Sausage Cheese Balls
Sausage Cheese Balls make for the perfect little appetizer to serve to your guests at any holiday party, football party, and especially for New Year’s Eve.
So here we go – Christmas is under our belts and now we have New Year’s Eve right around the corner. Does anyone else feel like Christmas didn’t even happen? It went by way too fast. I hosted everyone at my house this year and made a delicious 6.5 pound Top Loin roast (inspired by this Holiday Roast) and it was a hit. If you follow me on Instagram, I posted a picture of it in all it’s beauty.
As a food blogger, there are times where I make a killer dish and it never makes the blog because I don’t think it looks crazy appetizing. Some of my food turns out picture perfect (not often, though) and some looks the opposite of that but still tastes so good. Where I’m going with this, is that these sausage cheese balls aren’t the most perfect looking food to ever make an appearance here on Wishes and Dishes, but I thought they were too good not to share. I took the liberty to speak for all of you when I decided despite these meatballs not being the prettiest in the world, you would still have to trust me that they tasted amazing and therefore I NEEDED to still share them. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, right?
These sausage cheese balls turn out perfectly every time and everybody loves them. I served them at my New Year’s Eve party last year and also at my Groundhog Day party (yes, I threw one of those). These can even be served at a breakfast or brunch because of the sausage. I love how versatile these meatballs are and you will too!
This is easy to make ahead and a delicious recipe to keep on hand when you need a quick appetizer for a work party, Super Bowl game, etc.
These sausage cheese balls are a little “bready” but in a good way. I just want you to know in advance that they are not your traditional meatball when it comes to texture so you know what to expect. I got so many compliments on these! Enjoy…
Step-by-Step Video and Tips on How To make this recipe!
- 3 cups Bisquick mix
- 1 pound uncooked bulk pork sausage
- 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
- 1½ teaspoons chopped fresh parsley or ½ teaspoon parsley flakes
- Barbecue sauce or chili sauce for dipping, if desired
- Heat oven to 350ºF.
- Lightly grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan or shallow casserole dish.
- n large bowl, stir together all ingredients except barbecue sauce, using hands or spoon (I find using my hands is easier). Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place in pan.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brown. Immediately remove from pan.
- Serve warm with sauce for dipping (they have enough flavor on their own and don't need a sauce).
- Cover and refrigerate unbaked balls up to 24 hours. Bake as directed.
- Cover and freeze unbaked balls up to 1 month. Heat oven to 350ºF. Place frozen balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until brown.
- Bake as directed; cover and freeze up to 1 month. Heat oven to 350ºF. Place frozen balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until heated through.
- Bake as directed; cover and freeze up to 1 month. Place 6 frozen balls on microwavable plate. Loosely cover with waxed paper. Microwave on High 45 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through.
Recipe source: adapted from Bettycrocker.com
Sausage balls are one of those things that are classic and you learn to make them in 7th grade and the recipe sticks with you forever. Or is that just me? 🙂
I think it might just be you. Or else I’ve been missing out on something all my life. 😀 I’ve never even heard of this recipe. It sounds delish though. can’t wait to try it out on my kiddos.
I don’t know what you’re talking about – these look perfectly appetizing! In fact, I would be the crazy guest standing in front of the plate at your party (so I could eat them all)! 🙂
Only you Ashley could make me crave meatballs for breakfast! 🙂 These look simply amazing. Pinned! Can you send me an email IF you’d like to have these included on my Top 20 Appetizer list for Superbowl this year? info@inspirationkitchen.com xoxo
I agree – Christmas went by too fast. And I *know* these sausage cheese balls have to be amazing. Oddly enough, I was craving sausage today, which is not that common. This isn’t helping! I need some. : ) Happy New Year!
Can you make them a night before and reheat them in a slow cooker?
Yes that would be fine!
Haha, I forgot about your Groundhog’s Day party! I’m so glad that you’re posting this, because two days ago my husband was flipping through a cookbook and he pointed out a recipe for Sausage Cheese Balls that he wanted to try. Your recipe looks much better and more flavorful! I’m excited to try it out. 🙂
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Best dipoing sauce for these… Peppered breakfast gravy made from sausage and bacon drippings!!!
Oh my gosh- great idea!!!
We always have these on Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings for breakfast. We have ours with syrup or honey and a bowl of ambrosia.
Dear Ashley, these look so good! What a wonderful recipe for holiday parties…or any gathering! xo, Catherine
How do I reheat for later…if I baked them in the morning??? Microwave??
