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Sausage-Cheese Balls

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  • Prep 25 min
  • Total 50 min
  • Servings 102
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Approved by over 2,000 home cooks, our sausage balls recipe is a hands-down favorite—and one of our most-requested recipes! It makes sense: the recipe is quick and easy to prepare, includes a handy make-ahead option, and makes a whopping 102 servings of delicious Bisquick™ sausage balls. Serve up a batch alongside toothpicks and dipping sauce at a party or before the big Christmas or Thanksgiving meal, and you’ll have a hit on your hands.

Easy, cheesy, and oh-so-snackable, these sausage balls are your new favorite party app. They’re made from rich pork sausage, Bisquick, two kinds of cheese, and plenty of seasonings. Particularly popular for holiday get-togethers, these Sausage-Cheese Balls come together in under an hour for a delicious bite-sized treat.

The origin of sausage balls is a bit of a mystery, but this savory snack is believed to have originated in the South where it may have evolved from traditional Southern sausage and biscuit recipes. Whatever the case, sausage-cheese balls are the perfect way to kick off a shindig with family and friends! If you want to make the holidays (or any get-together) even more merry, check out our Thanksgiving appetizers and Christmas appetizers for more tasty apps and snacks.

By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Jul 24, 2024
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How to Make Sausage Balls with Bisquick

Once you see how easy it is to make this sausage balls recipe, you’ll be baking up batches to bring to parties, potlucks, and anywhere else you need a yummy appetizer or snack.

Here’s a quick look at how to make sausage balls. When you’re ready to get baking, find the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions for these Sausage-Cheese Balls below.

Make Your Mixture

Combine pork sausage, Bisquick, cheese, milk, and seasonings.

Shape Sausage Balls

Using your hands or a scoop, shape your mixture into 1-inch balls.

Bake and Serve

Time to bake! If you’re wondering exactly how long to cook sausage balls, our recipe calls for a cook time of 20 to 25 minutes, until they’re brown and cooked through.

Best Dipping Sauces to Serve with Sausage-Cheese Balls

These hearty Sausage-Cheese Balls are perfectly dippable, especially when using toothpicks. We love serving ‘em up alongside small bowls filled with yummy condiments and dipping sauces. Not sure what to dip sausage balls in? Here are some tried-and-true crowd favorites you can’t go wrong with.

Barbecue Sauce: Smoky, sweet, and perfectly tangy, barbecue sauce is the ultimate dipping condiment for these bite-sized sausage balls. This one’s sure to disappear quick.

Chili Sauce: If you think your guests would like a dipping sauce that’s both sweet and spicy, try making a homemade chili sauce. Store-bought will also do—but you just can’t beat the from-scratch taste!

Garlic-Herb Dressing: Prefer a creamier dip for these savory Sausage-Cheese Balls? Try mixing up a homemade dipping sauce using a mayo or yogurt base, a sprinkle of garlic salt, lots of freshly chopped herbs, and some Parmesan cheese.

Ranch: A creamy, herbaceous, and slightly tangy ranch dressing pairs perfectly with succulent sausage. It’s even more delicious with a spoonful of fresh basil pesto mixed in!

Reheating and Storing Leftover Sausage Balls

These sausage balls taste the absolute best when served fresh from the oven, but we’ve been known to snack on the leftovers the next day. Here’s how to store and reheat them properly.

Refrigerating Sausage Balls: To store your cooked Sausage-Cheese Balls, transfer them to a sealed, airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Freezing Sausage Balls: For a longer-term storage solution, you can freeze your sausage balls for up to 3 months. See our tips for freezing cooked and uncooked Sausage-Cheese Balls below.

