Sausage Balls (My Favorite Recipe!)
It’s the holiday season and my kitchen has transformed into a treats production facility. Whether I’m making treats for friends and family, or just for myself, baking is my favorite holiday-season tradition and I’ll take just about any reason to do so. Every year, the first thing I make to kick off holiday baking is Sausage Balls.
One of my favorite treats to bake for the holidays is Sausage Balls.
I make these things year round, but there’s something about them at the holidays that makes them extra special. My mom and I used to make these together every Christmas, and I’ve taken that tradition into my own life. My grandfather (on my mom’s side) also loved these sausage balls, so I think of him whenever I make them. Sausage balls are always the first thing I bake to kick off my holiday baking season. They just feel like a really good starting point. Plus, I can snack on them while I’m baking other things.
I used to not share my recipe for sausage balls; I kept it guarded like a rich family secret. But really, these couldn’t be easier to make, and they make a TON all at once. Which is great, because they’re really addicting and I have a habit of eating about half a batch soon after it comes out of the oven. What can I say, they’re best when they’re still warm and crispy on the bottom.
Here’s my recipe for my favorite Sausage Balls EVER.
This makes anywhere from 4 to 6 dozen sausage balls, depending on how big you make them. I like to keep mine bite-sized, so I get 60-ish in a batch. You can make them bigger, just remember to increase the bake time by a minute or two.
This recipe is so easy—anyone can make these today!
YOU WILL NEED:
- 1, one-pound roll of breakfast sausage
- 1, 8-ounce block sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 3 1/2 cups Bisquick (or your favorite all-purpose baking mix)
- Extra flavor or seasonings, as desired
I use Swaggerty’s pork sausage, or sausage from a local farm. If you don’t eat pork, turkey sausage also works great. I’ve never made them with chicken sausage, but I imagine that wouldn’t be bad, either. If you’re using turkey sausage, you may need to drizzle in some oil to make up for the lack of fat in the sausage. Canola or vegetable oil is fine.
If you’re worried about using raw sausage, don’t. It cooks in the oven and comes out normally. (Yes, Mom and I used to get questions about that every year.)
For extra flavor, I add a few shakes of paprika, cayenne, and my favorite Hoff and Pepper Dirty Dust.
TO MAKE THE SAUSAGE BALLS:
- Grate cheese into a large, deep mixing bowl.
- Add baking mix and sausage (and extra seasonings, if desired) to cheese.
- Mix with your hands until it forms into a dough-like ball. If you’re using turkey sausage and the mix gets a little dry, add 1 tbsp of oil for some extra moisture.
- Preheat the oven to 375º F.
- Roll the dough into small balls, no bigger than 1 inch. Place them onto a large baking sheet. You can lightly grease the pan if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. The balls won’t spread, so you can place them close together.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, until they’re golden brown on top and crispy on the bottom.
- Enjoy them while they’re warm. Store in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to a week.
Trust me, if these sausage balls last any longer than a week, you’re doing something wrong. Mine never last that long. Or maybe you’re just a lot better at portion control (and self control) than I am.
If you’re looking for an easy treat to share with friends and family, these sausage balls are just what you need. Then be prepared for everyone to ask for the recipe.
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Also, check out my 33 holiday blog post ideas for some creative inspiration this holiday season!
Thanks so much for reading and eating along, y’all! If you’re still hungry, follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for even more scratch-made Southern deliciousness. If you make one of my recipes, I’d love to see it! Tag me in your posts on Instagram, and/or share a photo on my Facebook page so I can see your creation.
This post was most recently updated November 2021.

Sausage Balls
Ingredients
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (pork or turkey)
- 3 1/2 cups Bisquick or all-purpose baking mix
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp oil, if needed
- Extra spices, seasonings, and flavors (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Grate the block of cheese into a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients.
- Mix with your hands until all ingredients are combined and form a heavy "dough."
- Roll the dough into bite-sized balls, and place on a very lightly greased baking sheet. No need to space them out too much!
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, until the sausage balls are golden brown on top and crispy on the bottom.
- Enjoy while warm!
December 13, 2017 @ 2:12 pm
Thought you’d want to know you were in a BuzzFeed post!! https://www.buzzfeed.com/camrynr2/18-blogs-subscribe-to-in-2018-158qq?utm_term=.bwKYyPoNz#.bwKYyPoNz
December 18, 2017 @ 9:18 pm
This is amazing! Thank you so much for including me and sharing!
December 15, 2017 @ 9:02 am
These are so tasty! I need to save this recipe.
December 18, 2017 @ 9:19 pm
And they’re so easy! And addicting. I made a batch the other day and they’re more than half gone.
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