What does scrapple mean?
Scrapple is an American breakfast sausage made from ground pork scraps, with flour or bread, spices, and other seasonings added to bind the mixture. Unlike many conventional sausages, it is not cured or smoked; it is usually pan-fried until crisp and browned. The food is especially associated with Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic, where it is often served with eggs, toast, or potatoes, although similar versions are also popular farther south. The word may initially sound unappetizing because it plainly refers to scraps, but scrapple has a long-standing place in regional comfort-food traditions. Its preparation varies considerably, especially in the proportions of meat, flour, and seasoning, so recipes found in one household or restaurant may differ from those found in another.
nounA firm, unsmoked sausage made from ground pork scraps, often combined with flour or bread and seasonings, then fried or grilled. It is especially associated with Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic, where it is commonly served for breakfast.
- A firm, unsmoked sausage made from ground pork scraps, flour or bread, and seasonings, usually fried or grilled.
"We had scrapple, eggs, and toast at the local diner."
"The restaurant serves scrapple with eggs and toast every Sunday morning."
"He browned the scrapple in a skillet before adding it to his breakfast sandwich."
The plural is used when referring to individual pieces or servings; the word is also commonly used as a mass noun for the food.
"The diner ordered two scrapples, each served with eggs and toast."
Pennsylvania may be best known for scrapple, a breakfast sausage built from the parts most diners would leave behind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scrapple come from?
Scrapple is an American English word that emerged in the 19th century for a sausage made from pork scraps. Its name is transparently connected with the sense of scrap meaning a small piece of discarded material, although the exact development of the word's ending is not certain. Words such as scrap, scraper, and scrapbook belong to the same broad English word family based on that root.
How scrapple is actually used
The term is chiefly regional to the United States and is particularly associated with Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and neighboring areas. It can be treated as a mass noun when referring to the food generally, but as a count noun when referring to individual pieces or servings.
Easily confused with scrapple
Scrap is a general word for small discarded or leftover pieces, whereas scrapple is a specific food made from seasoned ground pork scraps.