Reheating Sausage Balls: You can use the microwave or the oven to heat up leftover sausage balls for a plate of cheesy goodness. Just be sure to heat them so they reach an internal temperature of 165°F at their centers.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Bisquick™ Original Pancake & Baking Mix
  • 1 lb uncooked bulk pork sausage
  • 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (16 oz)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley or 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
  • Barbecue sauce or chili sauce, if desired

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of 2 rimmed 15x10x1-inch baking pans.
  • 2
    In large bowl, stir together all ingredients except barbecue sauce, using hands or spoon. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place 1/2 inch apart on pans.
  • 3
    Bake 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans halfway through bake time, until brown. Immediately remove from pan; transfer to serving platter. Serve warm with sauce for dipping.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    What is sausage? Nothing more than finely chopped and well-seasoned meat; sausage choices are nearly unlimited—from pork to chicken and turkey. But all sausages depend on some degree of fat in the mixture, which gives it its succulence and delicious flavor.
  • tip 2
    Lightly wet your hands to roll the balls to prevent sticking.
  • tip 3
    Using a small (1 tablespoon) cookie scoop makes forming the Sausage-Cheese Balls a quick and easy task.
  • tip 4
    Offer a variety of dips when serving these up to guests. Try barbecue sauce, chili sauce, a mayo/yogurt dressing mixed up with a good sprinkle of garlic salt, lots of chopped fresh herbs and more Parmesan cheese, or a blend of Ranch dressing with a spoonful of basil pesto.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Should You Cook Sausage Balls for?

Our sausage balls recipe calls for sausage balls to be baked for 20 to 25 minutes at 350°F. Be sure to heat the oven to the correct temperature before baking your sausage-cheese balls. This will ensure they come out beautifully browned, fully cooked, and delicious!

Do Leftover Sausage Balls Need to Be Refrigerated?

These Bisquick sausage balls are best eaten freshly baked—but if you end up with leftovers, feel free to refrigerate them for a next-day snack. Cooked sausage balls need to be refrigerated in an airtight container to stay fresh. Your leftover sausage-cheese balls will last for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Can I Freeze Sausage Cheese Balls?

If you don’t need all 102 servings of Bisquick sausage balls at once, you can still enjoy this tasty sausage balls recipe and save some for later with the help of your freezer. You can also prepare and freeze uncooked sausage balls ahead of time, saving you precious prep time on the day of a big event.

Freezing Unbaked Sausage Balls: Follow the recipe until you’ve rolled up your sausage balls. Place them on baking sheets and pop them in the freezer until firm, then transfer the balls to resealable plastic freezer bags and place back in the freezer. These Sausage-Cheese Balls will last for up to 1 month in the freezer. Take out a few as needed (no defrosting required) and bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes until brown and at least 160°F in the center.

Freezing Baked Sausage Balls: Allow your baked sausage balls to cool, then place them on an ungreased baking sheet and freeze for about 20 minutes, uncovered, until firm. Place the partially frozen sausage balls in a heavy plastic freezer bag or freezer container. Seal, label, and freeze your sausage balls for up to 3 months. When you need a tasty snack or app, reheat them in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F at their centers.

How Do I Tell if My Sausage Balls Are Fully Cooked?

Since this recipe for sausage balls uses uncooked pork, you’ll want to make sure that you fully cook your appetizer before serving it up. That means 20 to 25 minutes in the oven at 350°F. Bake until sausage balls are brown and have reached at least 160°F at their centers. Then you’re good to go! Spoon some family-favorite dipping sauce into a bowl and enjoy your delicious Sausage-Cheese balls.

Nutrition

40 Calories, 2 1/2g Total Fat, 2g Protein, 3g Total Carbohydrate, 0g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cheese Ball
Calories
40
Calories from Fat
25
Total Fat
2 1/2g
4%
Saturated Fat
1 1/2g
7%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
5mg
2%
Sodium
90mg
4%
Potassium
15mg
0%
Total Carbohydrate
3g
1%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
0g
Protein
2g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
0%
0%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
4%
4%
Iron
0%
0%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 0 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
0
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Here’s the anatomy of a perfect snack: It’s bite-sized, boldly flavored and full of warm, gooey cheese. The handy shortcut ingredient for making these appetizer superstars is Bisquick™ Original Pancake & Baking Mix, which ensures a perfect dough every time. This party-perfect recipe makes a whopping 102 sausage balls that are easy to mix, form and freeze in advance. Just pop the meatballs in the oven when guests are coming, and they’ll be greeted by the warm, savory aroma of this delicious treat when they arrive. Our favorite tip for making this classic appetizer is to use a spring-loaded scoop, like you might use for cookies or ice cream. Not only is this quicker than forming each sausage ball by hand, but it guarantees even sizing for even baking. If you love making these Bisquick™ sausage balls, check out more of our favorite meatball recipes.
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