Sausage Balls

June 24, 2014Danita
Blog post

Sausage Balls are a Southern tradition.  They’re good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack or appetizer.  You can eat them hot, cold or at room temperature.  They can be made ahead, frozen and reheated…and still taste wonderful! (Instructions for making ahead, freezing and re-heating found below, under the recipe)

My mom (aka the Snack Tray Queen) makes these often, we had them at our wedding reception, I’ve made them for groups as small as our family and as large as one-hundred-fifty.  But, believe it or not, I didn’t like them!  Well, at least that’s what I thought.  

I’ve mentioned before I used to be a picky eater.  Mostly, I made up my mind before trying things whether I liked them or not.  That’s what happened with Sausage Balls.  The first time I ever tried them was a few years ago when my daughters, a friend, and I were making them for a Mother-Daughter brunch for a large group of ladies.  They smelled so good I decided to try one….

Well, let me just say….I LOVED THEM!  We ate so many I was afraid I wasn’t going to have enough for our Mother-Daughter!  They are addictive.  You really can not eat just one.  

They do take a little time so I almost always make them ahead, sometimes the day before and sometimes a couple of weeks.  If I make them more than a day or so in advance I freeze them on a baking sheet then put them in a freezer bag.  A couple of hours before I’m ready to serve I put them in the crock pot on low or keep warm to thaw and re-heat.  

If mixing raw meat with your hands “grosses you out” you may just need to enjoy them when someone else makes them.  A spoon just won’t do, sorry.  

Here’s the Recipe:

  • 1 lb breakfast sausage, such as Jimmy Dean (hot or mild, your preference)
  • 8 oz cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups Bisquick
  • 1/4 c water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

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Place all ingredients in a large bowl

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Using your hands, mix until all ingredients are very well combined

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Roll mixture in about 1″ balls and place on baking sheet

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Bake about 15-20 minutes or until completely done

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With Sausage Balls, it doesn’t matter how many you make….they will all be eaten!

Making Ahead:

  • Cool sausage balls completely.
  • Place side by side (but not touching) on a baking sheet
  • Place in freezer about 1 hour or until frozen.
  • Remove from baking sheet and place in airtight container or freezer bag

Re-heating Instructions:

Sausage balls can be reheated in microwave, oven or crock pot

Microwave:

Place a few at a time in a damp paper towel and heat about 20-30 seconds.  Check then heat at 10 second intervals until heated through

Oven:

Wrap frozen sausage balls in aluminum foil and place in 350 degree oven about 20-30 minutes (depending on how many you have) 

Crock pot:

  • Place a damp paper towel in the bottom of crock pot (this well keep them from drying out as they reheat)
  • Place sausage balls in crock pot and heat on low until heated through (a crock pot full may take 2-3 hours)
  • Turn crock pot on “keep warm” setting and snack on them all day or serve when ready

 

Sausage Balls
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
1 hr
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
1 hr
Ingredients
  1. 1 lb breakfast sausage, such as Jimmy Dean (hot or mild, your preference)
  2. 8 oz cheddar cheese
  3. 2 cups Bisquick
  4. 1/4 c water
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl
  2. Using hands, mix until well combined
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 min.
Notes
  1. Can be made ahead and kept in refrigerator a couple of days or in freezer 2-3 weeks.
Making Ahead
  1. Cool sausage balls completely.
  2. Place side by side (but not touching) on a baking sheet
  3. Place in freezer about 1 hour or until frozen.
  4. Remove from baking sheet and place in airtight container or freezer bag
Re-heating Instructions
  1. Sausage balls can be reheated in microwave, oven or crockpot
Microwave
  1. Place a few at a time in a damp paper towel and heat about 20-30 seconds. Check then heat at 10 second intervals until heated through
Oven
  1. Wrap frozen sausage balls in aluminum foil and place in 350 degree oven about 20-30 minutes (depending on how many you have)
Crockpot
  1. Place a damp paper towel in the bottom of crockpot (this well keep them from drying out as they reheat)
  2. Place sausage balls in crockpot and heat on low until heated through (a crockpot full may take 2-3 hours)
  3. Turn crock pot on "keep warm" setting and snack on them all day or serve when ready
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Sausage Balls #ad

 

26 Comments

  • Tabitha Hughes

    December 19, 2021 at 6:34 AM

    Could I make the mix ahead of time, keep them raw in my fridge (Dec.23rd) and then cook them later (Christmas Morning)?

