hint of sweetness.

Delicious Serving Suggestions

  • Classic Breakfast Plate: Pair with scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit for a wholesome start to your day.
  • Breakfast Sandwich: Stack a patty on an English muffin with eggs and cheese—it’s a game-changer.
  • Low-Carb Breakfast: Serve with avocado slices and a handful of cherry tomatoes.
  • Brunch Spread: Add these sausages to your favorite waffles or pancakes.
  • Meal Prep MVP: Make a batch for the week and reheat for a quick, protein-packed breakfast.
  • Kid-Approved Combo: Serve with hash browns or mini pancakes for a fun breakfast your kids will love.
  • Perfect for Holidays: Whip these up for a brunch gathering—they’re always a hit!

Frequently Asked Questions

I store my cooked ground turkey breakfast sausage in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. If you’ve made a big batch like I usually do (because honestly, why make just a little when it’s this good?), you can freeze the cooked sausage for up to 3 months. I love portioning it into freezer bags so I can grab exactly what I need for busy mornings. Raw seasoned sausage should be cooked within 1-2 days of mixing, so don’t let it sit around too long!

After testing this recipe countless times with my family of 8, I’ve learned that ground turkey needs more seasoning than pork because it’s naturally leaner and milder. My secret blend includes paprika, rosemary, sage, garlic powder, and a little maple extract.

Absolutely! This is actually one of my favorite meal prep recipes. You can mix the seasoning into the raw ground turkey and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before cooking. I often do this Sunday night so I can quickly cook fresh sausage for breakfast during the week. You can also cook the entire batch ahead of time and reheat portions as needed.

The biggest difference is that ground turkey is much leaner than pork, so it cooks faster and can dry out more easily if you’re not careful. That’s why I add a touch of olive oil to my recipe and cook it over medium heat rather than high. Turkey sausage also has a milder flavor, which is why I load it up with herbs and spices to get that rich, satisfying taste you expect from breakfast sausage. My family actually prefers this version now because it doesn’t leave them feeling heavy like traditional pork sausage can.

Cooked ground turkey breakfast sausage will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days when stored properly in an airtight container. I’ve found it actually tastes even better the next day as all the seasonings have time to meld together. For longer storage, freeze cooked sausage for up to 3 months. Raw seasoned ground turkey should be cooked within 1-2 days of mixing for the best food safety. I always label my containers with dates because with six kids, things can get forgotten in the back of the fridge!

Yes! I actually prefer freezing them as formed patties because they thaw and reheat so much better that way. After cooking the patties, let them cool completely, then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet for about an hour. Once they’re frozen solid, transfer them to freezer bags – this prevents them from sticking together. They’ll keep for up to 3 months and you can reheat them straight from frozen in a skillet over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes per side. Perfect for those crazy busy mornings when you need breakfast fast!

This recipe is a great example of how a small swap can help you ditch processed ingredients and take back control in the kitchen. If you’d like more ideas like this, I think you’ll love my Free 6-Week Gentle Reset for weekly recipes and easy, feel-good food wins.

And if you’re ready for ongoing support, my Gentle Foodie Club is here to help you thrive with weekly meal plans, eBooks, and calm kitchen confidence.

Do you love ground turkey? Check out more of my easy ground turkey recipes:

More Savory Breakfast Recipes

A plate of breakfast ground turkey sausage with a spoon.

Ground Turkey Breakfast Sausage (Maple Sage)

Dairy-Free diet-friendly recipe
Gluten-Free diet-friendly recipe
This easy Ground Turkey Sausage Recipe has all the delicious flavor and seasonings of breakfast sausage but with lean ground turkey. It's quickly browned in a skillet and tastes just like regular breakfast sausage with simple ingredients and spices, including maple, sage, rosemary, garlic, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. 
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 8
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 tablespoon worchestershire sauce (gluten-free)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground sage
  • 1 teaspoon crushed rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/8 teaspoon maple extract (optional)
  • dash black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Bring a skillet to medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of light olive oil and 1 pound of ground turkey. Break it up with a spatula and sprinkle in the 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon each of salt, garlic powder, ground sage, rosemary, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and 1/8 teaspoon maple extract (optional).
  • Continue to stir occasionally until the meat is no longer pink and cooked through. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.

Video

Notes

Don’t Overcook It: As soon as you no longer see pink meat it is done.
Pump Up the Flavor: If you’re a fan of bold flavors, add an extra pinch of sage or rosemary.
No Maple Extract? No Problem: These are delicious even without the hint of sweetness.

Nutrition

Calories: 3kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.04gFat: 0.04gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.004gSodium: 28mgPotassium: 24mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 131IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword breakfast sausage, ground turkey, high protein, turkey sausage
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Dietitian Reviewed and Endorsed logo

This recipe has been reviewed by a healthcare professional for its nutritional balance and alignment with healthy eating principles.

7 Comments

  3. This is really good! I try not to use pork or bacon and this tasted great. I cooked up two pounds and will use it all week.

    Reply
5 from 4 votes

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