The breakfast sausage renaissance
Convenient, better-for-you and meatless options for the morning meal emerge.
Butterball Breakfast Pairings
In November, Butterball LLC unveiled Breakfast Pairings, featuring turkey sausage links and a sous vide egg bite.
The peppers and onions variety feature three turkey breakfast sausage links and a sous vide egg bite made with red and green peppers, onions and cheese. Each pack contains 230 calories, 17 grams of protein and 16 grams of fat.
The three-cheese variety includes three turkey breakfast sausage links and a sous vide egg bite made with cheddar, Parmesan and jack cheeses. Each pack contains 240 calories, 18 grams of protein and 18 grams of fat.
Before the Butcher Uncut Breakfast Ground
In November, Before the Butcher added Uncut Breakfast Ground to its portfolio of plant-based meat substitutes. Gluten-free, cholesterol-free and Non-GMO Project verified, the grounds are made from a proprietary combination of soy protein, soy flour, coconut oil, canola oil and natural seasonings, including brown sugar and sage. Each 2-oz serving contains 120 calories, 9 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.
Butterball Sausage Balls
Butterball added Turkey Sausage Balls to its breakfast portfolio in November. Featuring a mix of turkey sausage, cheddar cheese and seasoned baking mix, the sausage balls contain 210 calories, 12 grams of protein and 12 grams of fat per five-piece serving.
Beyond Breakfast Sausage Links
In October, Beyond Meat, Inc. debuted Beyond Breakfast Sausage Links. Featuring a blend of savory herbs and spices with pea and rice protein, the links are designed to deliver the same taste and texture as pork-based links with 40% less sodium, the company said. The products contain no GMOs, bioengineered ingredients, synthetic colors, hormones, antibiotics or cholesterol. Each two-piece serving contains 130 calories, 9 grams of fat and 8 grams of plant-based protein.
“With demand for plant-based breakfast options continuing to rise and more of us eating breakfast at home, we knew the segment was ripe for innovation,” said Stuart Kronauge, chief marketing officer for Beyond Meat. “With the launch of Beyond Breakfast Sausage Links, we’re thrilled to introduce another better-for-you plant-based meat option to satisfy consumers’ love of classic breakfast dishes. We think our fans will be excited that they can make restaurant-style breakfast an at-home staple with our new links.”
Smithfield Power Bites
Smithfield Foods, Inc. in October introduced Smithfield Power Bites, a bite-size breakfast of sausage, egg, cheese and bread crumbs in portable packaging. The line is available in three flavors:
· Homestyle, made with pork sausage, eggs, potatoes, cheddar cheese and bread crumbs;
· Western Style, featuring pork sausage, eggs, green and red bell peppers, onions, cheddar cheese and bread crumbs; and
· Meat Lovers, made with pork sausage, bacon, ham, eggs, cheddar cheese and bread crumbs.
Packaged in 4-oz cups, the Homestyle variety contains 330 calories, 17 grams of protein and 25 grams of fat; the Western Style contains 360 calories, 18 grams of protein and 28 grams of fat; and the Meat Lovers flavor contains 340 calories, 19 grams of protein and 26 grams of fat.
“Today’s ever-evolving environment continues to shape consumers’ eating habits, and now, more than ever, people want easy options and the ability to enjoy flavor-filled meals or snacks on their terms,” said Eric Gibson, director of marketing at Smithfield Foods. “With the new Power Bites, you get the taste and quality you’ve come to expect from Smithfield for any occasion at home or away. We’re proud to continue our commitment to provide products made with real ingredients and high in protein, all in the form of one tasty bite that can be ready in less than a minute.”
Smithfield Power Bites are fully cooked and require only 45 seconds in the microwave, the company said. Power Bites are available in the refrigerated section of major grocery retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Publix, BI-LO and Winn-Dixie. Smithfield said it plans to roll out the products to more retailers soon.
Hormel Black Label Breakfast Combos
Hormel Foods Corp. in September began offering Hormel Black Label Breakfast Combos Sausage with Pancakes & Syrup. The breakfast item includes four mini pancakes, two Hormel Black Label sausage patties and a cup of maple syrup for pouring or dipping.
“Breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day, and now it’s about to become the best one,” said Nick Schweitzer, senior brand manager for Hormel Foods. “Our research points to 92% of Americans eating breakfast, but they don't always have the time to cook from scratch or even to sit down at their kitchen tables. Hormel Black Label Breakfast Combos breakfast items meet those challenges head on, offering the attributes that make our premium brand a favorite in the United States.”
Cinnabon breakfast products
Cinnabon announced the nationwide rollout of its first-ever Cinnabon frozen breakfast creations line in September, including two new sausage offerings.
The Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage Bites feature spicy cheddar pork and beef sausage wrapped in cinnamon sweet dough.
The CheddarRoll Sausage & Egg Sandwich features sausage and egg on a cheddar roll croissant.
“People are craving comfortable, convenient meals to enjoy while spending more time at home and our licensed products are a great solution for today's environment,” said Dave Mikita, president of Focus Brands global channels, the company’s licensing division. “Our mission is to give fans access to our brands in new, innovative ways and the Cinnabon Bakery-Inspired frozen breakfast creations line couldn't have launched at a better time — it's the perfect way for everyone from busy parents, to students and young professionals, to begin the day — not to mention they make great anytime treats.”
Jimmy Dean Casserole Bites
In August, Tyson Foods, Inc. expanded its breakfast offerings with the launch of Jimmy Dean Casserole Bites. The bites bake the classic dish into handheld, poppable bites that are ready in under a minute. The casserole bites are available in three varieties.
