This Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage recipe is one of my go-to skillet meals when I want something simple but packed with flavor. It’s just ground chicken (or turkey), a handful of pantry spices, and a few cloves of roasted garlic to pull it all together. Nothing complicated, just real ingredients that work.
The garlic gets soft and sweet in the oven, and when you mix it into the sausage, it gives the whole thing a deeper, savory flavor that honestly tastes like you spent way more time on it than you did. These are great for meal prep, weeknight dinners, or whenever you want something homemade that doesn’t take a ton of effort.
Why You’ll Love This Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage
- Big flavor, minimal effort
Roasting garlic might sound fancy, but it’s really just toss-it-in-the-oven easy. And once it’s in the sausage? Total game changer. You’ll taste the difference with every bite. - No weird stuff
This is a clean recipe—no fillers, no breadcrumbs, no eggs. Just ground chicken, garlic, herbs, and a little seasoning. That’s it. - Great for meal prep
These hold up really well in the fridge, so go ahead and make a double batch. Reheat them for breakfast with eggs, toss them in a lunch bowl, or just snack on one cold (yes, really). - Pantry-friendly
You probably already have most of what you need: onion powder, dried herbs, salt. The only fresh things you’ll need are the ground meat and garlic. - Versatile
Serve them however you want—on their own, with a dipping sauce, in lettuce wraps, or over rice and veggies. They play nice with just about everything.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the roasted garlic:
- 1 whole head of garlic
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
For the sausage:
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or ghee (for cooking)
- 1 pound ground chicken or turkey
- 3 cloves roasted garlic (from the step above)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dehydrated minced onion
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- Optional: 1 tablespoon coconut sugar (adds a little balance if you like that sweet-savory combo)
How to Roast Garlic
If you’ve never roasted garlic before, don’t stress—it’s simple and hands-off.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Grab a whole head of garlic (don’t separate the cloves), and slice off the top just enough to expose the tops of the cloves.
- Peel off the loose outer layers, but keep it mostly intact.
- Drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil over the exposed cloves.
- Wrap it loosely in foil and place it on a baking sheet.
- Roast for 40 minutes until the cloves are soft and golden.
- Let it cool before handling. The cloves should squeeze right out or be easy to mash with a fork.
Once it’s cool, you’ll just need three cloves for the sausage, but honestly—roast extra if you can. It’s amazing spread on toast or mixed into mashed potatoes.
How to Make the Sausage Patties!
- Mix the sausage ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken or turkey with the onion powder, dehydrated minced onion, dried basil, dried parsley, sea salt, and (if you’re using it) the coconut sugar. - Add the roasted garlic
Once your roasted garlic has cooled down, mash up three cloves with a fork until it’s kind of paste-like. Add it to the bowl and mix everything together until well combined. You can use a spoon or just go in with clean hands—it’s faster. - Form into patties
Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out the mixture into small meatball-sized rounds. Don’t overthink the size—just keep them uniform so they cook evenly. Leave them in a ball shape at first. - Cook in a skillet
Heat a large cast iron skillet (or your favorite nonstick pan) over medium heat. Add the coconut oil or ghee. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the sausage balls to the pan.
Gently press each one down with your hand or spatula to flatten them slightly into patties. - Sear and cook through
Cook the patties for about 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook another 2 minutes on the second side, or until they’re fully cooked through and lightly golden. You might need to do this in batches depending on your pan size.
That’s it! Serve them hot, or let them cool and stash them in the fridge for easy meals all week.
Serving Suggestions
These little patties are seriously flexible. Here are a few easy ways to serve them:
- With roasted veggies
Pair them with roasted sweet potatoes, carrots, or broccoli for a simple sheet pan-style dinner. Drizzle with a little tahini or your favorite sauce to finish it off. - In lettuce wraps
Grab some romaine or butter lettuce, add a sausage patty, sliced cucumbers, and a spoonful of hummus or yogurt sauce. Wrap it up and you’ve got a quick low-carb lunch. - Over rice or quinoa
Make it a grain bowl: add some rice, chopped veggies, a couple patties, and maybe a drizzle of garlic sauce or even a splash of soy sauce. Totally satisfying. - For breakfast
Yep, they’re great in the morning too. Serve with scrambled eggs, sautéed spinach, or tucked into a breakfast wrap. - Mini sliders for the kids
Slide them into mini buns or dinner rolls with a little ketchup or mayo for a kid-friendly dinner that’s easy to eat and easy to love.
Storage & Reheating Tips
- In the fridge:
Once cooked, these sausage patties will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Let them cool completely before storing so you don’t get that soggy steam effect. - In the freezer:
They freeze really well, too. Lay them on a baking sheet to freeze individually first (about an hour), then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. - To reheat:
- Stovetop: Warm in a skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Microwave: 30 to 60 seconds, depending on how many you’re heating.
- Oven or toaster oven: 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes if you’re reheating a batch.
Tip: If reheating from frozen, let them thaw in the fridge overnight or add a couple extra minutes if heating straight from the freezer.
How do you cook chicken garlic sausage?
In this recipe, we pan-fry them. Just shape the mixture into small patties, flatten slightly, and cook in a hot skillet with a little coconut oil or ghee. Give them 3–4 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook another 2 minutes or until they’re cooked through and golden brown.
How long to cook chicken sausage in the oven?
If you want to bake them instead of pan-frying, preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment, place the sausage patties on it, and bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
How do you cook garlic sausage in the oven?
Same method! If you’re working with pre-made garlic sausage links, bake them at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once, until they’re browned and cooked through. Use a meat thermometer if you want to be exact—look for an internal temp of 165°F.
Is chicken sausage actually healthy?
It can be! When you make it yourself like this, with simple ingredients and no additives, it’s a great option. You’re getting lean protein, healthy fats, and no mystery fillers. Plus, you can control the seasoning and skip anything you don’t want.
If you’re looking for a simple way to add big flavor to your weeknight meals, this Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage is it. It’s quick, it’s flexible, and it’s made with ingredients you probably already have at home. Whether you’re meal prepping, feeding picky eaters, or just trying to mix things up a little, this one’s a keeper.
And if you try it, I’d love to hear how it turns out! Leave a comment or tag me on Instagram so I can see what you’re cooking in your kitchen.
Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage
Equipment
- Oven
- Aluminum Foil
- Baking sheet
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
For the roasted garlic
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tsp olive oil
For the chicken sausage
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil or ghee
- 1 lb ground chicken or turkey
- 3 cloves roasted garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dehydrated minced onion
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 Tbsp coconut sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut off the top of the garlic head to expose cloves, peel outer layers, and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap in foil and place on a baking sheet.
- Roast the garlic for 40 minutes. Let cool before handling.
- In a bowl, mix ground chicken, onion powder, minced onion, basil, parsley, sea salt, and optional coconut sugar.
- Mash three cloves of the cooled roasted garlic and mix into the chicken mixture.
- Form the mixture into meatball-sized balls using a cookie scoop.
- Heat coconut oil or ghee in a cast iron skillet. Flatten the sausage balls slightly and cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, then 2 minutes on the other, until cooked through.