One of my favorite party appetizers, these Sausage Balls are made with ground sausage, cheddar cheese, and Cheddar Bay biscuit mix for a soft, cheesy, and flavorful bite. I like to serve them with homemade remoulade sauce for tailgating or holiday get-togethers. They never last long!

Easy Sausage Balls Recipe

The first time I ever had a sausage ball, I fell in love. Sausage cheddar balls are the perfect cross between a meatball and a biscuit—it’s like biting into the best sausage and cheese biscuit sandwich.

This recipe originated many years ago with Bisquick, the original version is made with their baking mix, sausage, and cheddar cheese. You may also see cream cheese sausage balls, where cream cheese is added to the mixture. I decided to switch things up a bit and swap the Bisquick for something a little more exciting—Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuit mix to mimic the flavor of our favorite Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

These sausage balls are perfect for parties, from tailgating to the holidays, and they also make a great addition to a breakfast or brunch buffet. As a bonus, they’re simple to make and can easily be prepared in advance.

Helpful Tips and Variations

• Spoon and level the biscuit mix, don’t scoop. Too much of the mix will result in dry sausage balls.
• Use whatever sausage you want as long as it’s ground pork sausage. Simply ground pork doesn’t have any seasonings, and cooked or smoked sausage rings will not work—it has to be a variety of pork sausage. My personal preference is the Jimmy Dean brand.
• Add in other flavors. Because the Cheddar Bay biscuit mix already has seasonings in it, I didn’t find the need to add in any extra spices or seasonings but you certainly can if you want to. Garlic is a great addition and you can always add some cayenne pepper to spice things up.
• Add cream cheese. You may have seen cream cheese sausage ball recipes. This version is similar but uses buttermilk and two cups of cheddar instead. The cream cheese version skips the buttermilk and uses one pack of cream cheese with just one cup of cheddar. I prefer the extra cheddar flavor, though the cream cheese does make them extra creamy.

How to Make Sausage Balls Step by Step

Prep the baking sheets: Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

Make the sausage ball mixture: In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, mix 1 lb. ground pork sausage, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 2 cups Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuit mix, ¼ cup buttermilk and 1 scallion on low speed until evenly combined. If you don’t have a stand mixer, use a wooden spoon and then your hands to work the ingredients into a dough.

Form the balls: Using a cookie scoop, form 1 ½-inch balls (about the size of a golf ball) and place on the baking sheet 1-inch apart. Chill balls in the fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven while the balls chill. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until lightly browned and fully cooked.

Serve: Serve immediately with the remoulade sauce. These are best enjoyed warm. If you’re serving them for a buffet or potluck, you can keep them warm by using the “warm” function on your crockpot.

How to Store

If you’re trying to reduce the day-of party prep as much as possible, you can easily make these sausage balls in advance. Prepare as usual, but once the balls are on the baking sheet, wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. You can do this up to 1 day in advance.

While these are best enjoyed fresh, you can store leftover sausage balls in the fridge for a few days. Reheat in the microwave or oven.

You can freeze these sausage balls before or after baking. I find that freezing the formed uncooked balls and baking after they thaw produces the best result. However, baked sausage cheddar balls can also be frozen. Flash freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container for up to 3 months.

What to Serve with Sausage Balls

My go-to sausage ball dip for this recipe is my homemade remoulade sauce recipe. It’s quick and easy to make and the flavors work so well with the Cheddar Bay mix.

That said, you can serve these sausage balls warm with nearly any dipping sauce you can think of. The best option for you will depend on what sausage you use. For a tomato flavored sauce this marinara sauce is a good option. For something fresh and tangy, a ranch dip is probably your best option.

More Party Appetizers:

• Mini Cheese Balls
• Grape Jelly Meatballs
• Little Smokies Recipe
• Crab Rangoon