Yes I would microwave them (not too long so they don’t dry out)
Made these and they were not good!! 🙁 They were so doughy and hardly any meat. Omit the bisquick or maybe just add a half cup. BBQ sauce needed for dipping.
I clearly state in my post that they aren’t the traditional texture of meatballs, that’s why they are called cheese balls, so not to be expecting traditional meatballs. I’ve had several comments on my Facebook page of people who made this recipe and loved it. This is the first negative comment I have received. Sorry they didn’t meet your expectations. Happy new year! – Ashley
could one use spelt or almond flour in this recipe instead of biscuit?
I’m really not sure how that would turn out because I’ve never tried it with any other flour. Sorry! It’s worth a shot, though!
I don’t think you can substitute almond flour or spelt for Bisquick without figuring what else is in it such as, Baking powder.
Can the sausage be a mild italian sausage or are you talking about breakfast sausage?
Yes that will work! Any ground sausage!
Just made these and they are FANTASTIC!!! Thanks so much for this awesome recipe….so easy and delicious. I added a bit of cayenne pepper for some zing and cooked them an extra three minutes(balls were a bit bigger than 1″) but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Hopefully there will still be some left to serve to guests!!!
I’m sure these are great but I like the old fashioned recipe of hot sausage, cheez whiz, and bisquick. 🙂
I have made the traditional sausage bas, but never with cheez whiz! Willing to try! What are the proportions of the ingredients? Thanks.
they can stand on their own. I never use a dipping sauce. they taste great! would not be new years eve or superbowl without them.
Greetings, All!!!
A classic appetizer that has visited many a cocktail and dinner party for generations!
Question: For the many of us now going gluten-free, is there a substitute for the Bisquick Mix???
Thank you.
Would love to know if you can substitute pancake mix or Panko or just plain flour??
I haven’t made this recipe, but I plan on next week for an office party for my husband. Anyway I have used a different recipe and it is almost exactly the same. My problem is they never stay in a nice uniform ball. They puff up a bit and get a bit crusty on the bottom. Any ideas or suggestions on why that happens? Thanks ahead for any advice.
I make these all the time. I find them hard to mix, so I use my stand mixer on the lowest speed , using the dough hooks. They always come out perfect.
This is a great tip!!
I always use hot sausage. Have changed the cheese to pepper jack or anything else that you like. Sharp Cheddar is great as well. Bisquick makes a Gluten free product now.
Having to eat Gluten-free, I use GF Bisquick. They are just as delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
I have always loved them!! Now you can buy them pre-made by Odoms at Wal Mart in the frozen section…..
HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THESE! NOW YOU CAN PURCHASE PRE-MADE AT WAL MART BY ODOMS IN THE FROZEN SECTION.
This was in Trisha Yearwoods cook book many many years ago at least 10 yrs. Very good n easy.
How would you serve these at a wedding, would it be ok to serve them cooked but at room temp?
Can you pan fry these instead of baking like Italian Meatballs? I think they would come out a little firmer and crispier and firmer than baking. What do you think?
Sure! Go for it!
I made these today using my own homemade, medium Italian sausage. Because I always package my meat in 2 pound packages, I doubled the amount of sausage, but left all of the rest of the ingredients in the same quantities, as per the recipe. They had a bit of a kick, and turned out fabulous! I got 68, one and a half inch cheeseballs out of this. I too used my stand mixer to combine the ingredient’s, which made things really easy and well combined. Thank you for such a wonderfully simple and delicious recipe!
I make these for a lot of the holidays and they are always the first to go. People love these.. I used extra hot sausage in mine. It gives it a little more kick and very very good!
What is biscuitmix
Like Bisquick pancake and baking mix.
Do you think these would work to leave in a crockpot for a potluck/get together on low for a few hours?
I’m afraid they might dry out. Sorry – never tried that before!
must these be put in refrig. before baking or can I just bake them after rolling?Thank you
Either way should work just fine.
Just prepped mine for baking in the morning. Potluck at work! I may have to test one…or two before I get to work. ???? I like the idea of the pepper gravy too.
I have loved this retro recipe for years!! Yours turned out just as I remembered them—delicious!
Adding rosemary is such a delicious twist, love these!
So tasty! I could eat so many of these in one sitting!
This is perfect for entertaining!!
We love these easy appetizers.
I only have pancake mix, will work that work to replace Bisquick?
Hi Ashley
Have you tried baking this recipe in a baking pan as opposed to the balls and having as a breakfast dish
I have not, but I imagine that would be delicious!
I’m gonna give it a try and post the results ?
I tried sausage balls, which i love it…