Cheesy Italian Sausage Breakfast Muffins

Tired of skipping breakfast or grabbing another bland granola bar on the go? Mornings are about to get a whole lot better thanks to these irresistible sausage breakfast muffins!

These muffins  are the ultimate handheld breakfast. An will quickly become your new go-to for busy weekdays or lazy weekend brunches. Each one is packed with savory Italian sausage, melted gouda, chives and touch of sweetness from maple syrup. 

They’re quick to prep and perfect for tossing in your bag as you head out the door. Plus, they’ll keep you full and focused through those long workdays, classes, or morning gym sessions.

Love these cheesy Italian sausage breakfast muffins? Browse more yummy breakfast recipes!

How to make cheesy Italian Sausage Breakfast Muffins

These muffins are a delicious savory take on breakfast muffins. They’re so easy to make, so let’s get into the details!

Cook Italian sausage.

Before you start measuring ingredients for your muffin mix, cook ground Italian sausage. Break up the sausage into bits as it cooks and occasionally stir while the sausage cooks in the skillet. It should take about 10-15 minutes for the sausage to cook. 

The Italian sausage will be done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Pour the skillet into a bowl lined with paper towels to catch any excess grease. 

Whisk dry ingredients first…

In a large bowl, add flour, baking powder, gouda cheese, chives and salt. Whisk the dry mixture until all the ingredients are incorporated.

Mix wet ingredients…

In a medium size bowl, mix eggs, butter, milk, maple syrup and sour cream together. These ingredients are going to provide a lot of moisture to the muffins and slight sweetness with the addition of maple syrup. Sour cream is our favorite addition to muffins and cakes because it gives the muffins a delicious crumb and a bit denser texture. 

Combine flour mixture with wet ingredients. Mix in sausage.

Next, mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture. You will stir until you have blended the dry ingredients into the wet and there aren’t any clumps of flour. Be careful not to over mix the muffins. You want to mix until just blended to avoid a tough muffin. 

Lastly, gently fold in sausage bits into the batter.

Fill muffin tins and bake!

Using an ice cream scoop or 1/4 measuring cup, scoop batter into a prepared muffin tin.

Bake on 350ºF for 18-22 minutes. Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool completely.

The secret to making the perfect muffin top!

Ever wonder how bakeries get the tall muffin tops on their muffins? Here’s how you can get that bakery-style muffin top at home. 

Start by bake the muffins on 425°F for 4 minutes. Then, lower the temperature to 350°F for the remaining 15 minutes. The higher temperature in the begging helps to quickly activate the baking powder and create that iconic muffin top.

How do you store muffins?

If you do not plan on eating the muffins the same day, they will be good for 3-4 days in an airtight container or ziplock at room temperature.

You can also freeze the muffins. Place them in a single layer in a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. 

How do you reheat frozen muffins?

• Thaw muffins at room temperature: Leave muffins on counter to thaw for 1-2 hours until completely thawed out. Warm them to your liking in the microwave for 10-15 seconds each. 
• Reheat in the Oven: Preheat oven to a low temperature, 350ºF. Place on baking sheet and heat for 10-15 minutes until warm.
• Reheat in the Microwave: A quick way to reheat muffins is in the microwave. Unwrap and preheat for 30-60 seconds until warm. Timing will vary depending on how your microwave cooks.