Sausage-Cheese Balls

Recipe Ingredients

Gather the below ingredients to create these delicious Bisquick and sausage balls.

Bisquick: Is the key to the perfect sausage ball texture. It binds the ingredients together so they don’t become cheesy puddles on your pans. If you’re looking to make gluten-free sausage balls, use our gluten-free sausage-cheese balls recipe, instead.

Pork Sausage: Our Kitchen experts recommend mild or hot pork sausage for the best results, but feel free to experiment! We’ve successfully tested other sausage varieties, including bulk chorizo and hot turkey sausage links (with the casings removed), with their own delicious results.

Cheddar Cheese: Our preferred choice for its complementary flavor and excellent melting quality that gives these appetizers the perfect texture. Don’t be tempted to substitute lower-fat cheese or one that doesn’t melt well, as the sausage balls will be too dry.

Parmesan Cheese: Use the grated version as it helps hold the balls together better than the shredded form.

Milk: Adds moisture to the sausage mixture to help form the perfect balls. While we used 2% milk during testing, any variety will work. We find the dairy notes in milk enhances the cheesy flavor.

Equipment You’ll Need

Here is the essential kitchen equipment you’ll need to make the best sausage cheese balls.

Rimmed Baking Sheets: The sides prevent the balls from rolling off as you put them in the oven while also ensuring even browning. We found during testing that if higher-sided pans are used, like cake pans, the sausage balls end up steaming, rather than browning, resulting in a less appealing grayish color. 

Cookie Scoop: While not essential, a cookie scoop significantly speeds up the sausage ball-making process. Our tests show that a #70 scoop, filled level, yields approximately 102 one-inch balls. Or you can use a level tablespoon.

Additional Cookware You’ll Need: Large mixing bowl, spoon, dry and liquid measuring cups, measuring spoons.

How to Make Sausage Cheese Balls

Years of testing have yielded these expert tips for perfect sausage cheese balls. Refer to the recipe for the complete instructions.

1. Oven Prep

Heat your oven now so it will be hot when your sausage balls are ready to bake. We found greasing the pan with a little shortening or spraying them lightly with cooking spray prevents sticking without excess grease.

2. Make the Sausage Mixture 

Combine all ingredients (except dipping sauce) until thoroughly mixed.  Pro-tip: Break up the sausage as you add it to the bowl for faster mixing.

3. Shape Sausage Balls

Shape uniform balls for even cooking and leave a little space between on the pan for better browning.

4. Bake and Serve 

For even browning, rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking time. We found it’s also important to remove the balls from the cookie sheet as soon as they come out of the oven to prevent sticking.

Possible Variations

Here are our favorite ways to give these appetizers a twist.

Change the Cheese: Try another shredded cheese flavor that will easily melt, such as Mexican blends, Swiss, or Mozzarella.

Spice it Up: Try adding zip with a few shakes of red pepper sauce or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Alternatively, add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for a savory boost, or substitute Italian seasoning for the rosemary and parsley. Reviewer BT1234 made their sausage balls with spicy turkey sausage for an extra kick.

Swap the Sauce: Ranch dressing, salsa, chili sauce, or even harissa (a spicy chili paste that comes in mild or spicy) will each give this snack new flavor.

Cheddar-Apple Sausage Balls: This variation adds juicy fresh shredded apple and a blend of seasonings for a sweet and savory twist.

Storing and Reheating

These sausage-cheese balls are great to store and enjoy whenever you like. Use these guidelines for storing and reheating.

Storing Sausage Balls

Store cooled sausage balls within 2 hours of baking to avoid any bacteria that can cause food-borne illness.

• Refrigerator Storage 

Place them in a food storage container with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate up to 3 days.

• Freezer Storage

Place in a freezer-safe food storage container. Separate layers using waxed paper or parchment paper to help avoid the balls from freezing together. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheating Sausage Balls

Microwaving reheats sausage balls best, preventing dryness.

• Refrigerated Sausage Balls

Microwave desired sausage balls uncovered on medium-high (70%) for 1 to 3 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160°F when tested with an instant-read thermometer.

• Frozen Sausage Balls

Microwave desired sausage balls uncovered on medium (50%) for 1 to 2 minutes (depending on the quantity), until thawed. Then microwave on medium-high (70%) 1 to 2 minutes longer or until centers reach 160°F when tested with an instant-read thermometer.

Why Betty Users Love This Recipe

With over 2000 reviews and counting, this recipe is a top-rated favorite, renowned for its iconic flavor.

A crowd-pleaser at any gathering, from casual potlucks to elegant holiday celebrations, it's become a cherished tradition for many. Our community enjoys keeping these versatile sausage balls on hand for game-day or when they’re craving a salty snack, easily stored and reheated without losing their delicious taste.  

Fans love this simple, straightforward recipe. It's perfect for family fun and easily adaptable to individual tastes.