This breakfast dish has quickly become a family favorite. It is great because it can be used in many ways, is high in protein, and is easy to make. On a busy school morning, it makes it easy to make a tasty, healthy hot breakfast. You know those mornings. If you wake up at 6:47 in the morning to organize Rainbow Loom bands, your kids aren’t paying attention, and their socks don’t match (which, thankfully, is the trend these days). The permission slip you signed yesterday is missing, and it’s due today. And while you’re brushing your teeth, your daughter gets toothpaste on her school shirt, and you have to dig through the laundry pile (five loads, none folded) because getting a new shirt from her room will wake the toddler, and no one wants to wake this toddler! Or maybe that’s just our mornings…
This dish can feed 4 to 6 people, depending on how hungry they are and whether you serve fresh fruit, toast, or other sides. I am using our large baking dish that easily accommodates a dozen eggs. We also have a smaller baking dish available that is great for 6-8 eggs.
Start by browning your breakfast sausage. I use one pound of MSG-free, nitrate/nitrite-free, and phosphate-free Jimmy Dean All Natural Regular Pork Sausage. (Plus it’s gluten free, which matters to some. ) Yes, organic would be preferred, unfortunately that’s not in the budget this week.
Remove the fat from the sausage or place it on a paper towel to soak up the oil. If you want to save money, put half of the browned sausage in a bag and freeze it for later.
I get my eggs from a local farm on a weekly basis. Not only are they beautiful, but they have a deliciously rich flavor.
Eight to six eggs will do if you don’t need as many. Twelve eggs is what works best for our family. Beat your eggs and add milk.
I’m not big measuring, I just pour some in until it looks pretty good. Around 1/2 – 3/4 cup organic whole milk.
After you beat the eggs and milk so they’re fluffy, toss in 1/4 cup-ish grated cheese. We change it up around here, which is mostly due to what I have on hand. Some days I use cheddar, other days it’s been mozzarella and parmesan. For a great kick add pepper jack cheese!.
Next add 1 1/2 cups torn baby spinach. If you’re cooking with the kids this is a fun thing for them to be doing. While you’re busy beating eggs your little helper can be tearing baby spinach leaves. It doesn’t have to be extra tiny or sliced or all the same size. Just let the kids grab a few leaves and rip them up a couple times.
At any point you can add your sausage and salt and pepper to taste. Which, really is an odd thing to say. Who is going to put salt and pepper in raw egg soup, taste it, and then add more salt and pepper? Really? Don’t do that. Just add some. and then add more after it bakes if it wasn’t enough.
This is where our additions end because of the taste preferences of our 5 minions. You can make this dish even tastier by adding things like fresh mushrooms, diced bell pepper, broccoli, chunks of ham, onion, kale, etc. if you don’t have any minion helpers or if they have different taste preferences. Have fun with it. Get creative. Throw in anything you like! (Just don’t tell the kids until after they have eaten it!).
Before I pour my egg mixture into my baking dish, I spritz the dish with grapeseed oil. You could use Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil or even butter I suppose. I have made this several times before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware. **Use plastic wrap to cover the dish and put it in the fridge overnight if you are making this the night before but don’t want to bake it until the morning.
I bake mine in my convection oven at 350 for 40 minutes. I honestly don’t know if it takes longer to bake in a conventional oven. Just be sure that the egg in the middle is completely cooked before you serve and enjoy!.
Take note of this baking dish: I’ve made this before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware. The eggs stuck to both of those dishes regardless of how well I oiled the pan. The casserole that was baked in the DowntoEarthenware Baking Dish was very easy to cut up, and the eggs didn’t stick at all. Beautiful results!.
Jimmy Dean is one of the most iconic brands when it comes to pre-packaged sausages and breakfast meats. Their frozen sausage links and patties are staples in many households. But with increased attention on food additives and preservatives, many wonder – do Jimmy Dean sausages contain controversial nitrates?
In this in-depth article, we’ll closely examine the ingredients in popular Jimmy Dean sausage products to see if nitrates and other additives are present.
An Overview of Jimmy Dean’s Sausage Products
Jimmy Dean offers a wide range of sausage products including:
- Fresh sausage rolls
- Pre-cooked frozen sausage links
- Pre-cooked frozen sausage patties
- Pre-cooked frozen sausage crumbles
The frozen pre-cooked sausages just require a quick microwave or pan fry to heat through before eating The fresh sausage rolls need complete cooking before consumption.
For this article, we’ll focus on analyzing the ingredients in Jimmy Dean’s popular pre-cooked frozen pork sausage links that are frequently used for quick breakfasts.
