This blueberry turkey sausage is easy to make and a delicious, healthier alternative to standard breakfast sausage. It's made with no added sugar or other additives, so it's baby and toddler friendly - and a great way to add protein and iron to breakfast!
This post has been written and medically reviewed by Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist).
Healthy Blueberry Turkey Sausage
When my breastfeeding baby was diagnosed with several food allergies - including eggs and dairy - I struggled with adding protein to both of our diets, especially at breakfast. My go-to scrambled eggs, yogurt, and baked oatmeal were off the table (along with peanuts, tree nuts and chickpeas!). So our protein had to come from meat. Most breakfast meats like bacon, ham and sausage aren't the healthiest or the most baby friendly, so I set out to make my own healthy version of breakfast sausage that we could both enjoy (and I could feel good about feeding her!).
This blueberry breakfast sausage is easy to make and naturally sweetened with frozen wild blueberries - which melt into the perfect texture for little ones when cooked and offer antioxidants along with a fun color! Fresh thyme, sage and garlic along with a few simple dried spices offer the perfect flavor mix, while ground turkey brings protein and moisture. It's easy to mix up, batch cook and store for the week ahead so that you have a high protein option for the whole family ready to go in the mornings!
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Ingredients
- Ground turkey - I use 85% lean turkey. You want at least some fat content to keep the sausage moist enough for baby. Don't buy the 99% lean turkey, or your sausage will be too dry.
- Garlic - I love the taste of fresh garlic, but you can also swap in garlic powder.
- Sage - This herb gives classic breakfast sausage vibes.
- Thyme - Fresh thyme compliments the blueberries really nicely.
- Spices - Allspice, coriander, and optional red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper if you want a little heat.
- Frozen wild blueberries - I love frozen wild blueberries for babies and toddlers because they thaw and cook to the perfect soft texture, and their size is ideal. They also taste delicious and are often more nutritious than the fresh berries from the store. If you're using fresh berries, chop them up before adding to the sausage to avoid a choking hazard.
Helpful Equipment
- Nonstick or cast iron skillet
- Spatula
- Sharp knife
- 2 tablespoon cookie scoop
- Meat thermometer
Step By Step Instructions
For the full printable recipe, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Finely mince the garlic, sage, and thyme. Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
- Use your hands to mix everything together well.
- Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop to form the mixture into uniform patties, pressing them with your hands.
- Heat a little bit of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.
Tips and Recipe Variations
- Feel free to substitute ground chicken or pork for the turkey. Just make sure you're not using lean, or the sausage will dry out. You want some fat for moisture.
- Another way to avoid dry sausage is to make sure you're not over-cooking it. An instant-read thermometer is really helpful when cooking ground meat. It is done when it reaches 165°F in the center.
- I like using fresh garlic and herbs, but you can swap in dried if that's what you have on hand. In general, use half the amount of dried herbs and spices that the recipe calls for.
- Salt, pepper, and red pepper are optional based on who you're serving. You may feel more comfortable leaving them out for little ones under 12 months.
- For sweeter sausage, add about 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup to the mix (for 12 months and up).
Storage and Reheating
Store cooked sausage in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.
To reheat, you can warm patties in a skillet with a splash of water, or pop them in an air fryer on the lowest setting until warmed through.
How To Serve Turkey Sausage To Babies 6 Months and Up
In general, I typically don't recommend sausage for babies, but I make an exception for homemade sausage without the added sugar or other icky ingredients. Not drying it out when cooking is key - you need it to be moist for baby to be able to suck the juices out and munch on without it crumbling too much. If a large piece does crumble off in baby's mouth, calmly coach baby to cough and spit it out (don't reach into baby's mouth as this can push the food farther back).
For BLW babies 6 months and up, you can either form the sausage into finger-shaped pieces before cooking, or you can cut patties into thin strips. Either of these options provides an easy shape for baby to grasp. For babies with a pincer grasp (using the index finger and thumb to pick up small objects), you can cut sausage into very small bites (about the size of your pinky nail) or mash it up with a fork.
More High Protein Breakfast Recipes
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No Sugar Blueberry Turkey Sausage Recipe
This blueberry turkey sausage is easy to make and a delicious, healthier alternative to standard breakfast sausage. It's made with no added sugar or other additives, so it's baby and toddler friendly - and a great way to add protein and iron to breakfast!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 16 patties 1x
- Category: breakfast
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey (85-90% lean)
- 2 tsp fresh garlic, minced (2 cloves)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage (about 6 leaves)
- 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (about 2 sprigs)
- ½ tsp allspice
- ½ tsp coriander
- 1 tsp salt (optional)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper (optional)
- ⅔ cup frozen wild blueberries
- olive oil or avocado oil, for cooking
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together well. I use my hands to squish it all together.
- Scoop mixture into 2-tbsp portions with a cookie scoop or tablespoon and press into patties.
- Heat a well seasoned cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a little bit of oil just to prevent sticking.
- Cook sausage patties over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, flattening with your spatula. Flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until cooked through. Avoid overcooking - they are done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (I highly recommend a meat thermometer!).
- Cool before storing or serving to babies or toddlers.
Notes
- Feel free to substitute ground chicken or pork for the turkey. Just make sure you're not using lean, or the sausage will dry out. You want some fat for moisture.
- Avoid over-cooking sausage so that it retains moisture. An instant-read thermometer is really helpful when cooking ground meat. It is done when it reaches 165°F in the center.
- I like using fresh garlic and herbs, but you can swap in dried if that's what you have on hand. In general, use half the amount of dried herbs and spices than fresh.
- Salt, pepper, and red pepper are optional based on who you're serving. You may feel more comfortable leaving them out for little ones under 12 months.
- For sweeter sausage, add about 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup to the mix (for 12 months and up).
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