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Our Bisquick Sausage Balls recipe makes a classic bite-sized appetizer or snack with just 3 ingredients that’s ready in 30 minutes! Scoop up a batch or two to make some sausage balls with Bisquick (or without!) and freeze the rest so you always have the perfect appetizer at the ready for the next gathering or game day.
Everyone needs quick and easy appetizer recipes they can rely on, and we have dozens – like our super popular loaded tater tot appetizers.
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What Makes Our Sausage Balls Bisquick recipe the best?
- They’re perfectly moist and flavorful with just 3 ingredients!
Thanks to our ideal ratio of seasoned breakfast sausage, tangy cheddar cheese, and baking mix you’ll have tender appetizer balls with comforting flavor in every bite. - Ours is a make ahead recipe. so you can refrigerate or freeze them!
Simplify your next get-together by mixing a batch (or two!) ahead or store in the fridge or freezer so they’re ready to bake. - They’re ready to serve in just 30 minutes!
Everyone needs a tried and true, fast mix and bake finger foods recipe and this is the one. With a minimal prep and short oven baking time, you’ll have them ready to serve fast.
Bisquick Sausage Ball Recipe ingredients
- Ground Pork – We use Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage, but there’s so much room for personal preference. Mild or spicy ground pork with sage or a hot Italian will scoop up and bake just fine — just make sure it’s ground.
- Cheddar Cheese – Sharp cheddar cheese is recommended, but creamy Monterey Jack, some Colby, or spicy Pepper Jack are good alternatives. Freshly shredded cheese will melt the smoothest and give the most tender results.
- Bisquick Baking Mix – The original, classic mix you find in the yellow box. Don’t have any? No worries — check out our homemade baking mix recipe for how to DIY your own!
Optional:
- Green Onion – Although this is optional, chopped or minced green onions introduce dimension, a pop of flavor, and a delicious aroma.
Be sure to check out our 20+ best appetizers roundup for more great recipes.
How to make Sausage Balls with Bisquick
- Combine – all ingredients to a large bowl and mix well.
- Form sausage balls – Using clean hands or a medium size scoop, form mixture into 24 golf-sized meatballs and arrange on lined baking sheet.
- Bake – in oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown or 145º F on internal temperature.
- Serve – with your favorite dip!
Recipe Variations
Our recipe’s similar to the Jimmy Dean sausage balls recipe, but our’s uses fewer ingredients and mild sausage. You can make them spicier by using the spicy instead of mild, adding minced jalapenos, chili powder, cayenne, or red pepper flakes to the baking mix.
Looking to cut the fat? Then make our turkey sausage balls, featuring a leaner protein. You can even combine the Heart Smart Bisquick with the turkey alternative for a sausage appetizer that you can really feel good about!
Bisquick Sausage Balls Recipe Tips
- Give your baking mix a good stir before measuring for a moist sausage ball recipe.
This ensures the right ratio of dry and moist ingredients and prevents having dry and crumbly appetizers.
- Don’t overmix the meatball mixture.
When combining the ingredients and forming the meatballs, be sure to use gentle pressure.
This will help you avoid dry and crumbly sausage balls.
- Check the internal temperature to make sure they’re cooked all the way through.
It’s always a good idea to check the temperature of the meat with an instant-read thermometer to ensure it’s cooked to at least 165°F.If they need a little more time, pop them back in for a couple more minutes.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Put out a tray with varieties of sausage ball dip. Here are some suggestions:
The ground pork in this sausage balls with Bisquick recipe pairs perfectly with spicy mustard or ranch dressing.
Sweet chili mango sauce can add a little more heat, but calm it down with a little bit of sweet, too! The flavor is a bit like our sweet chili meatballs, and you could recreate that sauce as well.
Our tangy 3-ingredient BBQ sauce is always a crowd favorite. And if the Bisquick sausage cheese balls just aren’t cheesy enough for you, dip them into a tangy cheese dip!
Dipping Sauce for Sausage Balls
- 3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce
- Quick Marinara Sauce
- Pretzel Cheese Dip
- Red Pepper Feta Dip
- Mango Sweet Chili Sauce
- Bang Bang Sauce
- Spicy Honey Mustard
Storing and Reheating
Let Bisquick sausage balls cool to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven or let them reheat in the crockpot.
We recommend freezing before baking for a make ahead appetizer or snack. Scoop them onto a baking sheet to flash freeze them, and then transfer them to a freezer bag. Let them sit at room temperature for an hour before baking.
Serve in a slow cooker to keep warm.
One thing to note about this sausage appetizer, is that the meatballs don’t stay warm for very long — particularly if you’re serving them for a three-hour football game!
Keep them warm by serving in a crockpot. Move them right from oven to slow cooker by preheating the crockpot while the sausage cheese balls are baking, then throwing them in right when they’re done.
FAQs for making Sausage Balls with Bisquick
Why are my sausage balls dry?
It’s possible that you used too much baking mix in the mixture (see our tips for stirring your mix first). This is easy to catch before baking — the mix will look crumbly and won’t clump properly. If this happens, add a little milk!
It may also be because of the ingredients used. Pre-shredded cheese and low-fat ground pork both lack moisture and aren’t suitable for making sausage balls with Bisquick.
How can you tell when sausage balls are done?
It’s easiest with a digital cooking thermometer, as the internal temperature is the best indicator of fully cooked ground pork. They will also be golden brown on the outside.
Can I use pancake mix instead of Bisquick for sausage balls?
Yes, Bisquick mix and pancake mix have similar ingredients and you can use it as a substitue. However, it may add a bit of sweetness to the sausage balls due to the sugar content in pancake mix.
Bisquick Sausage Cheese Balls
Renae
4.96 from 62 votes
Bisquick Sausage Balls are cheesy, savory goodness, tucked into a bite-sized party in your mouth! Serve this easy sausage appetizer for the holidays.
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 sausage balls
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Calories: 176
Equipment
rimmed baking sheet
medium cookie scoop
instant-read digital cooking thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork sausage We use Jimmy Dean hot breakfast sausage or hot Italian sausage
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded (1 pound)
- 2 cups Bisquick baking mix homemade or store bought
Optional
- ½ cup chopped scallions (green onions) green part only
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375º F. Prepare the baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Add the ground sausage, shredded cheddar cheese, baking mix, and green onion (if using) to a large mixing bowl.
Using your clean hands, a potato masher, or stand mixer, combine the ingredients together. **If using your hands, it works best to knead or fold the Bisquick and cheese into the ground sausage.
Using a medium scoop or large tablespoon, portion out and shape 24 sausage balls, about the size of a golf ball. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each.
Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the meatballs are lightly golden brown in color. **Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the center of the sausage balls registers 145º F. in temperature.
Serve with your favorite sausage ball dip, like a marinara sauce, zesty BBQ, or cheese dip.
Video
Notes
Shred or grate your own cheese for the best results. Packaged shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can cause your sausage balls to crack and dry out.
If using a lower fat sausage, like chicken or turkey, add 2 tablespoons of milk or butter to keep the meatballs moist.
Make your own Bisquick pancake and baking mixwith flour, baking powder, shortening, and salt.
To store: homemade sausage balls will keep well for up to 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator. Let the balls cool to room temperature before transferring to a sealed container and placing in the fridge.
To freeze: Form the sausage balls. Flash freeze meatballs before baking. Then store them in a freezer-safe container, like a Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature for an hour before baking.
Nutrition
Serving: 1meatball | Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 365mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 203IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 155mg | Iron: 1mg