The Sausage, Egg and Cheese Casserole Bites are made with pork sausage crumbles, scrambled egg and cheddar cheese. Each serving contains 190 calories, 11 grams of protein and 15 grams of fat.
The Meat Lovers Casserole Bites contain pork sausage crumbles, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese and bacon. Each serving contains 200 calories, 12 grams of protein and 15 grams of fat.
The French Toast Casserole Bites include pork sausage crumbles, scrambled eggs and cinnamon glazed French toast. Each serving contains 220 calories, 8 grams of protein and 12 grams of fat.
Jimmy Dean Delights Breakfast Wraps
Tyson Foods in August added Jimmy Dean Delights Breakfast Wraps to its portfolio.
The Southwest Style wraps contain turkey sausage crumbles, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese, corn, black beans, onions, green bell peppers and red bell peppers wrapped in whole wheat flour tortillas. Each wrap contains 300 calories, 13 grams of protein and 13 grams of fat.
The Turkey Sausage & Veggie wraps are made with turkey sausage crumbles, cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, onions and bell peppers in a whole wheat tortilla. Each wrap contains 300 calories, 13 grams of protein and 14 grams of fat.
Maple Leaf 50/50 Breakfast Sausages
In June, Maple Leaf Foods, Inc. developed a new line of products that fuse animal-based and plant-based proteins with other natural ingredients. The company’s 50/50 portfolio includes new Maple Leaf 50/50 Breakfast Sausages, a pork and plant-based breakfast sausage made with premium pork, pea protein and natural ingredients. The sausages deliver 10 grams of protein per serving.
The Meatless Farm Co. meat-free breakfast sausages and patties
In April, The Meatless Farm Co. delved into a new daypart with the debut of plant-based breakfast sausage links and patties.
Made with pea and rice protein and colored with beetroot, radish and tomato, both sausage varieties are vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, made with non-GMO ingredients and certified kosher. Each two-patty serving of the breakfast patties contains 220 calories, 20 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, while a five-link serving of the breakfast sausage links contains 280 calories, 17 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.
The Meatless Farm Co.’s plant-based breakfast sausage links come in 10-oz packages of 12 links, and the patties come in 8.46-oz packages of 4 patties. The products are available now in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods Markets stores nationwide, and the company said it plans to roll out to additional retailers and foodservice partners.
“Over the years, we have seen plenty of innovation within the plant-based protein space, but breakfast meats have remained relatively untouched,” said Kasper Vesth, general manager for North America at The Meatless Farm Co. “After years of R&D, we are excited to show people how easy — and delicious — it can be to add a perfect plant-based protein to their meatless mornings. As we continue to grow in the US market, it is important for us to ensure we’re meeting the unique needs of American consumers by making it easy to incorporate more plant-based options into their daily routines, whether it’s for their health or for the health of the environment.”
Beyond Breakfast Sausage Patties
In March, Beyond Meat, Inc. rolled out its new Beyond Breakfast Sausage. Available in classic and spicy varieties, Beyond Breakfast Sausage features 11 grams of protein per serving from peas and brown rice. The sausage is designed to “look, cook and satisfy like traditional pork breakfast sausage,” Beyond Meat said, and it is Non-GMO Project verified, certified kosher and halal, and made without soy or gluten.
“Our Beyond Breakfast Sausage platform delivers on our promise of enabling consumers to ‘Eat What You Love’ while advancing health, environmental and animal welfare benefits,” said Ethan Brown, founder and chief executive officer of Beyond Meat. “It has seen early success at some of the most popular and iconic quick-service restaurants, and we are excited to introduce the first extension of the platform in retail. It’s been a staple in my own household and I’m glad that families can now enjoy this delicious breakfast option at home while feeling great about nutritional wins like 50% less total fat, 35% less saturated fat and sodium and no cholesterol compared to a leading brand of pork sausage.”
Lightlife Plant-Based Breakfast Sausage Links and Plant-Based Sausage Patties
In February, Lightlife launched Plant-Based Breakfast Sausage Links and Plant-Based Sausage Patties made with pea and rice protein. Both products mimic the taste and texture of traditional pork sausage but contain less saturated fat, Lightlife said. The links provide 10 grams of protein per serving, while the patties provide 11 grams of protein per serving.
Field Roast Plant-Based Breakfast Sausage Patties
Field Roast Grain Meat Co. in February rolled out Plant-Based Breakfast Sausage Patties seasoned with sage, black pepper and rosemary. Made with pea and rice protein, the fully cooked patties are sized for breakfast sandwiches and contain no cholesterol, soy or gluten. Each patty provides 11 grams of protein.
“Breakfast is an important part of the day, and until now, there has not been many plant-based protein options available,” said Dan Curtin, president of Greenleaf Foods SPC, a subsidiary of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. “We’re reinvigorating the plant-based breakfast space with new delicious items from Lightlife and Field Roast. More than 70% of people say they’re interested in a substitute for traditional breakfast sausages. We’re proud to be at the forefront of innovation.”
Impossible Sausage
In January, Impossible Foods added Impossible Sausage to its lineup. A 2-oz serving of Impossible Sausage has 7 grams of protein, 9 grams of total fat (4 grams saturated fat) and 130 calories. The sausage product made its debut on Burger King’s Impossible Croissan’wich, which featured a toasted croissant, egg, cheese and the Impossible Sausage.
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