Sausage Balls Recipe (2024)

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posted by Amy Johnsonon November 21, 2014 (updated Feb 6, 2019) 52 comments »

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This Sausage Balls recipe is the perfect savory appetizer or addition to a meal during the holidays. This recipe is easy and made without Bisquik or a baking mix.

There are those certain foods that are always present at each holiday year after year. They become a permanent expectation, like the Family Tablecloth, or Aunt Judy’s cookies. Sausage Balls are one of those foods. From as long as I can remember I rememberSausage Balls being a part of our holiday celebrations.

If you’ve never had Sausage Balls you may not understand why they have become a regular, but if you have, you know what I mean. They are the perfect bite of savory, with just a hint of spice on the back end. They can be served at breakfast, lunch or dinner, or as an appetizer. They’re a flexible food. Of course, everything in moderation. It’s a good thing we only enjoy these during the winter holiday months because they can be sneaky addicting.

Another thing I like about this recipe is that once made the sausage balls can be frozen before or after baking, for up to a couple of months. How’s that for easy party prep?

Sausage Balls Recipe

Sausage Balls Recipe (4)

Sausage Balls Recipe

Yield: About 60 balls.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Easy savory bites made with sausage and cheese.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne/red pepper
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 pound sharp cheese, grated
  • 1 pound ground sausage (I like the sage flavored sausage for this recipe.)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400-degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne/red pepper and butter. Add grated cheese and toss to coat. Crumble up sausage as it is added in and using your (clean) hands, combine well. The best way to fully incorporate the mixture is to squeeze and squish, almost kneading it together. It takes a few minutes but it works.
  3. Firmly roll into approximately 1 1/2-inch balls and place on un-greased baking sheets about an inch or so apart.
  4. Bake at 400-degrees F for 15 minutes.

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Appetizers

originally published on November 21, 2014 (last updated Feb 6, 2019)

52 commentsLeave a comment »

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52 comments on “Sausage Balls Recipe”

  1. BettyReply

    Also found them VERY dry. I’ve made Bisquick ones many times without this result. Maybe needs more butter & less flour. I had to add 6 T milk and then more water to get them to mix.
    I used Jummy Dean sausage – 1/2 lb hot, 1/2 lb regular & extra sharp cheddar.

    • Bill

      Unless maybe you live in a very high elevation I can’t understand why yours are so dry… I grated my sharp cheddar cheese and used it immediately … Store bought shredded cheese is much drier than blocked . I also. Doubled the recipe and my sausage was room temperature .I used 1 lb Jimmy dean’s hot,and 1 lb Tennessee Pride mild. I combined using my hands (squishin’ ,pressin’, and crumblin’) for a good 20 minutes or more,before rolling in to a ball ,it seemed slightly crumbly . I baked mine at 375° f for 18 mins. They are exquisitely, Scrumptiously delicious ! Hope this helps..

  2. Debora SuchDebReply

    Hu. Mine have been in the oven dor 23 minutes and the middle will not cook????

  3. Denise BroadyReply

    Can this be mixed in a stand mixer with the dough hook instead of by hand?

    • Mary

      I do them in my Kitchen Aid with the dough hook. I add a splash of buttermilk to the mix.

    • Lindsey

      Very dry. I suggest adding more butter and less flour. Overall very good recipe when one is without bisquick.

  4. DanaeReply

    3 cups of flower is way too much, they taste like bread with no meat at all. The most it needs is 1 cup of flower

    • Danae

      Flour*

  5. Kelly DayanReply

    I wish I had read through all of the reviews before I made these – ruined a perfectly good manicure trying to get it to come together. The original recipe uses 1/2 cup milk – I think that would have helped a lot. And for the same amount of dry ingredients, use 3 cups flour less 4.5t to accommodate for the baking powder. Like another reviewer, I added the rest of the stick of butter and a few drizzles of olive oil before it came together. May also depend on how fatty your sausage is – I used a really lean bulk sausage from Whole Foods. I also let the bowl sit and come more to room temp and they rolled easier.

  6. Jean BurginReply

    My first time to make sausage balls with out bisquick!!! These are the best and will always make your recipe from now own. I wanted to see if there was a clean from scratch so I googled and got your recipe. Many thanks for sharing and this is the best!

  7. linda ledesma sotoReply

    I just made these. I was disappointed a bit, maybe because I don’t (or can’t) eat dairy & therefore did not add cheese. The mix was very dry, wouldn’t “stick” together very well….actually very dry batter. I finally got a few to stick & cooked them, they are tasty…tastier than bisquick!! Is there anything else I could have added to make it better…simple recipe, did like that part…maybe my sausage wasn’t “fat” enough???

