Elk Sausage Recipe: How to Make Elk Breakfast Sausage
This elk sausage recipe is a great way to enjoy a healthy, protein-packed and delicious meal. Whether you are an experienced hunter or bought elk meat at the store: you’ll love these flavorful elk breakfast sausage patties!
Why You Will Love This Elk Breakfast Sausage Recipe
Easy
Making sausage at home by sound intimidating, but it’s actually very easy!. Mix the spices and herbs in a bowl, add the meat and combine well. Next, form the patties, and cook! Making sausage patties is so simple, since it doesn’t require sausage casings or sausage stuffing equipment.
Healthy
As a type of venison, elk meat is popular for being nutritious and lean. Compared to beef, elk has less fat and more protein. It is high in B vitamins, zinc. Many farm raised elk are able to free range and have a varied diet, which includes a broad variety plant material. For the healthiest meat, make sure you are buying from a good farm if you are not hunting the elk yourself.
Delicious
The first time I tried ground elk I was amazed at the taste and texture! It’s not as greasy as ground beef and it has a mild, clean and almost a sweet taste. This makes elk meat the perfect choice for tender and flavorful breakfast sausages. It pairs wonderfully with sweet maple syrup, earthy sage, and fragrant spices in this recipe!
Ingredients That Make This Elk Sausage Amazing
Ground Elk Meat: ground elk venison is used in this recipe, the perfect type of wild game for a lean and flavorful breakfast sausage! Any type of ground venison will work well for this recipe.
Maple Syrup: maple syrup adds a natural sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the flavors of elk meat, herbs and spices. Feel free to substitute with brown sugar if you don’t have any maple syrup on hand.
Spices: the coriander, fennel, and black pepper adds a unique and well rounded taste to this breakfast sausage. Feel free to add some chili flakes to make spicy elk sausage!
Herbs: thyme and sage give this fresh sausage bright, earthy, and peppery tastes to these sausages.
How to Serve Elk Breakfast Sausage Patties
- Sausage patties can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways, here are some ideas!
- Enjoy these patties with the same sides you would normally eat with breakfast sausage.
- Serve alongside your favorite sourdough pancake or waffle recipe.
- Enjoy with crispy has browns or home fries.
- Have a hearty breakfast with sourdough toast and apple butter or pumpkin butter!
- Eat a light meal with some sauteed or baked apples.
- Serve these patties for lunch or dinner with your favorite cozy soup!
Tips and Tricks for Making the Perfect Elk Sausage
- Combine the spice blend in a small or medium bowl before adding the seasoning to the ground meat. This will help ensure that the seasoning is uniform throughout the meat.
- Use fresh herbs instead of dry if possible! Fresh thyme and sage are so delicious in this breakfast sausage recipe.
- Preheat the pan and butter before adding the meat patties to prevent sticking and encourage browning, which adds more rich flavor.
- Carefully monitor the sausages when cooking: you don’t want to overcook these because the low amount of fat can cause the sausage to be quite dry if overly well-done.
- I suggest sticking with stainless steal or cast iron for cooking.
How to Store Elk Breakfast Sausage
Raw Meat Patties: freeze the prepared raw meat patties in a freezer bag for up to 4 months, separating each layer with parchment paper. Make sure to seal the meat air tight to prevent freezer burn. Store raw meat mixture or patties in the refrigerator for 1-2 days in an airtight container.
Cooked Sausage Patties: Allow sausage patties to come to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
How to Make Elk Breakfast Sausage Patties
Combine sage, thyme, fennel, coriander, black pepper, salt, and red pepper (if using) in a small bowl.
Add ground meat to a large bowl.
Pour spice and herb mixture into large bowl with ground meat.
Add maple syrup to large bowl with meat and spice/herb mixture.
Combine ground elk, herbs, spices and syrup with your hands until thoroughly and evenly mixed.
Form 10 small balls out of the meat mixture, then flatten into 1/2 inch round patties.
Preheat a large stainless steal pan or cast iron pan to medium-high heat.
Add butter to pan and allow it to melt and begin to bubble.
Place meat patties on hot pan with a little space between each patty.
Cook in first side for about 3-5 minutes or until first side is browned.
Adjust to medium heat if needed if patties are browning too quickly.
Carefully flip each patty, cook on second side and cook for about 5 minutes or until second side is browned.
Check for completion by cutting one patty open to ensure the center is fully cooked.
Transfer patties to a plate when browned on each side and cooked through the center.
Enjoy!
Elk Sausage Recipe: How to Make Elk Breakfast Sausage
Equipment
- 1 Large Bowl
- 1 small bowl
- 1 large stainless steel or cast iron pan
- 1 spatula for flipping
- 1 fork or spoon for mixing spices and herbs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground elk
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp dried sage (or 1 Tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped)
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, stems removed)
- 1/4 tsp ground fennel seed
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 Tbsp butter for cooking
Instructions
- Combine sage, thyme, fennel, coriander, black pepper, salt, and red pepper (if using) in a small bowl
- Add ground meat to a large bowl
- Pour spice and herb mixture into large bowl with ground meat
- Add maple syrup to large bowl with meat and spice/herb mixture
- Combine ground elk, herbs, spices and syrup with your hands until thoroughly and evenly mixed
- Form 10 small balls out of the meat mixture, then flatten into 1/2 inch round patties.
- Preheat a large stainless steal pan or cast iron pan to medium-high heat.
- Add butter to pan and allow it to melt and begin to bubble.
- Place meat patties on hot pan with a little space between each patty.
- Cook in first side for about 3-5 minutes or until first side is browned.
- Adjust to medium heat if needed if patties are browning too quickly.
- Carefully flip each patty, cook on second side and cook for about 5 minutes or until second side is browned
- Check for completion by cutting one patty open to ensure the center is fully cooked.
- Transfer patties to a plate when browned on each side and cooked through the center
- Enjoy!
