There’s something undeniably comforting about the sizzle of sausage in the morning, its savory aroma mingling with the scent of fresh coffee and warm pancakes. Whether you’re a brunch enthusiast or just someone who loves a hearty start to the day, breakfast sausage is often the unsung hero of the plate. It’s the perfect partner to eggs, a star in casseroles, or the heart of a killer breakfast sandwich. But with grocery aisles full of choices, choosing the perfect sausage can be a roll of the dice. To winnow down the options, I leaped into a blind tasting of 15 major national brands, pork to poultry to vegan, to determine which ones really stand out. Here’s the ultimate ranking to lead your next morning masterpiece.
Our Testing Methodology: Taste, Texture, and More
This wasn’t a snap nibble-and-annotate session. I put every sausage under close scrutiny, looking for balance of flavor, spice and herb content, texture (from the case’s snap to the meat’s grind), and even appearance once they were cooked. They were all tasted blind to ensure fairness, with a quick skillet preparation to allow the sausage’s inherent personality to shine. We criticized not only for taste but for how well each held up as a breakfast staple. After exhaustive consideration, four brands fell short—too mushy, bland, or off-mark. The other 15 deliver something for every taste, from the disappointing to the indelible.
The Top 15 Breakfast Sausages: A Morning Feast
1. Butterball All-Natural Fresh Turkey Sausage
Butterball is a Thanksgiving turkey giant, but their move into breakfast sausage made me leery from the beginning. The loose sausage log had a gamey turkey aroma and pasty, almost foamy texture that didn’t feel like sausage so much as meat paste. The taste was not much better, with hardly any seasoning except salt, and tasted more like a boring turkey burger than breakfast sausage. Small pieces of gristle didn’t improve things. Purchased at a deep discount, it’s easy to see why this one’s for the birds.
2. Bob Evans Original Pork Sausage Patties
Bob Evans, which prides itself on its diner-like restaurants, serves up pre-shaped pork patties that resemble something that tumbled off an assembly line. Their uniformly, hockey-puck-like appearance was not charming, and the texture was pasty and too soft, lacking the good bite you want in sausage. Though sufficiently salted, the flavor lacked punch, containing no discernible herbs or spices and an unpleasant sugar note. They tasted like hot dogs sliced far from the breakfast fantasy I envisioned.
3. Smithfield Hot Roll Sausage
Smithfield’s hot roll sausage was a difficult find, but the intense flavor made it worth the search. The cured, hammy flavor, punctuated with red pepper flakes, provided a well-balanced heat that was never overpowering. The pork fat content provided a meaty, rich depth. But the texture? Rigid and full of gristle, it was like chewing through cartilage with each bite. Had it not been for these flaws, it might have gone even higher, but as it stands, it’s a tasty contender with a killer flaw.
4. Farmland Original Pork Sausage Links
Farmland’s links resembled straight fat dotted with meat, and frying them made it official—grease flowed freely, but they remained greasy. The lard flavor overwhelmed everything else, salt being the only distinct note. The meat was delicate and gristle-free, but sheer excess made them difficult to finish. Better used as a recipe ingredient, fat-drained, than on their own.
5. Lightlife Gimme Lean Sausage
This vegan sausage began life tough with a gray, off-putting raw appearance, but cooked up well, replicating the texture of real sausage. It had a good balance of bounce and tenderness, perfect for biscuits and gravy. But it fell short flavor-wise, with too much acrid black pepper kick and lingering “fake meat” taste from soy protein, along with a bitter finish. It’s an adequate vegan alternative, but not a winner.
6. Banquet Brown ‘N Serve Original Sausage Links
Banquet’s frozen, pre-cooked links browned nicely and remained juicy, with good pork flavor and little gristle. But their greasy mouthfeel and strange, foamy texture presumably from fillers such as mechanically separated turkey and soy protein kept them from the top tier. At $1.78, they’re a bargain, but other brands just cents more offer much higher quality.
