The sausage patty is a common breakfast item, but its nutritional profile is highly variable. The exact calorie count for a single patty depends on a range of factors, including the type of meat used, the size of the portion, and the cooking method. Understanding these variables is necessary to accurately determine the calorie intake, as manufacturers and restaurants produce patties of different weights and recipes.
The Baseline Calorie Count
A standard, cooked pork sausage patty weighing approximately one ounce typically contains between 88 and 120 calories. This range represents the most common variety found in grocery stores and diners, assuming a traditional recipe that includes a moderate amount of fat. For example, data for a fresh, pan-fried, one-ounce pork sausage shows a calorie count of around 92 calories. This figure is based on the final, cooked weight, which naturally concentrates the nutrients as moisture is lost during the heat process. This average provides a straightforward answer, but it serves only as a starting point.
Factors Influencing Caloric Variation
The total calorie count can shift dramatically based on three primary variables, beginning with the type of meat used. While pork forms the baseline, leaner alternatives like turkey or chicken sausage patties inherently contain fewer calories. A one-ounce patty made from poultry can fall into a lower range, sometimes as low as 50 to 70 calories, because the raw meat contains less fat compared to standard pork cuts.
Patty size also plays a significant role in the final calorie number. The one-ounce baseline is a common retail portion, but many fast-food and large-format patties are sold in weights of 1.5 to 2 ounces. A 1.5-ounce patty can easily contain 150 calories, and a two-ounce patty may reach 180 to 200 calories.
The preparation method is the third major factor. Pork sausage releases a substantial amount of fat, or “grease,” during cooking. By draining the rendered fat from the pan, a significant portion of the total caloric content is removed from the final product. Conversely, leaving the patty to sit in the grease or using this rendered fat in a gravy will ensure that those calories are consumed.
Complete Nutritional Context
Moving beyond the total calorie count, the nutritional makeup of a standard pork sausage patty is dominated by fat. Fat is the most calorie-dense macronutrient, and in a typical patty, it often accounts for 68% to 75% of the total calories. This high proportion includes saturated fat, which is a consideration for cardiovascular health.
The remaining calorie content primarily comes from protein, which is an important consideration for satiety. A one-ounce patty typically supplies about 6 to 7 grams of protein, a significant amount that helps promote a feeling of fullness. This protein content makes the patty a concentrated source of the macronutrient.
A separate nutritional consideration is the sodium content, which is often high in processed sausage patties. Manufacturers use salt for both flavor enhancement and preservation, leading to levels that can quickly add up across a meal. Even a single one-ounce patty can contribute a notable amount of sodium to the daily intake.