11 Substitutes for Breakfast Sausage (Vege & Non-vege Options)
Sausages are an excellent breakfast idea. You load up on fats and protein, perhaps some carbs, and you have the rest of the day to spend them. I also love them in salads, as well as in sandwiches!
Still, if, for whatever reason, you cannot have a breakfast sausage, there’s always an alternative solution that is just as satisfying. So, what are some breakfast sausage substitutes?
Tempeh
Tempeh is an Indonesian soy food made from fermented soybeans. Its primary purpose is meat substitution, so having it as a breakfast sausage is a great way to use it.
Crumble or slice your tempeh and season with herbs and spices for a hearty and protein-rich alternative to breakfast sausage. You can cook it the same way you would cook your sausage and combine it the same way. It’s a great vegetarian alternative.
Tofu
You probably know what tofu is, but did you know that you can use it as a breakfast sausage alternative? Seasoned and crumbled tofu perfectly mimics traditional breakfast sausage’s texture and flavor.
You can add spices such as fennel, sage, and black pepper to achieve the recognizable savory sausage taste. I love tofu as a breakfast sausage substitute, mainly because I can pair it with other traditional breakfast foods. Delicious!
Plant-Based Sausage
A plant-based sausage is an entire group of sausages rather than a particular variety. There are many flavors and types of plant-based sausages available at the stores, so you will definitely find the one that is perfect for you.
The base ingredients for plant-based sausages can be soy, peas, or other protein-rich plants, so you won’t lack protein in your breakfast. These sausages taste and feel almost exactly like regular breakfast sausages, so you may not even notice the difference if you don’t know beforehand.
I use them in exactly the same way as I use traditional breakfast sausages, but I tend to season my breakfast more heavily because plant-based sausages aren’t as strong-flavored as the regular kind.
Seitan
Seitan is a popular meat substitute made from gluten and works as a great breakfast sausage alternative. With its meaty texture, it does a great job mimicking the substance of the breakfast sausage. I use it from time to time, and it really does start your day the right way.
It has a neutral flavor, meaning you have to season it, or it will taste bland. You can fry, bake, or sautee it and enjoy a great vegetarian yet meaty meal.
Chickpea Flour
If you have some time on your hands and like to experiment with new foods, I recommend you try the chickpea flour sausage. You can easily make this sausage at home, which I what I do as I can’t find it at the store very often.
All you need to do is mix chickpea flour with water, spices, and herbs to create a batter you can cook, like patties or crumbles, to imitate the texture of breakfast sausage. I’ve also tried to imitate the shape, but it doesn’t seem to work well for me. Still, if you want, you can try it.
I use smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt as a seasoning, and it works great!
Lentils
Lentils are known for their protein density, which is why they are widely used as a meat substitute. A lentil alternative for breakfast sausage is something you can easily do at home, even if you are an absolute beginner in the cooking department.
The first thing to do is to let the lentils soak for at least two hours before blending them into a paste. I prefer to cook the lentils instead of soaking them because it saves me a lot of time. You can either blend the lentils or mash them by hand.
Cook them the same way as you would do with regular sausages. Season the mixture with spices such as black pepper, dried parsley, and garlic powder. I also like to add breadcrumbs of corn flour or extra density.
You can shape them as patties or balls or even try to mimic the sausage shape. Have fun!
Ground Chicken
Chicken sausages are an already famous type of sausage. You can buy them or make them yourself. What I do is grind a chicken breast and season the meat with salt, pepper, and an Italian mix. I don’t have any sausage casing, of course, so I try and shape the meat into sausage form, which sometimes works and other times it doesn’t.
Anyway, you can shape the meat into balls or patties and cook it the same way you would cook a breakfast sausage. My favorite breakfast with this alternative is fried eggs sunny side up and ground chicken patties. Totally worth the mess!
Chicken Apple Sausage
The chicken apple sausage is my favorite breakfast sausage alternative in the chicken meat department. The texture is delightfully soft with the occasional crunch and incredibly vibrant and refreshing.
Grind a chicken breast and an apple, preferably sour and green.
I love this breakfast sausage alternative with fried mushrooms and a slice of freshly baked (or heated up) bread with garlic-butter spread. To season it, I like to add some balsamic glaze, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. You can try different shapes, but it seems to work best when ball or patty shaped.
Finger-licking good!
Beef Sausage
If you are a fan of beef, make yourself a beef sausage, i.e., a beef patty. If you aren’t familiar with the homemade beef patty flavor, let me tell you, it’s intense. For me, that intensity of flavor is in the best way imaginable, but not everyone feels like that, so if you aren’t crazy about beef, you may want to skip this idea.
Making it from scratch is easy and fun, but it is messy as well, so be prepared to clean up afterward. Pick a leaner cut to avoid excess fat and grind it. I sometimes mince the meat instead of grinding, so the final product has some meat chunks.
Anyway, after you grind or mince it, season it with smoked paprika, powdered garlic, salt, and pepper. You can also add an egg to the mixture for a softer patty or let it soak in garlic water to give it more flavor.
Chorizo
Chorizo is a sausage originating in Spain made with ground pork and seasoned with paprika, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. It is an absolute delicacy, full of flavor, vibrant, and versatile. I love Chorizo for breakfast, and I usually use it to make breakfast sandwiches.
You can use it for sandwiches, on the side of fried eggs, and even combine it with your breakfast pancakes.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are an excellent breakfast sausage substitute if you are looking for a less fatty option. Still, hot dogs are processed meat, so they may not be the healthiest choice, but if you don’t have them too often, you have nothing to worry about.
You can boil, fry, or even bake them, so whatever you would do with a breakfast sausage, you can do with hot dogs. I love them in hot dog sandwiches with only lettuce and mustard and that juicy hot dog in the middle of the bun.
