Italian Turkey Sausage (in 10 minutes!)

ground turkey sausage in a skillet with a dark spatula.

Italian Turkey Sausage (in 10 minutes!)

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: ground turkey sausage, italian turkey sausage

Prep Time: 1

Cook Time: 9

Total Time: 10

Servings:

Calories: 172kcal

Author: Megan Gilmore

Have you ever wished you could add sausage to a recipe without added preservatives or mystery ingredients? That's why I've spent the past 6 months testing this Italian turkey sausage recipe. It's made with ground turkey and pantry spices, cooks in 10 minutes, and packs 21 grams of protein per serving.

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Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey (93% lean)
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt , plus more to taste
½ teaspoon fennel seeds , minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Once the surface is hot, add the ground turkey and season with ¾ teaspoon of salt. Use a sturdy spatula to start breaking up the meat into smaller pieces, stirring often.
While you wait for the turkey to cook, mince the fennel seeds with a sharp knife. The smaller you chop them, the more evenly distributed the flavor will be.
When the turkey is almost browned, you can start adding the spices. Add the minced fennel, dried oregano, basil, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir well, until the turkey is no longer pink and the spices smell fragrant.
Once the turkey is fully cooked, season with additional salt to taste. (I usually add another ¼ teaspoon, but you may prefer more or less.) It's ready to use right away. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1/4 of the batch, or approximately 4 ounces of ground turkey. This is automatically calculated using an online ingredient database, so it's just an estimate and not a guarantee.

Seasoning Notes: For a smoky flavor, add up to 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika. If you're not a big fan of black licorice, you can use only 1/4 teaspoon of fennel seeds for a milder flavor. I've also tested this with ground sage, and it's delicious with that, too! Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Nutrition