This quick and easy Classic Sausage Balls Recipe makes perfect bite-sized party appetizers or tasty snacks. With just eight simple ingredients, these balls are ready for the oven in about fifteen minutes. They are always a huge hit with family and friends. Serve them fresh out of the oven just as they are or with a simple sauce or dip to dress them up.
How to make Sausage Balls
Add the pork sausage and Bisquick baking mix to a large bowl. Using your hands, combine the mixture as much as possible. Then add the shredded cheese, milk, Worcestershire sauce, minced onion, minced garlic, and fresh ground black pepper. Using your hands again, mix it all together.
Then roll the mixture into slightly larger than 1-inch balls and place the uncooked sausage balls on a parchment-covered baking sheet with a bit of space between them so the oven heat can brown them. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. For best results, serve these balls promptly.
Beth’s Tips For Making the Best Sausage Balls
- You can use any ground pork sausage or Italian sausage. I like to choose one that is not too lean and one that does not have too much fat. The fat in the sausage gives it flavor, but I don’t like it floating in grease.
- Let the pork sausage and cheddar come to room temperature for 30-40 minutes, but do not let them sit longer than that for safety reasons.
- A 2-tablespoon cookie scoop is ideal for portioning the mixture for uniform-sized meatballs.
- Try adding a little Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or crushed red pepper for a flavor variation.
- I like to use parchment paper for even browning, optimal baking, and easy clean-up.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bisquick is an all-purpose baking and biscuit mix. If you can’t get it or you prefer not to buy it, make your own homemade Bisquick mix. Whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Then, use a pastry blender to cut in 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening. Now, you are ready to proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Every brand of pork sausage has a slightly different fat ratio. The amount of milk you use may need to be increased or decreased just a touch. You want the baking mix to blend in reasonably well. The finely minced onions and garlic help keep the sausage balls moist. For best results, cook just until done.
Experiment with different cheeses like Parmesan Cheese, Pepper Jack Cheese, or Monterey Jack Cheese.
Serve these delicious appetizers with your favorite dipping sauce. Some of our favorites are comeback sauce, boom boom sauce, chick fil a sauce, honey mustard, ranch dressing, maple syrup, or marinara.
The mixture for the balls can be prepped up to 2 days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. You can also roll them and flash-freeze them. Then, store them in a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze them for up to 2 months. Thaw on a baking sheet for 20 minutes and bake as directed.
More appetizer recipes
Sausage Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground pork sausage or turkey sausage
- 2 cups Bisquick mix
- 4 cups finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ to 1/3 cup milk see notes
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup finely minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the pork sausage and Bisquick baking mix to a large bowl. Using your hands, combine the mixture together as much as possible.
- Add the shredded cheddar, milk, Worcestershire sauce, minced onion, minced garlic, and fresh ground black pepper. Using your hands again, mix it all together.
- Roll the mixture into golf ball-sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet with about 1-inch space between the balls. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. For best results, serve promptly.
Notes
- You can use any ground pork sausage or Italian sausage. I like to choose one that is not too lean and one that does not have too much fat. The fat in the sausage gives it flavor, but I don’t like it floating in grease.
- Let the pork sausage and cheddar come to room temperature for 30-40 minutes, but do not let them sit longer than that for safety reasons.
- A 2-tablespoon cookie scoop is ideal for portioning out the mixture for uniform-sized meatballs.
- For a flavor variation, try adding a little Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or crushed red pepper.
- I like to use parchment paper for even browning, optimal baking, and easy clean-up.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Donna
Forgot, prep time
Getting ingredients together 5 min
Chopping onions 4 min
Mixing baking min and sausage 10 min
Mixing all ingredients 5 min
Making balls 15 min
Total prep time = 40 min
How you did it all in 15 min???
Donna
Made these for a breakfast potluck at church, went FAST. Put them in my casserole slow cooker to keep warm. A hit, thanks
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Donna!
Wendylynn
I’ve made these a few times for an app.
My family devoured them in no time and they usually request them every Thanksgiving. This year I’m gonna sneak in a little garlic
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! I am happy that your family likes them!
Debbie
Great! Will be my go-to recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Debbie! Glad that you like the sausage balls!
Heidi
Totally delicious! Your info at top says 8 servings bit at bottom it says 10 servings?
Beth Pierce
Thanks for the tip I will check it out.
Blair Villanueva
This is definitely the kind of food that our kids and their mates will enjoy especially during their sleepover. Thanks for generously sharing with us your recipe. Yummy!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Blair!
Mila R
OMG, my bf asked yesterday about something like this. Will try it tomorrow!
Melanie E
These would be ideal for the kids to eat for dinners after school. They love sausages so I bet they’d love these too.
Rosey
Great recipe. The kids really enjoyed them. I will make them again.
Melanie williams
This is deffo the kind of dish my other half would love, so I may have to give these a go this weekend x
Gervin Khan
Wow! This sausage balls recipe is a great innovation and alternative to the regular meatballs we have. Totally was so delicious and yummy. Plus they are easy to prepare and cook. Loved it!
Tweenselmom
Loving these sausage balls! They are so darn tasty. I love dipping them in your comeback sauce. Thanks for the great recipe.
Sherry
What brand of sausage do you use. Not too lean and not too fat…does that exit?
Thanks.
Beth Pierce
I use either Jimmy Deans All Natural or Bob Evans Naturally.
Beth
Can you use chicken sausage instead if pork?
Thank you
Beth Pierce
If there is enough fat to hold the ball together,
Christiana
I love sausages, and this meal looks really yummy.
Elise Ho
These were so darn delicious. My whole family enjoyed them. I thought I was going to have to make another batch of them!