Italian Sausage vs Breakfast Sausage: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)
This comparison highlights the nutritional differences between Italian sausage and breakfast sausage.
Italian sausage is higher in protein with 16.1 g compared to breakfast sausage's 15.4 g. Breakfast sausage is lower in calories at 288 compared to Italian sausage's 149.
Italian sausage and breakfast sausage are popular breakfast meats with distinct nutritional profiles. Understanding their differences can help in making informed dietary choices.
What Is the Difference Between Italian Sausage and Breakfast Sausage?
Italian sausage is a type of pork sausage seasoned with various spices and herbs, often used in Italian dishes. It typically contains a moderate amount of fat and protein. Breakfast sausage is a seasoned ground pork sausage commonly served at breakfast. It is known for its higher fat content and is often shaped into patties or links.
Italian Sausage vs Breakfast Sausage: Nutrition Side by Side
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of Italian sausage and breakfast sausage.
| Nutrient (per 100 g) | Italian sausage | Breakfast sausage |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 149 kcal | 288 kcal |
| Protein | 16.1 g | 15.4 g |
| Carbs | 2.1 g | 0.9 g |
| Sugar | 0 g | 0.9 g |
| Fat | 8.4 g | 24.8 g |
| Fiber | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sodium | 570 mg | 739 mg |
Which Is Better, Italian Sausage or Breakfast Sausage?
For weight loss: Italian sausage has 149 calories, while breakfast sausage has 288 calories, making Italian sausage the better option for weight loss.
For muscle and protein: Italian sausage contains 16.1 g of protein, slightly higher than breakfast sausage's 15.4 g, making it a better choice for muscle building.
For low-carb or low-sugar: Italian sausage has 2.1 g of carbs and 0 g of sugar, while breakfast sausage has 0.9 g of carbs and 0.9 g of sugar, making both relatively low in these categories.
How to Track Italian sausage and Breakfast sausage Accurately
Portion sizes and macronutrient content can often be misjudged, leading to unexpected calorie intake. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.
How We Compiled These Numbers
The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which sausage has more protein?
Italian sausage has 16.1 g of protein, while breakfast sausage has 15.4 g.
Which sausage has fewer calories?
Italian sausage has 149 calories, while breakfast sausage has 288 calories.
What is the fat content of breakfast sausage?
Breakfast sausage contains 24.8 g of fat per 100 g.
How much sodium is in Italian sausage?
Italian sausage has 570 mg of sodium per 100 g.
What is the carbohydrate content of Italian sausage?
Italian sausage has 2.1 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.
How much sugar is in breakfast sausage?
Breakfast sausage contains 0.9 g of sugar per 100 g.
Key Takeaways
- Italian sausage has 149 calories per 100 g.
- Breakfast sausage has 288 calories per 100 g.
- Italian sausage contains 16.1 g of protein.
- Breakfast sausage contains 15.4 g of protein.
- Italian sausage has 8.4 g of fat.
- Breakfast sausage has 24.8 g of fat.
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