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Although you can usually find Italian Turkey Sausage or Chicken Sausage in most supermarkets, after many requests I created this homemade version.
Homemade Italian Sausage
Preparing homemade turkey sausage gives you more control of how much fat and what seasonings go into your sausage. If you want to avoid preservatives and added flavors, this is a great base. You can use this in any recipes that call for crumbled sausage such as Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe, Pasta with Italian Sausage, Escarole and Peppers or Sausage White Bean and Kale Soup.
Variations
Adjust the seasoning to your liking using the spices you desire.
- If you like spicy sausage, add crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne and chili powder.
- Other combinations I love add Romano Cheese and Basil
- Add Rosemary and Chopped Sundried Tomatoes
- Make breakfast sausage with Smoked Paprika and Grated Apple or Maple.
- And yes, you can use ground chicken in place of turkey. You could even use veggie crumbles to make it vegan.
Homemade Italian Turkey Sausage
Although you can usually find Italian Turkey Sausage or Chicken Sausage in most supermarkets, after many requests I created this homemade version.
Yield: 5 servings
Serving Size: 4 ounces
Ingredients
- 1.3 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup green bell pepper, minced
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, minced
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp dried thyme
- 1/8 tsp dried oregano leaves
- 1/8 tsp dried marjoram leaves
- 1/4 tsp dried fennel
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Combine turkey, garlic and spices and mix well using your hands or a fork.
- You can form them into patties or use this in recipes where crumbled sausage is called for.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Nutrition
Serving: 4 ounces, Calories: 129.4 kcal, Carbohydrates: 2.2 g, Protein: 16.7 g, Fat: 6.1 g, Sodium: 180.6 mg, Fiber: 0.4 g, Sugar: 1.3 g
Any suggested cook times/temps (stove or air fryer)? I’d be making patties/meatballs.
Thanks for this recipe. Living abroad- italian turkey or chicken sausage doesn’t exist!!
Can you use this for making sausage and peppers?
Would this recipe work to put it in casings to make links?
Sure
an alternative is to use corn husks then remove them when done.
Thank you! Where I live, turkey or chicken Italian sausage is a rare find, and I have my daughter bring several pounds each time she visits! I’m delighted to have a recipe to make it myself.
Here is a recipe I use for Italian Sausage Spice Recipe:
• 1 pound freshly ground well-marbled pork butt*
• OR
• *can substitute ground chicken, turkey or meat of choice
• 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon red wine
• 1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt – cut salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely cracked black peppercorns (toast in a dry skillet for a minute or two until fragrant for maximum flavor)
• 1 teaspoon coarsely cracked fennel seeds (toast in a dry skillet for a minute or two until fragrant for maximum flavor)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (omit if you want a mild sausage)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried ground sage- mix into meat, let marinate over night if possible for max flavour. Hope this helps, Dave the Foodie from Parksville, BC, Canada.
Thank you Dave! I am doing this today!
This is fabulous! I am not good at mincing so I put the peppers in the food processor. Then drained the liquid off, added spices and turkey. I made in the morning and put it in the refrigerator for dinner. Then cooked it up and added some of it to our pasta tonight. Even my picky eater loved it. A win! And so healthy!
That was super easy and amazingly good. I cooked the sausage in crumbles and added them to my breakfast soufflés. Thanks Gina.!!!
So good, my go to sausage now. I mix 99 percent and 94 percent fat free ground turkey, make this and use it for recipes calling for sausage. I freeze it and have some on hand. Just did the your Delicata stuffed with sausage and used this recipe in it. It is a favorite. Thank you
Is fennel seed the same as dried fennel? All I have is fennel seed.
I use the dried ground fennel instead of the seeds as I don’t like fennel seeds in my sausage and it works out just the same for me
I live in Alaska and even though there are major chains here, most don’t carry turkey Italian sausage and I have a chicken allergy to this is perfect . Thanks !
Oh my, this looks fabulous. I am going to make this to use with your turkey sausage, kale and white bean soup!
I enjoy skinnytaste!
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This Italian sausage is really good! Looks like onion is in your photo, no onion is listed in the recipe.
Okay, now I see onion in your mentioned optional recipes..☺️
Made this today… Cheated a little. I had two chubs of jennie-o turkey breakfast sausage I bought on sale and needed to use up. I looked at your recipe for turkey sausage and decided to just fry it up with fennel seeds and some finely diced orange pepper. Then I added some better than boulion chicken base + water, brought to a boil and threw in some gnocchi and white beans. As soon as the gnocchi rose to the top, I ladled the soup over bowls of baby kale mix. It was super yummy and even my old dad ate it and I can't get him to eat greens for the life of me!
Ooops… I put this on the wrong recipe… sorry.. I meant https://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/01/turkey-sausage-kale-and-white-bean-soup.html
There appears to be onions in the photo, but not in the recipe. Is there something missing?
WOW! I have been missing sausage because it is all made with nitrates. Now I can make my sausage and peppers and manja!
For months now, I have been searching for a good home-made turkey sausage recipe. Thanks so much for posting Gina. I have been enjoying your site for several years now – you're the best!
My local grocery store doesn't have chicken sausage… I've looked for it everywhere. Now I can just buy chicken breasts, put them in the food processer and make my own chicken sausage! Awesome!!
Anonymous…You can actually just select the recepie that you like along with the picture, then copy in into a word doc and print it.
Thanks Kristen!
I loved this recipe. I used it in the white bean, sausage and kale soup. Soooo easy to make and it really spiced up the soup. I didn't have any marjoram or paprika so I subbed corriander and it still tasted great! My Thank you! Kristen
@babydog2- no not yet!
You can just print page 1 instead of all pages.
This is good when you can't find turkey sausage. It's not always available everywhere.
Hi Gina…your website has been a treasure trove for my friend and I who are WW'ing together. I was wondering, is there a way to print the recipes without all the comments that follow. When I hit the print this recipe button–it does the whole thing.
Thanks,
Cathy
Oh wow. Why didn't we think about how simple this could be? Sounds good!
This sounds really good Gina!
Oh, thank you for posting this recipe! I don't use sausage often, but it's nice to have an alternative when you do need it. I'll be making this for sure!
This is great! *bookmark* I will definitely try this soon.
Gina, love your Zucchini sticks recipe. Yummy!
Do you have a cook book out?
Thanks, Marion
This is a great idea!
I just wanted to say thanks for this recipe :).
Made the Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts and Feta cheese, tonight. It was really easy to make and turned out great! I will definitely make this again!!!