Trader Joe’s has a sausage/every craving sweet, spicy, smoky, or cheesy. I sampled every variety I could find, and one absolutely blew the rest away. Here’s how they stacked up—ranked from best to worst.
1. Unexpected Cheddar Chicken Sausage $4.49/12 oz
This cheddar-stuffed link is the definition of a sausage glow-up. Gooey, tangy cheese melts into a juicy chicken base that works just as well in pasta as it does on its own.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 160
- Total Fat 9g
- Carbs 3g
- Sodium 700mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 16g
Ingredients
- Chicken, cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, microbial enzyme), caramelized onions, red bell pepper, salt, cane sugar, vinegar powder, granulated garlic, spices, rosemary extract. Packed in a natural pork casing.
- Contains: Milk.
Preparation Instructions
Grill or pan-fry over medium heat/6–8 minutes until browned and heated through.
2. Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage $4.29/12 oz
Slightly sweet and ultra-savory, this is a go-to breakfast sausage that also plays well with roasted veggies or butternut squash.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 120
- Total Fat 6g
- Carbs 7g
- Sodium 340mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 5g
- Protein 11g
Ingredients
- Skinless chicken meat, pure maple syrup, natural milled cane sugar, dried apples, salt, lemon juice, spices.
Preparation Instructions
Pan-fry over medium heat or slice and roast with sheet pan meals.
3. Spicy Jalapeño Chicken Sausage $4.29/12 oz
This sausage has real heat and flavor—not just a pepper gimmick. Great/tacos, breakfast burritos, or grilling.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 100
- Total Fat 6g
- Carbs 2g
- Sodium 400mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 11g
Ingredients
- Skinless chicken meat, water, roasted red peppers (red peppers, water, salt, citric acid), contains 2% or less of seasoning (sea salt, sugar, spices, jalapeño pepper, onion powder, garlic powder), jalapeño peppers.
Preparation Instructions
Grill, slice into rice bowls, or sauté with peppers and onions.
4. Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage $4.49/12 oz
Rich, mellow garlic flavor makes this a staple/pasta nights or quick sautés.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 150
- Total Fat 8g
- Carbs 1g
- Sodium 620mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 13g
Ingredients
Chicken, roasted garlic, water, salt, spices, parsley.
Preparation Instructions
Slice into pasta, sauté with spinach or mushrooms.
5. Sweet Italian Style Chicken Sausage $4.49/12 oz
Mildly seasoned and fennel-forward, this chicken version of a classic works best in tomato-based dishes.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 130
- Total Fat 6g
- Carbs 1g
- Sodium 550mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 14g
Ingredients
Chicken, water, salt, spices, garlic, paprika.
Preparation Instructions
Pan-fry or grill; ideal in red sauce or lasagna.
6. Smoked Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage $4.49/12 oz
Subtly sweet with a smoky twist and a wine-kissed finish. Great with cheese boards or grilled fruit.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 150
- Total Fat 8g
- Carbs 3g
- Sodium 610mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 2g
- Protein 13g
Ingredients
Chicken, apple, chardonnay wine, salt, spices, smoke flavor.
Preparation Instructions
Grill or pan-sear; pairs well with charred onions.
7. Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage $4.49/12 oz
Plenty of kick, perfect/spicy pasta or hearty soups. A leaner alternative to pork.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 140
- Total Fat 7g
- Carbs 2g
- Sodium 630mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 14g
Ingredients
Chicken, red pepper flakes, garlic, salt, spices.
Preparation Instructions
Grill or brown in skillet; toss into pasta or gumbo.
8. Maple Chicken Breakfast Sausage $4.69/12 oz
Syrup-forward and lightly spiced, this breakfast sausage leans sweeter than most.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 90
- Total Fat 4g
- Carbs 3g
- Sodium 430mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 3g
- Protein 10g
Ingredients
- No added antibiotic chicken, maple syrup, brown sugar, seasoning (salt, spices, and paprika), vinegar, caramelized sugar.