Jimmy Dean Frozen Sausage Links Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients found in Jimmy Dean’s frozen pre-cooked pork sausage links according to the package
- Pork
- Water
- Corn syrup solids
- Contains 2% or less of: salt, vinegar powder, spices
- Natural smoke flavor added
- Citric acid added as a preservative
Right away it’s clear that nitrates are not listed among the ingredients.
The primary component is pork. Water helps keep the sausages moist. Corn syrup solids add a touch of sweetness. Spices and smoke flavor provide expected sausage seasoning.
Citric acid is used as a preservative to help prevent bacterial growth in the pre-cooked frozen links. But again, no nitrates, nitrites, or other concerning chemical preservatives are listed.
Why Nitrates Aren’t Needed in Pre-Cooked Jimmy Dean Links
There are a few reasons why Jimmy Dean likely does not need to use controversial nitrate or nitrite preservatives in their pre-cooked frozen sausage links:
-
Pre-cooking – The links are already fully cooked when frozen so pathogens are killed off.
-
Freezing – The constant frozen temperature inhibits bacteria growth so less preservatives are needed.
-
Acidifiers – Citric acid helps drop pH to further deter microbial growth in a natural way.
-
Short shelf-life – The frozen links get used up quickly so don’t require long-term preservation.
So due to Jimmy Dean’s processing methods and distribution practices, nitrates don’t provide any additional benefit or need to be added as preservatives.
What Other Additives are in Jimmy Dean Sausages?
While nitrates aren’t present, there are some other additive ingredients to note:
-
Corn syrup – Some choose to avoid this sweetener due to high fructose content.
-
Smoke flavoring – Artificial flavoring as opposed to natural wood smoking.
-
Citric acid – Synthetic preservative, though a naturally occurring organic acid.
-
Caramel color – Found in some varieties for an appetizing brown color.
So if wishing to avoid certain additives like these, one may want to choose alternative pre-cooked sausage options that use less additives.
Are Jimmy Dean Fresh Sausage Rolls Different?
Jimmy Dean also offers fresh, uncooked pork sausage rolls that are found in the refrigerated meat case. These fresh sausages have a shorter ingredient list:
- Pork
- Water
- Salt, sugar, spices
The fresh rolls contain no preservatives, corn syrup, citric acid, or other additives. This is because they need to be cooked fully before eating, reducing pathogen risk.
So for an additive-free option, the fresh rolls may be preferential over the pre-cooked frozen links for some sausage fans.
Nutrition Profile of Jimmy Dean’s Pork Sausage
Here is the basic nutrition data for a typical serving of Jimmy Dean pre-cooked frozen pork sausage links:
- Calories: 160
- Fat: 13g
- Carbs: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Sodium: 380mg
Like many sausages, they are high in fat and sodium, which is expected given the pork and salt content. Each link provides 8g of protein.
When consumed as part of a balanced diet, pre-cooked frozen sausages like these are fine in moderation. But those with specific dietary needs or restrictions may want to carefully limit intake.
Health Concerns Around Processed Meats
While Jimmy Dean sausages may not contain nitrates specifically, some health advocates express general concern about eating too much processed meat.
Potential downsides of frequent processed meat consumption may include:
- Increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer
- High sodium levels
- Obesity risk from high fat and calorie content
- Lack of nutrients compared to unprocessed fresh meat
These risks likely come from the salt, smoke flavorings, and high fat content typical in processed pork products like sausages. Preparing fresh sausage at home can provide a minimally processed alternative.
The Bottom Line on Jimmy Dean Sausages
After inspecting ingredients lists for their popular frozen pre-cooked sausage links, Jimmy Dean products do not contain sodium nitrate or nitrite preservatives.
Other additives like corn syrup solids, smoke flavor, and citric acid are present in frozen varieties, though fresh sausage contains just pork, water, salt and spices.
While occasional consumption of pre-cooked sausages is likely fine for most, limiting intake and choosing fresh alternatives may be best for health. But Jimmy Dean sausages can be enjoyed nitrate-free!
Common FAQs about Jimmy Dean Sausages
Here are answers to some other frequently asked questions about nitrates and other aspects of Jimmy Dean sausage products:
Do Jimmy Dean fresh sausages contain nitrates?
No, the fresh sausage rolls just contain pork, water, salt and spices without any nitrates or preservatives.
What’s the best way to cook Jimmy Dean fresh sausages?
Slicing the roll and pan frying until browned, 160°F internal temp, ensures safety and best texture and flavor.
