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    Peak to Plate » All Wild Game » Venison

    Maple-Glazed Venison Breakfast Sausage Bites

    Published: Nov 21, 2022 by Annie Weisz · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe

    Venison breakfast sausage but in appetizer form. These little sausage bites are the perfect balance of sweet and salty with a hint of spiciness. They're a perfect addition to your brunch spread or a fun weekend treat. You can make the sausage with the recipe below or use any breakfast sausage you have on hand.

    venison breakfast sausage bites on copper skewers.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works:
    • Ingredient Notes:
    • Equipment Notes:
    • Step by Step Instructions:
    • Putting it All Together:
    • Recipe FAQ's:
    • Other Recipes to Try:
    • Recipe:
    • Maple-Glazed Venison Breakfast Sausage Bites

    Why This Recipe Works:

    One of the best parts about breakfast sausage is the crispy caramelized bits on the edges of a patty or link. Or if you have pancakes or waffles and that little bit of maple syrup creeps over into sausage territory on your plate. This recipe is a combination of the two of those delicious breakfast treats wrapped up into perfectly-sized venison breakfast sausage bites. The combination of spices and herbs come together with the ground venison to make a perfectly balanced breakfast sausage.

    Ingredient Notes:

    venison breakfast sausage bites ingredients with labels.
    • Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs make this recipe extra flavorful but you can substitute dried herbs instead. 1 ½Tbsp fresh herbs = 1 tablespoon dried herbs.
    • Pork Lard: This recipe uses melted pork lard mixed with 100% ground venison. If your meat already has fat ground in, you can skip the lard.

    Equipment Notes:

    • Parchment Paper: Parchment paper is the perfect pan liner for these sausage bites. It keeps the pan clean and the sausage won't stick to it. Don't be tempted to use aluminum foil, they will stick to it!
    maple glazed venison breakfast sausage bites on parchment paper.

    Step by Step Instructions:

    How To Make Venison Breakfast Sausage Bites:

    These breakfast sausage bites have a flavorful homemade herby seasoning that make them extra delicious. You can follow the steps below to make the breakfast sausage or if you already have some made up, you can skip past those steps.

    removing thyme leaves from stem.
    Remove thyme and sage leaves from stems.
    finely chopped thyme and sage on wood board.
    Finely chop herbs together - the finer, the better so that the herbs distribute evenly in the meat.
    adding spices to bowl of ground venison.
    Add spices and chopped herbs to ground venison.
    pouring maple syrup over venison breakfast sausage.
    Pour maple syrup over sausage mixture.
    pouring melted lard over venison breakfast sausage.
    Pour melted lard over sausage mixture. Lard is only needed if your meat doesn't have fat ground in.
    mixing venison breakfast sausage with hands.
    Mix sausage together with hands until mixture is well-combined.
    forming venison breakfast sausage bites with hands.
    Divide sausage into 42 equal portions. Roll portions between hands to form balls. Place on parchment paper-lined sheet pan.
    cooked venison breakfast sausage bites on parchment paper.
    Bake for 8-10 minutes.
    pouring maple syrup over venison breakfast sausage bites.
    Place in bowl and pour remaining maple syrup over breakfast bites. Toss to coat.
    venison breakfast sausage bites with syrup on parchment paper.
    Pour back onto sheet pan and back an additional 10-12 minutes, stirring several times to prevent burning.
    putting venison breakfast sausage bites on skewers.
    Place breakfast bites on skewers or toothpicks.
    pouring pan drippings over venison breakfast sausage bites.
    Drizzle with pan drippings and enjoy!

    Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the sausage bites in the oven once you toss them in maple syrup. There's a fine line between perfectly caramelized maple syrup and burned maple syrup. If you're not sure, err on the side of less cooking to make sure they don't burn.

    Putting it All Together:

    These little venison sausage bites studded with fresh herbs and other spices and coated in a beautifully shiny glaze are a great addition to any brunch or breakfast table. You can serve them in a bowl or on some skewers for easy serving. No matter which way you choose, you and your guests are going to love this breakfast treat!

    venison breakfast sausage bites on plate with gold spoon.

    Recipe FAQ's:

    How do you cook venison sausage without drying it out?

    Venison sausage needs some sort of fat added in to keep it from drying out. One of the best parts about breakfast sausage is the crispy, caramelized outsides. To achieve that, the meat needs to be cooked in a fat of some type or have fat ground in.

    What seasonings go best with venison?

    The flavor of venison goes great with fresh herbs. Fresh thyme and sage pair beautifully with the earthy flavor of the venison in this breakfast sausage recipe.

    What makes breakfast sausage different from regular sausage?

    The main ingredient that makes breakfast sausage different from other sausage is sage. This sausage recipe also has real maple syrup to give it some extra breakfast flair.

    Other Recipes to Try:

    • cutting into breakfast strata on plate.
      Breakfast Strata with Antelope Sausage (Overnight Breakfast Casserole)
    • venison biscuits and gravy in cast iron pan.
      Venison Biscuits and Gravy
    • corned venison hash with horseradish sauce.
      Corned Venison Hash with Horseradish Cream Sauce
    • fluffy buttermilk biscuit on wire rack.
      Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits

    If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating at the bottom of the page! This provides helpful feedback to me and fellow readers. And if you want more delicious, wild game recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram and Pinterest!

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    Recipe:

    venison breakfast sausage bites on plate.

    Maple-Glazed Venison Breakfast Sausage Bites

    Annie Weisz
    These little venison breakfast bites are the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and a little bit spicy. They're a great addition to a brunch spread or as a fun weekend breakfast treat.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 19 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 217 kcal
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    Equipment

    • sheet pan
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb ground venison (or elk, moose, antelope, etc.)
    • ⅜ cup maple syrup, divided
    • 2 tablespoon pork lard, melted (only needed if your meat doesn't have fat ground in)
    • 1 ½ tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried thyme)
    • 1 ½ tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried sage)
    • 1 teaspoon ground fennel
    • 1 teaspoon marjoram
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 pinch ground cloves

    Instructions
     

    • Add ground venison to a medium bowl. Add in spices. Drizzle 2 tablespoon maple syrup and melted lard over meat.
    • Mix together with your hands until spice mixture is well-distributed in the meat. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours, preferably overnight.
    • Preheat oven to 375°F.
    • Divide meat into 42 equal portions. Roll portions of meat between your hands to form balls. Place on parchment paper-lined sheet pan.
    • Bake for 8-10 minutes. Place sasuage bites into medium bowl. Drizzle ¼ cup maple syrup over the sausage bites. Stir to coat.
    • Pour back onto parchment paper-lined sheet pan and spread apart. Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes to prevent burning.
    • Serve on toothpicks or in a bowl. Drizzle with pan drippings. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • If you already have breakfast sausage made up, you can use that instead of mixing in the spices.
    • If your ground meat already has fat ground in, you can skip the lard.
    • Keep an eye on the sausage bites in the oven once you toss them in maple syrup. There's a fine line between perfectly caramelized maple syrup and burned maple syrup. If you're not sure, err on the side of less cooking to make sure they don't burn.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 17gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 447mgPotassium: 321mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 98IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 3mg
    Nutrition Information Disclosure
    Love this recipe?Mention @peak.to.plate on Instagram and tag #peaktoplate

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    Hi, I'm Annie! I'm a wife, mom of 2 boys, Registered Dietitian, Wyoming native, lover of all things food, and the creator of Peak to Plate. I believe that preparing delicious meals and enjoying them mindfully is the best way to pay respect to animals harvested for our consumption. I hope to inspire you to take your cooking skills to new creative heights.

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