Preparation Instructions
Sear in pan/breakfast plates or breakfast-for-dinner spreads.
9. Uncured Bavarian Bratwurst $4.99/12 oz
Classic pork-style bratwurst, juicy and beer-friendly, but doesn’t stand out from the pack.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 250
- Total Fat 22g
- Carbs <1g
- Sodium 710mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar <1g
- Protein 11g
Ingredients
- Pork, water, salt, spices (marjoram, black pepper, nutmeg, mace, ginger, coriander, cardamom, pimento), dextrose, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, citric acid (acidifier), spice extracts, sodium phosphate, pork casing (pork casing, water, salt), nisin (for freshness), sodium chloride.
Preparation Instructions
Grill or boil; serve with sauerkraut or mustard.
10. Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Sausage $4.49/12 oz
Zesty and bold, but can be overpowering. Best in Mediterranean-style pasta or flatbreads.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 140
- Total Fat 7g
- Carbs 3g
- Sodium 600mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 2g
- Protein 13g
Ingredients
Chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, garlic, salt.
Preparation Instructions
Sauté in olive oil and toss with arugula and pasta.
11. Smoked Andouille Chicken Sausage $4.29/12.8 oz
Smoky and peppery, but not quite as bold as traditional andouille. Works well in jambalaya.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 180
- Total Fat 9g
- Carbs 2g
- Sodium 960mg
- Dietary Fiber 1g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 21g
Ingredients
- Chicken, seasoning (sea salt, spices, mustard, evaporated cane sugar, natural flavoring, dehydrated garlic, paprika), filtered water, paprika. Packed in a natural pork casing.
Preparation Instructions
Sauté or grill; ideal in Cajun-style recipes.
12. Garlic Herb Chicken Sausage $4.49/12 oz
Herbaceous and earthy, but a bit too muted to be memorable.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 130
- Total Fat 6g
- Carbs 1g
- Sodium 590mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 13g
Ingredients
Chicken, garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, salt.
Preparation Instructions
Slice into soups or sauté with veggies.
13. Organic Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage $5.99/12 oz
Milder than its non-organic counterpart, this link lacks punch but is still a healthy option.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 110
- Total Fat 6g
- Carbs 1g
- Sodium 410mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 0g
- Protein 12g
Ingredients
- Organic chicken, water, organic sweet Italian seasoning (sea salt, organic spices, organic garlic powder, organic paprika), potassium lactate, organic basil, organic garlic, celery powder.
Preparation Instructions
Grill or bake; good/lean meal preps.
14. Sweet Italian Sausage (made with pork) $6.49/1 Lb
Classic flavor, but overshadowed by the chicken options.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 190
- Total Fat 0g
- Carbs 1g
- Sodium 440mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 15g
Ingredients
- Pork, Italian seasoning (sea salt, dextrose, spices [anise, fennel], potassium chloride, natural flavors, paprika oleoresin [for color], lactic acid), water. Packed in a natural pork casing.
Preparation Instructions
Brown and crumble into pasta sauces.
15. Hot Italian Sausage (made with pork) $6.49/1 Lb
Spicy, but a bit greasy compared to its chicken rivals. Best/those who like heat and richness.
Nutritional Facts
- Calories 190
- Total Fat 13g
- Carbs 2g
- Sodium 450mg
- Dietary Fiber 0g
- Sugar 1g
- Protein 15g
Ingredients
- Pork, hot Italian seasoning (dextrose, spices [anise, fennel, red pepper], sea salt, potassium chloride, paprika, natural flavors, paprika oleoresin [for color], lactic acid), water. Packed in a natural pork casing.
Preparation Instructions
Grill or crumble into ziti or stuffed peppers.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a brunch fan, a pasta lover, or just sausage-curious, there’s a Trader Joe’s sausage worth trying. And if you’re only grabbing one? Go with the Unexpected Cheddar—it lives up to the name.
