Chicken Sausage Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

Aidells makes a chicken sausage for nearly every occasion. There are more than 15 varieties, including chicken recipes that include apple, habanero, green chile, artichoke, garlic, bacon, mushroom, spinach, feta, Swiss, and even mango and pineapple.

There's so much going for this sausage and so many reasons to pick this up on your next trip to the grocery store. All sausages are nitrite/nitrate-free, MSG-free, and hormone-free. Already, we're off to a great start.

The flavors are also spot on and the sausages are full of spice. So why did they come in last on the list? There have been a few packages sold that contained bones or other hard materials. One Yelp reviewer said, "I love their product. I buy it often at Costco to make chili. I found two huge bone pieces in my chili today, and they were sharp pointy pieces that may have punctured my intestines on the way down. Be careful!"

Another Yelp reviewer said, "Sausage is very tasty, but I found large bone fragments in chicken sausage. Beware!"

These shoppers may have experienced isolated incidents, but we cannot recommend the product, despite the delicious taste and variety.

Aldi's proprietary meat brand Never Any! is the grocery chain's commitment to healthful products. There are no hormones, no artificial ingredients, and the prices are more affordable than similarly-marketed name brands. Spinach & feta, mild Italian, tomato basil, and apple round out the flavors. It's a rather promising lineup, but unfortunately, the products fall short on flavor.

An Aldi reviewer said, "Mild Italian Chicken Sausage with mozzarella cheese, peppers, and onions is a good, healthy option that tastes great, and it's a nice alternative to hot dogs or brats. I can't taste the peppers, onions, or cheese much, but I still like these chicken sausages."

We do love the pronounceable ingredient list, but the lack of distinctive flavor disappoints, unless you're looking for a more neutral sausage base. Otherwise, if you're drawn to the Aldi price and health-conscious ingredients, you will have to doctor these up to make them pop.

These Dietz & Watson chicken sausages are available in myriad flavors — asiago and spinach, apple and chicken, buffalo style, Italian style, tomatillo salsa, tomato and basil, sriracha, Andouille, and spicy cheddar.

They deliver on both flavor and texture. But it's possible to offer too much of a good thing, and that's where these Dietz & Watson chicken sausages may fall short. One Amazon reviewer wasn't a fan of just how much flavor these have. "Some folks don't want to taste the sausage I guess. If all you want is the cheese — this is a good option." It sounds counterintuitive to crave a chicken sausage with a milder flavor, but sometimes a subtle protein can let other ingredients shine.

Overall, though, many reviewers felt favorably about these. The blends include enough flavor for them to be the main character of any dish you're cooking. They'll work better when they're not competing with tons of other flavors or textures, so you may be totally content with these on a bun. Drizzle with mustard, add some chopped onions, and enjoy.

Sam's Club has put a few sausage varieties in one package, offering a fun and clever experience. If you don't want to commit, or want to figure out which flavor is your favorite, the combo is a no-brainer. It includes honey habanero, mozzarella and roasted garlic, and gouda and pear. Sam's also produces a single pack of apple smoked chicken sausage, the simplest flavor in its product line.

One Sam's Club reviewer was impressed with the honey habanero flavor: "It is much more spicy than your run-of-the-mill, off the shelf 'spicy' but that's exactly what makes it fantastic. ... So juicy even my husband was surprised it was chicken."

Chicken sausage is just as versatile as pork sausage, when it comes to preparation. When they are sold in exciting flavors, they are elevated just a bit more. The Member's Marks sausages aren't shy about bringing bold, delicious flavors, and combined with price and a little fun, they are worth tossing into your cart.

Most consumers know Boar's Head as one of the leading producers of deli meat. In 2020, 84 million consumers bought the company's products, beating out every other brand, according to Statista. So, the manufacturer knows a thing or two about lunchmeat. It only makes sense that Boar's Head chicken sausage would be noteworthy, too.

First, the varieties, which can work for any meal of the day: There's blazing buffalo, chorizo, breakfast, uncured bacon and cheddar, honeycrisp apple, and bratwurst. 

Next, the flavor: Shop Smart Guide reviewed the bratwurst flavor and was impressed with its simplicity. It complements other foods without overwhelming them, the variety of flavors offering a wonderful head start for meal ideas. Of course, a simply seasoned bratwurst sits beautifully by itself in a toasted roll. This one gets extra points from us.

We also love that the sausages are free of nitrates and nitrites.

Hillshire Farm smoked chicken sausage isn't a clean-ingredient meat product — it's got corn syrup and soy protein concentrate, MSG, sodium nitrite, and more. So, you've got a dilemma, if you're looking for a health-conscious pork alternative. The package promises rustic smoked flavors, with garlic and without, and it delivers.

"This sausage combines a truly delicious taste of great spices. Outside grilling will be a new experience," said one Hillshire Farm reviewer. Instead of the smaller, bun-sized links, this is a larger rope-style sausage that would be great on a grill. You can just grill the larger rope and slice it into the desired size once browned.

Another reviewer thought the bold flavor was unusual in a pork-free product. "The flavor of this sausage is amazing! I have not found any chicken or turkey sausage that contains as much flavor as pork sausage. My family has not eaten pork for sometime now and it is great to be able to enjoy sausage again." 

Since this list focuses on taste, Hillshire Farm takes a top spot. 

Gilbert's Craft Sausages makes only craft chicken sausages, so it's the company's specialty. The products are 100% pork free, including the casing, which is made from beef collagen. The brand claims it gives a better snap, and it's also just a better solution for those who want to keep pork out of their diets.

At the top of our list, the sausages check a lot of boxes. They're all natural, and the company abides by humane chicken practices. But one of the factors that sets these sausages apart from others is that they're individually packed. So you can cook just one at a time, without worrying about when you'll eat the rest of the pack. It's a minor detail that lets us know that Gilbert's really thinks about how its customers consume its products. (Individually wrapping each sausage doesn't use more plastic, according to the company website.)

While there isn't much that can compare to the flavor of pork, these sausages are nearly as good. They aren't trying to replicate pork; they have a unique flavor of their own.

They are available in 10 flavors: Caprese, pineapple and ginger, bourbon apple, fig and feta, Andouille, smoked gouda, sweet pepper and onion, Tuscan, ancho queso, along with a chicken bratwurst.