Italian Sausage Seasoning

I use this seasoning often to make Italian turkey sausage which I use in my Italian Sausage Lasagna and turkey patties.  I modified the original recipe to reduce the heat factor (replacing red pepper flakes with a dash of cayenne.  I when I heard “this tastes just like Italian sausage!”, I knew we had a winner.

I’ve listed the ingredients as I use them for 2 pounds of ground turkey, with adjustments below for a 1.25 lb which I buy at Trader Joe’s.  For best results, combine the seasoning and meat in advance and place in the refrigerator for at least a few hours or overnight to allow the seasonings to incorporate and intensify the flavor. If you don’t have this time, it still tastes great!

For 2 pounds ground beef or turkey (or other ground meat):

• 2 tsp. dried parsley
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1-1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 – 3/4 tsp. fennel seed (whole or crushed)
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper, to taste
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. minced garlic (fresh)
• 1 tsp. minced onion (fresh)

For 1.25 pounds meat (the package size I buy at Trader Joe’s):

• 1.25 tsp. dried parsley
• 1.25 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 – 3/4 tsp. fennel seed (whole or crushed; about the same as for 2 pounds meat)
• 1/3 tsp. paprika
• dash cayenne pepper
• 1.25 tsp. salt
• 1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 tsp. minced onion