Are Jimmy Dean turkey sausages nitrate-free?
Yes, both the pork and turkey varieties of pre-cooked links do not contain nitrates based on ingredients labels.
What is added to Jimmy Dean’s hot and spicy sausages?
The hot sausage contains spices like black pepper and red pepper for heat. Nitrates are not added.
Are Jimmy Dean breakfast bowls healthy?
While convenient, these bowls can be high in sodium, fat, and processed meat ingredients. Enjoy in moderation.
Do Jimmy Dean sausages contain gluten?
Jimmy Dean pork sausages do not contain gluten. But some flavors with gravy may have wheat-based thickeners.
Can Jimmy Dean sausages be grilled?
Yes, fresh rolls can be sliced and grilled fully to 160°F internal temperature. Pre-cooked links can also be quickly grilled to re-heat.
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This breakfast dish has quickly become a family favorite. It is great because it can be used in many ways, is high in protein, and is easy to make. On a busy school morning, it makes it easy to make a tasty, healthy hot breakfast. You know those mornings. If you wake up at 6:47 in the morning to organize Rainbow Loom bands, your kids aren’t paying attention, and their socks don’t match (which, thankfully, is the trend these days). The permission slip you signed yesterday is missing, and it’s due today. And while you’re brushing your teeth, your daughter gets toothpaste on her school shirt, and you have to dig through the laundry pile (five loads, none folded) because getting a new shirt from her room will wake the toddler, and no one wants to wake this toddler! Or maybe that’s just our mornings…
Back to the point of the post.
This dish serves 4-6 depending on the appetites you’re feeding and if you offer fresh fruit or toast or any other sides. I am using our large baking dish that easily accommodates a dozen eggs. We also have a smaller baking dish available that is great for 6-8 eggs.
Ingredients needed:
Start by browning your breakfast sausage. I use one pound of MSG-free, nitrate/nitrite-free, and phosphate-free Jimmy Dean All Natural Regular Pork Sausage. (Plus it’s gluten free, which matters to some. ) Yes, organic would be preferred, unfortunately that’s not in the budget this week.
Brown Sausage in a small to medium pot on the stove.
Remove the fat from the sausage or place it on a paper towel to soak up the oil. If you want to save money, put half of the browned sausage in a bag and freeze it for later.
I get my eggs from a local farm on a weekly basis. Not only are they beautiful, but they have a deliciously rich flavor.
Eight to six eggs will do if you don’t need as many. Twelve eggs is what works best for our family. Beat your eggs and add milk.
I’m not big measuring, I just pour some in until it looks pretty good. Around 1/2 – 3/4 cup organic whole milk.
After you beat the eggs and milk so they’re fluffy, toss in 1/4 cup-ish grated cheese. We change it up around here, which is mostly due to what I have on hand. Some days I use cheddar, other days it’s been mozzarella and parmesan. For a great kick add pepper jack cheese!.
Next add 1 1/2 cups torn baby spinach. If you’re cooking with the kids this is a fun thing for them to be doing. While you’re busy beating eggs your little helper can be tearing baby spinach leaves. It doesn’t have to be extra tiny or sliced or all the same size. Just let the kids grab a few leaves and rip them up a couple times.
At any point you can add your sausage and salt and pepper to taste. Which, really is an odd thing to say. Who is going to put salt and pepper in raw egg soup, taste it, and then add more salt and pepper? Really? Don’t do that. Just add some. and then add more after it bakes if it wasn’t enough.
This is where our additions end because of the taste preferences of our 5 minions. You can make this dish even tastier by adding things like fresh mushrooms, diced bell pepper, broccoli, chunks of ham, onion, kale, etc. if you don’t have any minion helpers or if they have different taste preferences. Have fun with it. Get creative. Throw in anything you like! (Just don’t tell the kids until after they have eaten it!).
Before I pour my egg mixture into my baking dish, I spritz the dish with grapeseed oil. You could use Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil or even butter I suppose. I have made this several times before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware.** If you are preparing this the night before and don’t want to bake it until the morning then you can cover your dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight.
I bake mine in my convection oven at 350 for 40 minutes. I honestly don’t know if it takes longer to bake in a conventional oven. Just be sure that the egg in the middle is completely cooked before you serve and enjoy!.
** Note about this bakeware: I have made this several times before in a glass baking dish and in Corningware. The eggs stuck to both of those dishes regardless of how well I oiled the pan. The casserole baked in the DowntoEarthenware Baking Dish was extremely easy to cut and came our without any of the egg sticking. Beautiful results!