They may not be pretty and they may not be fancy, but these classic, cheesy Easy Sausage Balls are always a hit at parties and get the job done when it comes to satisfying hungry guests! Made with just three ingredients, these are easy to whip up fast for a last minute appetizer that everybody loves to eat with their favorite dipping sauce and a cocktail stick (aka, toothpick).
For New Years Eve we like to skip dinner and just make a whole bunch of appetizers for sharing! Some of favorites that you might like are Homemade Egg Rolls, Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers, and Crispy Coconut Shrimp!
Bisquick Sausage Balls are a staple
Everybody has had sausage balls, right? I mean, I feel like I grew up with them at family reunions or church functions. But when the idea popped in my head to make them myself a few weeks back, I couldn’t actually remember my mom ever having made them.
I have no idea where the recipe for these easy bisquick sausage balls originated, but it’s been around for decades, I’m sure. It’s a three-ingredient hack-type recipe where you literally just combine some Jimmy Dean original sausage with some bisquick (I use my homemade bisquick mix) and grated sharp cheddar cheese. Mix that altogether and shape into meatballs, then bake. And voila, you’ve got sausage balls!
Sounds crazy, I know, but I’m guessing it’s something some midwestern housewife created in the 40’s or 50’s. Not that I have any evidence to back that up. They are popular for holidays, parties, and game days – basically any occasion where the utensil of choice is a toothpick for skewering food and popping it in your mouth.
Our 6-year old was my helper making and photographing these, and she was more than happy to spear them with a toothpick and dip them in homemade ranch dressing for me. Speaking of that ranch dressing, it’s my favorite with sausage balls. But you can use practically any dipping sauce you like!
Bisquick Sausage Balls Recipe ingredients
- Pork Sausage – You will need raw ground pork sausage. You can use any type of sausage you want like mild or spicy italian sausage, hot sausage, or just good ol’ Jimmy Dean sausage.
- Bisquick Mix – You can just use the box bisquick mix or my Easy Homemade Bisquick Mix
- Sharp cheddar cheese – Any type of cheese will work. I just like the flavor the sharp cheddar cheese brings to the sausage balls.
What kind of pork sausage should you use?
The most important thing is to get raw, ground pork sausage for this recipe. There are quite a few options, and any of them will work.
You can use “hot” sausage, which is a really popular choice when making sausage balls. Or original Jimmy Dean sausage, which is what I used. Even mild or spicy Italian sausage. Just be sure it’s raw, and not a cooked smoked sausage or the recipe won’t work.
I prefer the sausage that comes in a tube, but you can always purchase regular shaped sausages and cut off the casings.
Sausage Balls Bisquick Recipe substitutions
You can make these with mild or spicy Italian sausage in place of the Jimmy Dean’s sausage and they will still be really interesting and delicious. You can use pepper jack cheese instead of sharp cheddar.
How to make Bisquick Sausage Balls
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Be sure to line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup. Finely grate the cheese.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the uncooked sausage, bisquick mix, and freshly grated cheese. Mix well until the ingredients start to hold together. The mixture should be moist enough that if you squeeze it and roll it into a ball it will hold its shape instead of crumbling. It should hold together just fine as is, but if absolutely necessary you can add a tablespoon or two of milk to moisten it up a bit.
- Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop to evenly portion the mixture and roll into approximately golf ball-sized balls. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
How long to cook sausage balls
- Bake 22-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, then serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
How to serve Sausage Balls
What goes with sausage balls for dinner?
Sausage balls are perfect for holidays, parties, and game days! Dip them in your favorite sauce like my homemade ranch, White BBQ Sauce, or Aioli.
Sausage Ball Dip – What’s the best?
We are definitely partial to ranch (homemade, please and thank you). But blue cheese dressing, bbq sauce, aioli, parmesan dressing, marinara, honey mustard, blooming onion sauce, or basically any other dipping sauce you can think of goes well with these savory, cheesy balls of deliciousness.
Make Ahead Instructions for Sausage Balls Bisquick Recipe
You can freeze sausage balls for up to six months. Place the unbaked sausage balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours until solid. Then transfer the frozen meatballs to a freezer-safe zip-tight bag for longer term storage. You can even bake them frozen without thawing by simply adding a few extra minutes to the bake time.
Sausage Balls with Bisquick Recipe storage
Can you freeze sausage balls?
Yes, you can freeze your sausage balls after they have been cooked. Once they are cooled, place them in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bags and freeze for up to three months. I would recommend freezing them flat so they don’t completely stick together. You can thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven, microwave, or the air fryer.
How many days are sausage balls good for?
Leftover sausage balls will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge.
Pro Tip: It may seem like too much Bisquick, but keep working it in with a mixer or your hands and it will all come together.
Sausage Balls Recipe FAQs
Sausage balls can dry out if there is too much Bisquick mix in the sausage mixture or if the sausage balls were not mixed well enough. You can try adding a little bit of milk if the mixture still seems too dry. But be careful not to add too much liquid.
My best tips for keeping your sausage balls from falling apart is to use freshly grated cheese, packaged shredded cheese can have powder to absorb moisture. Also, try not to use low fat sausage. We want some of the fat in the sausage to bind the balls together. If they are still crumbly and not staying together, try adding a little bit of milk. It will help bring it together.
If you don’t have a box of Bisquick Mix for your sausage balls, you can use my homemade Bisquick Mix which is a combination of all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and butter or shortening.
More Recipes Like This
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
- Slow Cooker Lil Smokies
- Southern Hush Puppies
- Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles
- Corn Fritters
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
Sausage Balls Bisquick Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork sausage
- 2 cups [bisquick mix]
- 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated (about 4 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sausage, bisquick mix, and freshly grated cheese. Mix well until the ingredients start to hold together. The mixture should be moist enough that when you squeeze it and roll it into a ball it will hold its shape instead of crumbling.1 pound pork sausage, 2 cups [bisquick mix], 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
- Use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop to evenly portion the mixture and roll into approximately golf ball-sized balls. Transfer to a baking sheet.
- Bake 22-25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve hot with toothpicks for skewering and your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- If the mixture isn’t coming together, you can add about 2 tablespoons of milk to moisten it just a bit.
- Using freshly grated cheese that is grated fine instead of thick, helps the cheese mix in better. Pre-grated cheese isn’t the best choice as it is drier and doesn’t incorporate as well.
I made this for my Daughter. She absolutely loved it and so did family members. They all want me to make it again and they are going to give making it themselves a go.
Thank you for a really delicious recipe
These are always a hit during the holidays!
The real jimmy dean sausage ball recipe also contains finely diced onion and celery. The flavor is so much better with the onion and celery. Otherwise, i round them to be a bit bland and dry….
Thanks for the tip on the onion. Moister and more interesting. I always put onion on cheeseburgers or on crackers with cheddar, so I’m surprised I didn’t think of this myself.