Sausage balls make an appearance at just about every Southern event or party, and one taste will tell you why. Serve the sausage balls with a mustard mayo dip or aioli, or dip them into ranch dressing.
Sausage balls are made with only 3 ingredients. The basic mixture includes ground pork sausage (e.g., Jimmy Dean), and shredded cheese.
How To Make Sausage Balls
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease a large rimmed baking sheet or 2 smaller baking pans.
- Combine sausage, biscuit mix, and cheese in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until well combined.
- Shape the sausage mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1/2-inch of space between them.
- Bake the sausage balls for 20 to 25 minutes, until they are browned and thoroughly cooked. The minimum for ground pork is 160 F. If you are using a poultry-based sausage, look for a minimum temperature of 165 F.
Recipe Variations
- Herbs: 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh sage or 1/2 teaspoon of dried rubbed sage and 1 1/2 teaspoons of chopped fresh parsley or 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley flakes.
- Spices: Add heat with a dash of cayenne pepper or about 1/2 teaspoon or more of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Add a touch of sweetness with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.
- Mix in a few tablespoons of chopped pecans for extra texture.
- Experiment with different cheeses. Try pepper jack, Gruyère, or a smoked cheese.
- Add a dash each of garlic powder and onion powder.
What Dips Are Good With Sausage Balls
- Serve sausage balls with your favorite dip, and if you’re entertaining, offer 2 or more dips. Here are a few ideas:
- Barbecue Sauce – Homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce is a popular choice for sausage balls.
- Mustard – Honey mustard or a whole grain mustard is tang and delicious as a dipper for sausage balls.
- Ranch Dressing – This is one of America’s favorite dips for everything.
- Sweet and Sour Sauce – For a sweet and tangy choice.
- Buffalo Sauce – For balanced heat and tangy flavor.
- Sriracha Mayo – A combination of Sriracha sauce and mayonnaise, it’s a great dip for sausage balls.
- Cheese Sauce – Double down on the cheese with a warm cheese sauce.
- Cranberry Sauce – For a sweet and tart holiday flavor.
Basic Sausage Balls
Sausage balls are quick and easy, and great with all kinds of dips. They’re made with only 3 ingredients, but feel free to experiment with different flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 30 servings 1x
- Category: Sausage, Appetizers
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground pork sausage, mild or hot
- 2 cups biscuit mix (e.g., Bisquick)
- 1 pound shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons milk, optional
Instructions
- Take the sausage and cheese out of the refrigerator about 15 minutes ahead of time.
- Heat the oven to 350 F.
- Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the raw sausage and cheese with the biscuit mix, and mix until well blended. The fat from the uncooked sausage will moisten the balls more as they bake. If the mixture seems too dry, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk.
- Shape the mixture into balls and arrange them on the baking sheet, leaving about an inch between them.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and the sausage is thoroughly cooked. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the minimum safe temperature for ground pork is 160 F (if using turkey sausage, 165 F).