Sausage Balls - Budget Bytes

Are you looking for a quick appetizer to feed the masses, which comes together in no time with very little mess? These flavorful, stress-free Sausage Balls are it! They’re moist, tender, and the perfect finger food for any party or gathering. I add diced onion and shredded pepper jack cheese to my sausage balls for a serious flavor boost, and they never disappoint! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces for an easy, budget-friendly appetizer that everyone will love.

Overhead view of sausage balls on a plate with a side of honey mustard sauce.

This post contains some affiliate links, which means that we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

What Are Sausage Balls?

Sausage balls are a classic Southern appetizer usually made from ground sausage, shredded cheese, and pancake mix. They’re super popular over the holidays (hello, Christmas morning breakfast, or New Year’s Eve party!), but they’re also great for game day, potlucks, and just about any gathering. But I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the 3 ingredient sausage ball recipes out there; I find them to be too dense and lacking flavor. So, I’ve revamped the classic recipe to have a bit more texture and punch for those who crave such things!

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy sausage balls recipe:

Sweet Ground Pork Sausage: Feel free to use your favorite type of sweet breakfast sausage. I went for Odom’s Tennessee Pride Maple Sausage from Walmart! If you prefer a spicier version, go for the hot ground sausage instead.
Buttermilk Pancake Mix: I used less buttermilk pancake mixture than most sausage ball recipes call for because I found the typical Bisquick recipes to be very bread-like, dense, and lacking flavor. You can get a Bisquick branded buttermilk pancake mix, but any brand will do.
Yellow Onion: I finely dice half a yellow onion and mix it in with the sausage and pancake mix for added texture.
Pepper Jack Cheese: This cheese takes this recipe to the next level! It’s not too spicy, but you could always tone it down and use shredded cheddar instead.
Salt: Just a pinch to enhance the flavors.

Recipe Tips!

The onion must be diced fine, or it may not cook enough, and your sausage ball dough might have trouble sticking together. (Personally, I don’t mind a slightly larger dice on the onion, but you might! You can see from my step photos below that the onion is barely visible once mixed.) You could put a roughly diced ½ onion into your food processor to save yourself some chopping time.
I recommend shredding your own cheese for this recipe. Pre-shredded cheeses often have anti-caking agents (like potato starch) added to keep them from clumping in the bag. Those additives can soak up moisture and make your appetizers dry and crumbly.
Use a cookie scoop to shape your meat mixture into uniform balls. This helps them cook through evenly! I used a 1-inch scoop, but you can use any size you like. If you don’t have a scoop, do your best to make them as even as possible by hand.
Don’t be tempted to add extra pancake mix if your mixture seems wet—it’s meant to be sticky! Too much pancake mix will make it dry and difficult to form into balls.

These homemade sausage balls are THE party appetizer for any busy host! Stick some toothpicks in them and serve with your favorite dipping sauce (I recommend honey mustard or BBQ sauce, but ranch and ketchup work, too!). They’d also be great alongside scrambled eggs and pancakes for a fun breakfast option. Or, just snack on them plain for a quick and easy bite-sized snack!

Can I Prep Them Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can easily prep these pancake sausage balls a day in advance. I’d mix all the ingredients together, form them into balls, and pop them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if needed since they’ve been chilled.

Storing Leftovers

Any leftovers should be cooled completely, then stored in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. They won’t be as good reheated as they are fresh, but 10-15 minutes in a 350F oven should do the trick. Make sure they’re piping hot all the way through before serving again! You can also freeze them for up to 3 months; just let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Side view of a sausage ball on a cocktail stick dipped in honey mustard sauce.

Sausage Balls Recipe

This recipe for Sausage Balls comes together quickly and is the easiest party appetizer! Full of cheesy, meaty flavor with the BEST texture.

Author: Jess – Budget Bytes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

1 lb sweet ground sausage* ($3.98)
1 ½ cups buttermilk pancake mix ($0.73)
½ yellow onion, finely diced (about ½ a cup) ($0.47)
2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese ($1.30)
1 tsp salt ($0.01)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ground sweet Italian sausage, buttermilk pancake mix, finely diced yellow onion, shredded pepper jack cheese, and salt in a mixing bowl.
Mix ingredients with your hands until a uniform, sticky mixture is achieved.
With a 1 oz. cookie scoop**, scoop mixture, and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
Serve with honey mustard sauce (optional) and toothpicks as the perfect holiday appetizer. (A little sprinkle of salt on top when they are fresh out of the oven is nice, too!)

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

*I used Odom’s Tennessee Pride Maple Sausage from Walmart, but any sweet ground pork sausage will do, including breakfast sausage, sweet Italian sausage, etc. You could use a spicy sausage as well, but you may want to opt for cheddar cheese instead of pepper jack if you do, to avoid an overly spicy outcome. (But, hey! Turn up the heat if that’s your thing!) I did not test this recipe with turkey sausage or ground veggie meat substitutes, but they’d be worth a try! Let me know if it works out.
**You can use any size scoop, but the yield will vary.

Serving: 1servingCalories: 191kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 9gFat: 15gSodium: 532mgFiber: 0.3g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

Close up of sausage balls garnished with minced parsley.

how to make Sausage Balls – step by step photos

Diced onions, pancake mix, ground sausage, and shredded cheese for sausage balls in a mixing bowl.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1 lb ground sweet Italian sausage, 1 ½ cups buttermilk pancake mix, ½ a finely diced yellow onion, 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese, and 1 tsp salt in a mixing bowl.

Sausage ball meat mixture in a mixing bowl.

Mix ingredients with your hands until a uniform, sticky mixture is achieved.

A hand rolling sausage ball meat over a tray of uncooked sausage balls.

With a 1 oz. cookie scoop**, scoop mixture, and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Finished sausage balls on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Serve with honey mustard sauce (optional) and toothpicks as the perfect holiday appetizer. (A little sprinkle of salt on top when they are fresh out of the oven is nice, too!)

Try this sausage cheese balls recipe when you need a quick, easy, and totally delicious appetizer. All your guests will love them, and they’ll never guess how simple they were to make! 😉

Source link