  8. Richard BeverlyReply

    I was looking for a sausage ball recipe. These taste more like cheese whisp. Too much flour and cheese, not enough sausage. I will have to try another recipe because this is not what I was looking for.

  9. Crystal CameronReply

    If you are trying to stretch your sausage as far as possible this recipe works. These came out more like tiny cheddar biscuits with a hint of sausage. I’d use less flour (and baking powder) or double the sausage if I was to use this recipe again. Great start to some awesome cheddar biscuits though change out sausage for milk and add cold butter these would rock.

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Sausage Balls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why did my sausage balls go flat in the oven? ›

Why did my sausage balls turn out flat? This could be due to the use of pre-shredded cheese or not mixing the ingredients well. Make sure to use freshly shredded cheese and mix the ingredients thoroughly for best results.

How to keep sausage balls from burning on the bottom? ›

HOW DO YOU KEEP SAUSAGE BALLS FROM BURNING ON THE BOTTOM?
  1. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (Silpat) to create a barrier between the sausage balls and the direct heat of the baking sheet. ...
  2. If possible, choose a light-colored baking sheet. ...
  3. Check early and often.
Jan 11, 2024

Do you have to refrigerate sausage balls before cooking? ›

After you have formed your balls, store them uncooked for up to 2 days in the coolest part of your refrigerator, (usually in the back, on the bottom shelf.)

What to eat with sausage balls? ›

How Should I Serve Sausage Cheese Balls? These sausage cheese balls are just perfect on their own, but you can also serve them alongside fruit or eggs for a more balanced breakfast. Additionally, they are delicious when served with your favorite dipping sauce, from ranch to BBQ sauce.

How do you keep sausages from bursting in the oven? ›

An uncooked sausage over high heat will split. With low heat, it will cook and not split. Whether you grill over indirect heat, bake in an oven on medium heat, steam, boil, or pan steam covered, the sausages need to be mostly cooked before browned on higher heat.

How do you keep sausages from drying out in the oven? ›

Place your refrigerated cut of meat on a clean plate, then let it sit for about 15 minutes so it can adjust to room temperature. If you transfer your meat from the refrigerator to the oven, it won't cook evenly and may end up dry. Cover your meat with parchment paper or foil before cooking it.

Can you eat sausage balls that were left out overnight? ›

The USDA calls food that has been left sitting at room temperature a danger zone. The danger zone is typically food that is between 40°F and 140°F. This range of temperatures actually allows bacteria to rapidly grow and make food unsafe to eat. The time scale for bacteria growth is typically two hours maximum.

How do you keep sausage moist and cooked? ›

Cook gently and only to a max 145-150ºF over a low to moderate heat or with the simmer then brown method. The main benefit from either of the methods we recommend is that you will lose only about half of the moisture when compared to a fast high cook approach and this means immeasurably better results, every time.

How long will cooked sausage balls last? ›

Allow the sausage balls to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

How long can sausage sit out before cooking? ›

Fresh sausages are sold raw, meaning you should treat them the same as any other perishable item. Raw sausage will stay fresh in the refrigerator for one or two days and in the freezer for one or two months. At room temperature, they will last a maximum of two hours.

Can I freeze sausage? ›

Freezing keeps food safe indefinitely. Keep sausages in the freezer (0 °F or less) for one to two months for best quality.

What goes good in sausage? ›

Sausage, Peppers & Onions

The combination of sausage, peppers, and onions is an Italian-American classic. Often served on a sub or in a bun, this dish is also excellent just eaten out of a bowl.

How do you keep sausage patties flat? ›

If it's on a cook top or a pan, just form them into a ball and put them on the cooking surface and use a piece of wax paper in between the meat and spatula to press down firmly and hold for about 5 second. It could stick. Sometimes it doesn't, but the wax paper really helps.

How to cook sausages evenly in oven? ›

How to cook sausages in the oven
  1. 1 tbsp oil (such as sunflower or vegetable oil)
  2. 6 pork sausages. Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Pour the oil in a roasting tin and add the sausages. Turn them in the oil to coat, then roast for 20-25 mins, turning a few times during cooking.
Mar 10, 2022

Why do sausages shrivel after cooking? ›

The effect of Temperature

Above 155°F (68.3 °C): The Proteins will go on shrinking and shrivelling, eventually squeezing out that juice and fat meaning that it can no longer be held.

Why does my sausage have air bubbles? ›

We suppose that air bubbles appear at the sausage skin due to high pressure exerted by intestine on the machine's steel tube. There is always some air leftover in the harmonica, but when the pressure is high, it cannot escape.

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