Beef Breakfast Sausage

[Granny Smith]

I based this on Alton Brown's pork sausage recipe, but changed a few things. I made some last night and cooked part of it this morning. It came out firmer than pork sausage, but was tender and tasted pretty much the same. It made good gravy, too.

Beef Breakfast Sausage

1 pound regular hamburger (not ground chuck, round or sirloin)
1/2-3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or 1/2 t. regular salt)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 rounded teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional (I added it and it wasn't too hot)
2-3 Tablespoons water

Combine hamburger with all other ingredients, adding as much water as needed to make it easy to mix. Chill for at least 1 hour so the flavors can marry.

Saute patties over medium-low heat in a non-stick pan. Cook until brown and cooked through, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

May be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months.

[Sheila]

Ahhh thanks looks good,and i have all the spices saving this one.

[Sheila]

I add maple flavoring or maple syrup to my turkey sausage wonder how it would taste added to this?

[Valerie]

I like this! Wish I could find my packet of red pepper flakes, I'd make some with breakfast tonight. Dave normally won't eat pork sausage because of the fat and it kind of hurts his stomach, but this would work. I'd get the sausage flavor and he'd get basically seasoned hamburger meat which he can eat just fine.

[Granny Smith]

Valerie, if you have cayenne, I think you could just use that and leave out the flakes. It's kind of frustrating to try to adjust seasonings in meat if you won't taste it when it's raw (which I won't)

[Valerie]

I won't either, but hey! I found my red pepper flakes!

[Valerie]

I made some tonight. It was pretty tasty. I think next time I'll cut back the hot stuff just a little bit. Dave said as far as he could tell, it was like a little hot hamburger. He said he'd just as soon have a little hamburger with ketchup on it, but if I feel the need for sausage and want to make it again, he'll eat it.

[Granny Smith]

That's not a bad review. I thought it was ok for a cheat. Hey, a meat cheat! hahahaha!

[Valerie]

The leftovers made very nice sausage biscuits for me and Beck the next day. She liked it a lot, too.

[Granny Smith]

I used the leftovers to make breakfast sandwiches for Dan. I put them on bagels, though (less likely to fall apart when you reheat them)