Jimmy Dean Premium Pork Sausage with Bacon: Tasty, Fat-Forward Treat — Labelgrade C- (59/100)
C- 59 / 100 — Strong protein density (23.2g per 100g), additive-heavy formulation (phosphate additives and maltodextrin or corn syrup), notable saturated fat load, low sugar load, and high sodium per 100g.
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Jimmy Dean Premium Pork Sausage with Bacon delivers 13g of protein and 240 calories per 2 oz (USDA FDC 2623963). Per 100g that’s 23.2g of protein; per oz, 6.6g. The Labelgrade is C- (59 / 100): Strong protein density (23.2g per 100g), additive-heavy formulation (phosphate additives and maltodextrin or corn syrup), notable saturated fat load, low sugar load, and high sodium per 100g.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | A- | 85 / 100 | 23.2g per 100g — top-tier; rivals plain cooked meat |
| Ingredient quality | C | 64 / 100 | 15 ingredients; flagged phosphate additives + maltodextrin or corn syrup (+1 more) |
| Saturated fat load | F | 39 / 100 | 7g per serving (12.5g per 100g) — high; FDA daily limit is 20g |
| Sodium load | F | 13 / 100 | 600mg per serving (304mg per oz) — high; structural for cured/preserved foods |
| Sugar load | A+ | 96 / 100 | 1g sugar; USDA omits the added-sugar line, but the ingredients list a sweetener — scored as added, not naturally-occurring |
| Fiber | F | 30 / 100 | 0g fiber, expected for animal-protein products |
| Overall | C- | 59 / 100 | Weighted blend: protein 23% · ingredients 21% · saturated fat 18% · sodium 15% · sugar 15% · fiber 8% |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Per 100 g | Per oz | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Dean Premium Pork Sausage with Bacon (this product) | 13g | 23.2g | 6.6g | 240 |
| Johnsonville Original Bratwurst | 14g | 17.1g | 4.8g | 260 |
| Ball Park Beef Franks | 12.3g | 12.3g | 3.5g | 261 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | — | 31g | 8.8g | ~165 |
On a per-100g basis this sausage actually tops the other two processed meats for protein (23.2g, vs the brat’s 17.1g and the frank’s 12.3g) — and it’s the closest of the three to plain chicken. But “closest” still means it carries far more fat and almost double the per-ounce sodium of a chicken breast to deliver that protein. The density figure flatters it; the fat and salt are what set the grade.
High protein density, with a catch
Read in isolation, the protein number is the best on this page: 23.2g per 100g earns an A-, genuinely rivaling cooked meat. If protein density were the only thing that mattered, this would be a B-grade product.
It isn’t, for two reasons. First, the serving is small — 2 oz — so the 13g per serving is less impressive than the per-100g figure suggests, and you’ll likely eat more than one patty’s worth. Second, that protein arrives welded to 20g of total fat: about 75% of the 240 calories are fat, not protein. So while the density headline is real, the practical food is a fatty one. Good protein-to-weight, poor protein-to-calorie — and the calorie ratio is what matters when you’re choosing a protein source.
Bacon plus sausage means double the cure
This isn’t just pork sausage — it’s pork sausage with bacon folded in, and the bacon brings a full curing system of its own: water, salt, sugar, sodium phosphates, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite, on top of the sausage’s own corn syrup, salt, and MSG. That stacked curing is exactly why the sodium lands at 600mg per 2 oz (304mg per ounce, the highest per-ounce sodium of the three meats here) and why ingredient quality grades a C.
It also explains the appeal — smoke, salt, and fat are a delicious combination, which is the whole point of a sausage-and-bacon blend. The honest verdict is simply to call it what it is: a tasty, processed, fat-forward breakfast treat. The saturated-fat F and sodium F are structural to that category, so the play is to enjoy it on the mornings you want it and build your everyday protein around leaner, less-cured foods.
Scope
This page covers Jimmy Dean Premium Pork Sausage with Bacon (12 oz/340 g), UPC 077900118487, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 2623963. Jimmy Dean sells multiple variants in this product line — other sizes, flavors, or fat levels may have different macros and Labelgrade scores. Manufacturers periodically reformulate; always cross-reference the actual package label, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
PORK, BACON ([CURED WITH WATER, SALT, SUGAR, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE], SMOKE FLAVORING), WATER, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICES, SUGAR, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Where to buy
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 2 oz
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (2 oz) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 240 |
| Protein | 13g |
| Total Fat | 20g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 1g |
| Sodium | 600mg |
| Cholesterol | 49.8mg |
| Calcium | 20.2mg |
| Iron | 0.358mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Premium Pork Sausage with Bacon (12 oz/340 g) · UPC 077900118487. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains animal-derived ingredients
contains meat, fish, or gelatin
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in Jimmy Dean Premium Pork Sausage with Bacon?
13g of protein per 2 oz serving (USDA FDC 2623963), which is 23.2g per 100g — actually the highest protein density of the common breakfast/grill sausages we've graded. The catch is the serving size: 2 oz is small, and it comes packaged with 20g of fat. The density looks great until you weigh it against the fat and sodium riding alongside.
Why does this sausage only score a C- if its protein density is high?
Because protein is only one of six dimensions, and this product fails two of the others outright. It earns an A- for protein density (23.2g/100g) but an F for saturated fat (7g per serving, 12.5g per 100g) and an F for sodium (600mg per serving, 304mg per oz — the highest per-ounce sodium of the three meats here). High protein can't outweigh a fat-and-salt profile this heavy, so it lands at C- (59/100).
Is Jimmy Dean sausage with bacon bad for you?
It's a treat food, not a daily protein. There's nothing 'bad' about it occasionally — but the label is fat-forward: 240 calories with 20g of fat (7g saturated) and 600mg of sodium in a small 2 oz serving, plus curing agents and MSG. About 75% of its calories come from fat. Enjoy it as a weekend-breakfast indulgence; don't lean on it as your protein source the way you would eggs or chicken.
What's the difference between this and plain breakfast sausage?
This one folds bacon into the pork, and the bacon brings its own cure — the ingredient list shows it's cured with salt, sugar, sodium phosphates, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite. That extra layer of curing is part of why the sodium and additive load run high. It tastes smokier and richer than plain sausage; nutritionally it's in the same fat-and-salt-heavy bucket.
How much fat and sodium are in one serving?
Per 2 oz serving: 20g total fat, 7g of it saturated, and 600mg sodium. The saturated fat alone is about 35% of the FDA's 20g daily limit, and the sodium is roughly 26% of the 2,300mg limit — from two ounces, before toast, eggs, or anything else on the plate.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-05, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 2623963. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days when a manufacturer reformulates.