Sausage Balls Recipe
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This Sausage Balls Recipe is a classic Southern appetizer made with just 4 easy ingredients—ready in under 30 minutes! They are cheesy, delicious, savory bites that are perfect for game days, parties, and holiday mornings – any time you need a satisfying snack.
Sausage balls have always been a favorite bite-sized dish. The crispy outside, tender center, and amazing cheesy-sausage flavor of these sausage balls make them a must for all of your gatherings! This easy recipe has been a family favorite for years—quick to mix with no special equipment needed, and always a hit at parties. Whether it’s for game day, the holidays, or when you just want a satisfying snack, these sausage balls are a favorite every time.
Make these easy family-favorite sausage balls!
My Mama made these golden, delicious sausage balls for parties, Christmas morning brunch, New Year’s Eve snacks to help us make it to midnight, and for nibbling while watching football games. This is her made-from-scratch, easy-as-can-be, homemade sausage balls recipe. No mixes included! They are delicious, and I can’t wait for you to try them!
What You’ll Love About This Sausage Balls Recipe
- Only 4 Ingredients: Super simple—no mixes or fillers, easy steps.
- Quick and Easy: Just mix, scoop, and bake—ready in under 30 minutes.
- Make-Ahead Easy: Prep ahead, freeze before baking, or reheat beautifully.
- Crowd-Hit: Kid-approved, party-perfect, and always a hit.
- Deliciously Versatile: Great for breakfast, appetizers, game days, or holidays.
Why Are These the Best Sausage Balls?
Along with being easy to make, using simple ingredients, and having incredible flavor, these sausage balls are made from scratch! Many people make sausage balls using a biscuit mix. I prefer to make my sausage balls from scratch, just as my Mama always made hers. They make the easiest and best sausage balls!
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Ground Pork Sausage
- Flour: Use self-rising flour
- Cheddar Cheese: Use freshly grated, not pre-shredded cheese
- Milk
To these basic ingredients, you can add your favorite seasonings to suit your preferences. Some seasonings my family enjoys are salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Ingredient Swaps
- Sausage: Use turkey sausage or chicken sausage instead of pork sausage.
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free self-rising flour instead if needed.
How to Make Easy Sausage Balls Recipe
These 4-ingredient sausage balls come together quickly with no special equipment.
Step by Step Instructions
- Mix ingredients: Add sausage, flour, cheese, and milk to a mixing bowl and stir til combined.
- Make Balls: Scoop balls of the sausage mixture onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. You can use a cookie scoop or a spoon.
- Bake: Bake 20 minutes until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve: Serve warm and enjoy.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Sausage Balls: Use a hot ground sausage for a spicier result.
- Breakfast or Brunch: Serve with eggs or gravy for a hearty meal.
- Freezer-Friendly: Freeze unbaked balls for easy meal or holiday prep.
Recipe Success Tips
- Grate Your Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents; can taste grainy.
- Mix Completely: Dough should be thoroughly mixed with no dry pockets of flour.
- Don’t Overbake: Watch for them to turn golden—overcooking dries them out.
- Prep Baking Sheets: Line with parchment to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
Storage Tips
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Place uncooked balls on parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze overnight. Transfer frozen balls to a freezer-safe zip bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge, then bake as directed.
- Reheat: Warm in 350°F oven 8–10 minutes or air fryer 5 minutes at 350°F.
- Make-Ahead: Roll balls ahead and refrigerate or freeze for baking later.
Suggested Dips for Serving With Sausage Balls
Serve with real maple syrup for breakfast or brunch, or with ranch dressing or honey mustard for a game-day treat!
More Favorite Appeziter Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
No – raw sausage is mixed in and cooks completely during baking.
Overbaking or using pre-shredded cheese. Use freshly grated cheese and check for golden results, so don’t overbake (internal temp 165°F).
Yes – use a gluten-free self-rising flour.
Why These Sausage Balls Are An Entertaining Must
With just 4 ingredients, no special equipment, and golden deliciousness, these sausage balls are the ultimate satisfying crowd-pleaser. Perfect for game days, holiday mornings, parties, potlucks, and more—these disappear quickly and are always a hit!
Sausage Balls Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) breakfast sausage, pork, turkey, or chicken
- 1 pound (454 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups (226 g) self-rising flour
- 1/4 cup (57 g) milk
Additional Seasonings (Optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) kosher salt, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.8 g) cayenne pepper, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.75 g) garlic powder, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.6 g) onion powder, optional
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line baking sheet pans with parchment paper.
- Mix. Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl until just well-combined. Scoop mixture into tablespoon-sized balls with a scoop or using two spoons.
- Bake. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked throughout.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Place uncooked balls on parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze overnight. Transfer frozen balls to a freezer-safe zip bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge, then bake as directed.
- Reheat: Warm in 350°F oven 8–10 minutes or air fryer 5 minutes at 350°F.
- Make-Ahead: Roll balls ahead and refrigerate or freeze for baking later.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
These turned out perfectly! They do smell like holiday memories…
Thanks for sharing it😊
Thanks, Carmen.
What if my sausage is already cooked? Thank you!
Can the sausage balls be deep fried like mix the meat and then use the 3dredge method flour egg Pablo ?! Thanks
Tina
Hi. I’m going to make these for a church social tomorrow. I’m a little nervous about using uncooked sausage. Do you by chance know what the internal temperature should be? Thank you.
We use the Bisquick (2 & 3/4 Cups) with 1lb hot sausage, 8 oz cheddar 8 oz monterray jack w/jalapenas yumm. Always looking for a new way…gotta try this one.
I love this recipe!! Thanks so much for sharing. I have had a hard time finding a good sausage ball recipe without Bisquick (trans fat – yikes!) and as a Southerner myself, my family and I like these at Christmas time. Southern tradition for sure! 🙂
Hi Robyn,
I have just started to cook and don’t want to miss something. I take it that the sausage cut up or crumbled prior to the mixing. Is it cooked before hand as well?
BTW, the coconut cream pie was a hit.
Thanks and Regards
Hi Merle,
The sausage is not cooked and you’ll just crumble it and mix with the other ingredients. So glad you loved the coconut cream pie. It’s a favorite here, too!
Um… I think the term “Amazzz-balls!” is appropriate here. Lol!
Can they be made with all-purpose flour? I hate to buy self-rising flour for just one recipe.
Hi Mandy,
You sure can! I’ve shared how to make your own self-rising flour before that you can use.
I’m so glad you posted this recipe. I have not made these in forever and just the other day I was thinking about hunting up a recipe for these. Do these freeze very well?