Sausage Cheese Balls are a beloved Southern-style party favorite, often served as appetizers or at brunches. Combining spicy pork sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, and biscuit mix, they’re bite-sized and packed with flavor. This recipe became popular in the mid-20th century for its simplicity, make-ahead convenience, and crowd-pleasing taste. Easy to freeze and reheat, they remain a go-to dish for gatherings and holidays.
Ingredients
- ½ lb fat pork sausage
- ½ lb sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 ½ cups biscuit mix (like Bisquick)
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Sausage
- Brown pork sausage in a skillet.
- Drain well and place on paper towels to remove excess grease.
Step 2: Mix Ingredients
- Shred cheese.
- Melt cheese in double boiler.
- Add sausage and biscuit mix.
- Shape tablespoons of the mixture into small balls.
Step 3: Bake
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Place sausage balls on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 4: Freeze Option
- Place unbaked sausage balls on a cookie sheet and freeze until firm.
- Transfer to a freezer bag.
- Bake when ready to serve.
Tips
- Use hot pork sausage for extra heat.
- Swap cheddar for pepper jack or Colby cheese.
- Add a pinch of garlic powder or onion powder for more savory flavor.
- Mix in finely diced jalapeños for a spicy variation.
- Use gluten-free biscuit mix to make the recipe gluten-free.
- Form balls in advance and freeze raw; bake straight from frozen.
- Serve with ranch dip, honey mustard, or spicy mayo.
- For crispier texture, bake on a preheated sheet pan.
- Add fresh herbs such as parsley for color.
Nutrition
Calories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 70mgPotassium: 14mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 33IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 0.1mg
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