These Cheesy Sausage Balls are golden, savory, cheesy, and packed with plenty of sausage flavor in every bite. They bake up crisp around the edges while staying juicy and tender in the center, making them perfect for breakfast, brunch, holiday parties, game day, potlucks, or an easy appetizer.
The recipe comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients. Breakfast sausage provides the rich savory base, cheddar brings plenty of melted cheese, and baking mix helps hold everything together. Once mixed, simply roll into balls and bake until beautifully browned.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
These sausage balls are easy to prepare, easy to transport, and just as good warm as they are at room temperature. They can also be made ahead and reheated, which makes them especially useful for busy holiday mornings or parties.
The combination of sausage and cheddar creates plenty of flavor without needing a complicated ingredient list. A little cream cheese helps keep the centers moist and makes the mixture easier to shape.
Ingredients
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups biscuit baking mix
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
Ingredient Notes
Breakfast sausage: Mild or hot pork breakfast sausage both work well. Hot sausage gives the finished bites a little extra kick.
Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar provides the strongest cheese flavor. Freshly shredded cheese generally melts better than pre-shredded varieties.
Biscuit baking mix: A prepared baking mix gives the sausage balls structure and helps absorb some of the fat released during baking.
Cream cheese: Cream cheese adds moisture and keeps the inside from becoming dry or crumbly.
How to Make Cheesy Sausage Balls
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Add the raw breakfast sausage to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese, biscuit baking mix, softened cream cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and optional smoked paprika.
- Use clean hands or a sturdy spoon to mix everything until evenly combined.
- Do not overmix once the ingredients are incorporated.
- Scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons of mixture at a time.
- Roll gently into balls approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide.
- Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes.
- The sausage balls should be deeply golden and cooked through.
- Check the center of a few pieces with an instant-read thermometer. Ground pork sausage should reach at least 160°F.
- Allow them to rest for about five minutes before serving.
How to Keep Sausage Balls Moist
Cream cheese is one of the easiest ways to keep sausage balls tender. Traditional versions made with only sausage, cheese, and baking mix can sometimes turn dry if too much baking mix is used or they are baked too long.
Use just enough baking mix to hold the mixture together and remove the sausage balls from the oven once they are fully cooked and golden.
How to Get Crispy Golden Edges
Leave some space between the sausage balls on the baking sheet. If they are packed too closely together, steam can prevent them from browning properly.
A metal baking sheet also helps the bottoms develop more color than a deep casserole dish.
For extra browning, place the baking sheet on the upper-middle oven rack during the final few minutes, watching carefully so the cheese does not burn.
What If the Mixture Is Too Dry?
The texture can vary depending on the sausage and baking mix used. If the mixture seems crumbly and will not hold together when rolled, add another tablespoon or two of softened cream cheese.
A tablespoon of milk can also help, but add it gradually because the mixture should remain firm enough to shape.
What If the Mixture Is Too Sticky?
If the sausage mixture sticks heavily to your hands, refrigerate it for about 15 to 20 minutes before rolling.
You can also lightly dampen your hands with cold water between batches to make shaping easier.
Spicy Sausage Balls
Use hot breakfast sausage and add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
Pepper Jack cheese can also replace part of the cheddar for extra heat.
Jalapeño Cheddar Variation
Add one finely minced jalapeño to the sausage mixture. Remove the seeds for milder heat or leave some seeds in if you prefer them spicy.
This variation works especially well for game day or party appetizers.
Garlic Parmesan Variation
Replace 1/2 cup of the cheddar with finely grated Parmesan and increase the garlic powder slightly.
Sprinkle additional Parmesan over the sausage balls before baking for an extra savory crust.
What to Serve with Sausage Balls
Serve them with ranch dressing, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, spicy mayonnaise, or maple syrup for dipping.
For breakfast or brunch, pair them with scrambled eggs, biscuits, fruit, hash browns, or breakfast potatoes.
For parties, arrange them on a platter with toothpicks and several dipping sauces.
Can You Make Them Ahead?
Yes. Shape the raw sausage balls one day ahead and refrigerate them covered until you are ready to bake.
You can also freeze the uncooked balls on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Bake from frozen, adding a little extra cooking time and checking that the centers reach 160°F.
Storage and Reheating
Store cooled sausage balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days.
Reheat them in a 350°F oven or air fryer until steaming hot. The oven or air fryer helps restore the crisp exterior better than the microwave.
Cooked sausage balls can also be frozen for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Printable Recipe Card
Cheesy Sausage Balls
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 to 25 minutes
Total Time: About 40 minutes
Yield: About 24 sausage balls
Category: Appetizer, Breakfast
Cooking Method: Baking
Quick Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Mix sausage, cheddar, baking mix, cream cheese, and seasonings.
- Roll into 1- to 1 1/2-inch balls.
- Arrange on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden.
- Cook ground pork sausage to at least 160°F.
- Rest for five minutes and serve warm.
Final Thoughts
These Cheesy Sausage Balls are one of those easy recipes that work for almost any occasion. They are crisp and browned outside, tender and cheesy inside, and simple enough to make with just a few everyday ingredients.
Serve them for breakfast, add them to a party platter, or make a double batch for the freezer so you always have an easy savory snack ready to heat and serve.