    1. Danita

      December 28, 2021 at 10:05 AM

      I’m so sorry I didn’t respond sooner and you probably already figured it out, but…. I think that would be perfectly fine.

  • Sylvia

    January 31, 2020 at 3:15 PM

    What is the calorie and carb count?

    1. Danita

      March 14, 2020 at 10:04 AM

      I’m sorry. I don’t know.

  • Beth

    December 23, 2018 at 3:32 PM

    Just made these and they’re the best and easiest ones I’ve ever made! My old recipe used 3 cups of bisquick and hardly any water, about impossible to mix up !! These were moist and ,by far, the best sausage balls I’ve ever made or had!! Thanks for the recipe that made my life a little bit easier

    1. Danita

      December 27, 2018 at 2:54 PM

      Thanks! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. I appreciate you taking time to leave a comment!

  • Kathy Adair

    December 17, 2018 at 2:09 AM

    I have been making sausage balls for years, but, have never put water in them. Do you know what putting water in does to the flavor and texture?

    1. Danita

      December 17, 2018 at 7:08 AM

      Hi,
      Thanks for the question. The water is sometimes unnecessary. If the mixture is a little dry I add the water. It doesn’t alter the flavor at all or even the texture… it just helps them stick together better.

      Thanks for stopping by! Merry Christmas!

    2. Beth

      December 23, 2018 at 3:39 PM

      Just makes mix easier.

      1. Sarah Alexander

        December 4, 2019 at 7:13 PM

        YUM! Wonderful recipe! I used gf bisquick and they are amazing!

        1. Danita

          March 14, 2020 at 10:05 AM

          Thanks for sharing, Sarah!

  • Karen D.

    February 24, 2018 at 6:29 AM

    I’ve made sausage balls for years but I was checking your site to see if I could find a way to keep them warm after cooking, as I drive to a wedding shower that takes place in 3 1/2 hours. Didn’t see any information on this .
    I did make them ahead and freeze and then took them out, thawed and cooked it’s a great great time saver!!!!
    I know they’re delicious at room temperature as well so that might be how I serve them. Thanks again!

    1. Danita

      February 26, 2018 at 7:43 AM

      Good question! Honestly, I’m not sure there is a way to keep them warm for that length of time. You could try heating them in the crock pot before you leave then transporting them in the hot crock pot. If you do that I would suggest “cracking” the lid a little so they don’t sweat. Hope that helps a little.
      If you do come up with a successful way I’d love to hear about it.
      Thanks for stopping by!

  • Patchara

    December 9, 2017 at 11:05 AM

    I am making sausage ball per your recipe. Thanks for the tip of making ahead and reheat tips. Great tips. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  • Billie Murphy

    September 19, 2017 at 8:00 AM

    How many does this recipe make?

    1. Danita

      September 21, 2017 at 10:49 PM

      Thanks for asking Billie. It does depend on how big you make the balls but probably about 30 or so. Thanks for stopping by.

  • Jennifer

    May 22, 2016 at 7:11 PM

    Going to make these for my son’s graduation party! Thanks for the directions on how to make ahead and freeze! That will be a big help.

    1. Danita

      May 23, 2016 at 10:54 PM

      Great! Glad to help out!

  • Jennifer Johnson

    June 28, 2014 at 12:36 PM

    I love these we made these all of the time when I was a kid!

  • Rach @ EazyPeazyMealz

    June 28, 2014 at 10:49 AM

    Looks fun! My kids would probably love these.

  • aimeed23

    June 28, 2014 at 10:29 AM

    Thank you for this! I just bought a BIG box of Bisquick and now I need to use it and this is perfect

  • Bobbi – 3GLOL

    June 26, 2014 at 3:37 PM

    I have got to make your sausage balls. They would be easy for me during the week when I go low carb. :))

    Pinning it!!

    Thanks!!!

  • Leslie

    June 24, 2014 at 1:10 PM

    I pinned these. I can’t out into words how much I love sausage balls… But it’s a lot.. I end up hurting myself because pork gives me wicked migraines but they’re so good!!

  • Mariya

    June 24, 2014 at 10:50 AM

    Looks yummy.

  • Cherie @ In Cherie’s Words

    June 24, 2014 at 9:32 AM

    I’m thinking of making this for a 4th of July party we were invited to. Easy, not messy, and sounds delish. Pinned!

    1. Danita

      June 24, 2014 at 9:47 AM

      Cherie, they are perfect for parties! Thanks for stopping by.

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