7. Jennie-O All Natural Turkey Sausage
Jennie-O turkey sausage beats out Butterball with a robust, pork-textured crumble and an excellent seasoning mix of pepper, sage, salt, and a touch of rosemary. It’s meaty and fragrant, an excellent option for pork-free eating. The lone negative is a subtle gamey turkey finish, but in a dish like a breakfast casserole, it’s hardly an issue, so it’s a useful selection.
8. MorningStar Farms Veggie Original Sausage Patties
MorningStar Farms approaches plant-based sausages in a different way, adopting a grain-forward taste instead of meat imitation. The pebbled texture of the patties browned well, and the wheat gluten base did not hit that “strange veggie protein” taste. Although touches of ginger and sweet spices were a departure from traditional sausage flavors, they provided a clean, distinctive flavor that beat out other vegan choices.
9. Applegate Naturals Chicken & Maple Breakfast Sausage
Applegate’s dedication to all-natural, antibiotic-free ingredients really comes through in its chicken and maple sausage. It steers clear of the gamey bird aftertaste, offering a tender but snappy texture and an assertive black pepper zing. The maple syrup and sugar, however, drive it into candy-like sweetness, close to pancake-level. For those who love sweet-and-savory, it’s an interesting, high-quality option.
10. Jimmy Dean Regular Pork Sausage Roll
Jimmy Dean’s iconic sausage roll is a breakfast staple for a reason. Its soft, juicy texture earned top marks for mouthfeel, melting pleasantly in every bite. The seasoning, while solid, felt a bit muted, with a slight sweetness that didn’t quite pop. For a bolder experience, I’d try their spicy version, but this is a reliable classic for gravy or sandwiches.
11. Swaggerty’s Farm All Natural Breakfast Sausage Patties
Swaggerty’s patties stand out with a short ingredient list and a rich, onion-and-garlic-influenced flavor that avoids heavy sweetness. It has a firm but not hard texture and very little gristle. MSG- and preservative-free, it’s an upscale option for people who prefer pork to take center stage without overwhelming spices, ideal for a hassle-free breakfast.
12. Jones All Natural Golden Brown Turkey Sausage
Jones’s turkey sausage is a winner, so good that I forgot I wasn’t eating pork. Pre-browned and gorgeously cooked, it has a sage-dominant, herbaceous taste with a hint of sweetness and no gamey aftertaste. The texture is ideal, no fillers, the best poultry choice for flavor and ease.
13. Impossible Sausage
Impossible Foods’ vegan sausage begins life looking unattractive as a pink sludge but, in the pan, turns into a very passable pork impersonator. Its sage and black pepper taste, matched by a meaty texture from fat levels, deceives the palate. A slight plant protein aftertaste is unnoticeable, making it an outstanding vegan choice for meat-eaters also.
14. Johnsonville Original Breakfast Sausage
Johnsonville’s cased links are exceptional with a crispy collagen casing that provides a nice crunch. The seasoning is sweet-biased, with ginger, mace, or nutmeg overtones, a refreshing spin on the traditional flavor. Though unconventional, its rich flavor and excellent texture compel curious consumers to give it a try.
15. Farmer John Classic Pork Sausage Links
Farmer John aced the traditional breakfast sausage with skinless links that strike just the right balance of fat to flavor. The coarse grind is tender but with a satisfying chew, exploding with porky goodness, black pepper, and herbs, and just a touch of sweetness for balance. No fillers, all good meat at a price that won’t break the bank: $2. It’s the gold standard for a classic morning snack.
Choosing Your Perfect Sausage
From the rich, traditional pork of Farmer John to the plant-based brilliance of Impossible, this ranking shows there’s a sausage for every breakfast lover. Whether you’re craving a classic link, a spicy roll, or a vegan patty, the right choice can turn a good morning into a great one. Use this guide to find your match and make every breakfast a feast to remember.
