Apple Maple Chicken Sausage Patties

When I was writing my weekly menu and chose to make pumpkin pancakes, I thought that my favorite chicken sausage from Trader Joe's would be a perfect match.... but now I have no TJ's! So I decided to make up my own sausage patties with the same flavors. I used ground chicken breast as a base for the sausages then to give them flavor and moisture, I sauteed some apples with onion and garlic and mixed in fennel and sage. Finally, I flavored them with a bit of maple syrup and brown sugar (because all maple syrup would make them too wet).

Apple Maple Chicken Sausage Patties

1/4 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup minced granny smith apple
2 minced garlic cloves
Salt and pepper
1 tsp. whole fennel seed
1 tsp. ground fennel seed
2 tsp. dried rubbed sage
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flake
1 tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tbsp. light brown sugar

1 lb. ground chicken breast

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp EVOO, onion, apple and garlic.

Season with salt and pepper, toss and sweat out moisture for 5-7 minutes.

Pour into a mixing bowl, cool to room temperature.

Add remaining ingredients except chicken, mix well.

Add chicken and gently toss to incorporate.

Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for an hour to let flavors develop and mix.

Use a cooke scoop to remove 3 oz. balls, press into a patty and then place in a preheated skillet sprayed with canola oil.

Repeat until all chicken is gone, making about 6 patties.

Cover and cook for 6-7 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes, or until cooked through.

Serve with pumpkin pancakes.