Choosing between salty, tender breakfast proteins can spark a debate: sausage or bacon? For me, breakfast sausage takes the prize. It delivers a juicy bite, a bright balance of salty and sweet, and it’s generally easier to nail—finding bacon cooked to perfection at a café or deli feels like a 1 in 40 shot.
While a morning sausage sandwich or a platter with scrambled eggs and juicy links would be my ideal kickoff, I’ve stepped away from pork recently. This keeps chicken sausage squarely on my radar for breakfasts (a real gem for poultry lovers). That’s why I was thrilled to try two chicken-sausage products from Amylu Foods that are now stocked at Target. Both varieties are made from chicken that’s free of antibiotics, nitrates, nitrites, fillers, and preservatives.
Amylu Foods Maple Breakfast Bites
At heart these are breakfast sausage meatballs—yes, you read that right: Breakfast. Sausage. Meatballs. It felt like discovering a small, edible miracle. The moment you open the package you’re greeted by a neat bundle wrapped in a plastic sleeve (a sleeve of meatballs!) with perforated edges so you can portion them out. Exceptional design.
My initial tasting wasn’t a classic morning moment; I actually added them to supper—tossed into a garlic-parsley-basil pesto with homemade gnocchi—to test their versatility beyond breakfast, maple flavor and all. The maple sweetness proves fairly restrained, while a pleasant peppery herbal note with a touch of heat keeps the profile interesting. It’s the kind of flavor that shines whether you’re making a sandwich, serving them with eggs, or layering them into a dinner plate.
Even though these bites are kept refrigerated, I tried a batch from the freezer and was equally impressed. They’re pre-cooked, and I warmed them in an air fryer, which yielded a crackly exterior in just a few minutes.
Amylu Foods Breakfast Time Patties
The Breakfast Time Patties from Amylu Foods present a more pronounced savory profile than I anticipated—pleasantly so, rather than clashing with expectations of a sugary note typical of many breakfast sausages. Their flavor sits closer to herbaceous, which I suspect would win over younger eaters with a milder palate.
What initially struck me as a potential drawback actually became a strength. These patties prove excellent as a savory morning pairing with scrambled eggs, onions, and a slice of robust rye bread. Yet, like their sweeter counterparts, they’re versatile enough to suit nearly any dish that calls for sausage—pasta, pizza, or a satisfying sandwich. Given their natural umami tilt, I’d welcome a touch more garlic warmth. Next round, I’d pair them with a cheese that’s herb-crusted or garlicky to give the dish a richer, garlic-forward boost.
