These sausage cheese balls are great for appetizers or for breakfast! They can be frozen before or after baking.
You should absolutely pre-cook the sausage. That way, you can drain the sausage and get rid of a lot of the grease. The mix it in with the cheese and Bisquick, and bake until golden brown. This is an easy, tasty appetizer that freezes well, so all you have to do is thaw them and pop them in the oven (or microwave, but oven is better) to warm them up. I do suggest using hot sausage, or a mixture of hot and sweet, because mild sausage makes them a little bland.
Read MoreThere is way too much baking mix in this recipe. After I used it my mom told me she only uses 3/4 cup per pound of sausage for hers. I couldn't even get most of mine to absorb.
Read More You should absolutely pre-cook the sausage. That way, you can drain the sausage and get rid of a lot of the grease. The mix it in with the cheese and Bisquick, and bake until golden brown. This is an easy, tasty appetizer that freezes well, so all you have to do is thaw them and pop them in the oven (or microwave, but oven is better) to warm them up. I do suggest using hot sausage, or a mixture of hot and sweet, because mild sausage makes them a little bland.
There is way too much baking mix in this recipe. After I used it my mom told me she only uses 3/4 cup per pound of sausage for hers. I couldn't even get most of mine to absorb.
This recipe turned out fantastic! I used others suggestions, 2lbs sausage, 1 1/2 cups bisquik, 3 C cheese , they turned out perfect! Will definately make these again!
We have used this recipe for years and just love it. We always use Jimmy Dean Sauage, and Sharp Shredded Cheese, and sometimes we will put in a bit of parmesan. If it is too dry we add a few drops of water. The JD Sausage has very little fat compared to most brands and we do not precook it. Its a Christmas Eve tradition in our house, have probably been making it for 20 years. Highly recommend it :)
This recipe made as listed is a disaster, only when you modify it does it become something good. 4 cups Sharp cheddar cheese, 1 pound of sage saugage, 1 pound of hot sausage and 2 cups of baking mix will give you the best sausage cheeseball you've ever tried. And don't forget to mix VERY well.
These are exactly what sausage balls should be. They should be on the dry side, with crispy oozing cheese. I made mine exactly per the recipe with sharp cheddar cheese. If you want your sausage balls to look like meat balls, this is not the recipe for you. These are true southern goodness. I had to pack my ingredients together and room temperature sausage is a must.
I don't know what this recipe is like as written because I followed the advice of the other reviewers. I used 1 lb sage sausage, 1 lb hot sausage, 3 c. sharp cheddar, and 1-1/2 c. baking mix, and they were very good. I used the dough hook on my stand mixer, sprayed my foil with non-stick spray, and drained them on a paper towel - all great suggestions. I don't cook/eat greasy meat like this, but I was having a brunch and needed something to go with the Baked Omelet Squares (another fabulous allrecipe recipe). I tried a sausage ball before the brunch and couldn't believe how good they were. I'm giving this recipe 3 stars, but what came out of my oven (with the changes) was much better than that.
After these were made, my boyfriend and I did not really like them. They were very dry and I thought the recipe called for too much baking mix. One of the other reviews said they were much better the next day so I waited to post my review. They are a lot better! I microwaved them to heat them up and could actually taste sausage and cheese this time. I would suggest if you're going to make these, to make them the day before serving and just reheat.
Way to much bisquick mix, cut it in half and it will be wonderful.
As others have said, the baking mix needs to be cut to prevent the sausage balls from being too dry. I used a cup and a half of Bisquick-- I bought one of their smallest packages and just used the whole thing. I also used one pound of Jimmy Dean Sage sausage, two cups of mixed cheddar and monterey jack cheese, and I decided to add a half cup of milk to ease the mixing process and just a little worcestershire sauce for flavor. I browned the sausage in a skillet first, then mixed it with everything else in a bowl. I then formed it into balls and baked on a foil-lined, greased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 14 minutes. They turned out wonderfully. I brought them to a party and not one was left; everyone complimented me for them. They make great appetizers! I am a beginner at cooking, but they weren't difficult at all. *****EDITING TO ADD***** I know some people have said to not cook the sausage first, but I still do it that way and still can't take them anywhere without being asked for the recipe. This is my go-to appetizer when asked to bring something to a gathering. Instead of fully draining the grease, I add a little into the mixture with a little milk as stated before, and that prevents them from being dry. I use Jimmy Dean hot sausage now instead of sage; it gives it better flavor.
Geez Guys! I was in a hurry and trusted your 4 star rating without reading the reviews. My bad!!!!! Please rate the recipe as written! I wasted time and money on this one and had to come up with something else last minute to take to my party. As this recipe is written, it is a TOTAL disaster. You only taste the baking mix -
Wait! Don't trash this recipe like others have. It's a tried and true sausage ball. Try letting your sausage warm up to close to room temp. before mixing it. It makes the sausage easier to work with and allows it to absorb the other ingredients. Will still take a while to mix everything completely. Hope this helps!
Used the baking mix recipe from this site, which I whizzed up in my food processor. Since the whizzer was already in use, I just threw the sausage in with the baking mix and whizzed it. I left out the cheese because we didn't have any - added an egg to make up for it. They came out PERFECTLY. I expected a ton of grease on the pan, and there was none. My kids LOVED them - my son loved his dipped in ranch and I really liked them dipped in melted raspberry jam. My 1 year old just liked them and walked around eating them all day.
After reading the reviews, I used 1 lb sausage, 2 cups cheese, and 2 cups bisquick. They came out perfect!!!! I've made them several times now, and everyone loves them! Thanks for the recipe!
Since before I was born, these sausage balls have been a Christmas tradition for my family. I took over the tradition officially when I was about 10 and have been making them ever since, in fact I just took a batch out a few minutes ago! For a more flavorful sausage ball I always use hot sausage and extra sharp cheddar cheese. So good!
Loved the taste of these! I gave this 4 stars because I think I need to tinker with this one a little bit. I followed another reviewer's advice to only use half of the baking mix but I think I might use 2 cups next time. I baked these in the oven, then put them into a crockpot to keep warm for our guests. Worked well except they melted into each other and stuck together. I baked one batch on parchment paper and the other on foil and the parchment paper was definitely the way to go - no sticking. I'll keep working on this in time to serve over the holidays, they have such a great flavor!
Wow these are tasty. BIG HINT! USE YOUR BLENDER WITH A DOUGH HOOK!!! I used 1 1/2 cups bisquick and 3 cups cheese, on other suggestions. Just throw it in the blender, and use a mellon baller to make portions easy. I cooked mine on a stone and let them drain on paper towels for a few seconds after taking them out of the oven. Again, thanks for a fabulous recipe!
Absolutely wonderful. This appetizer is very quick and easy to make. Everyone just loved them. I doubled up on the sausage as well and used Italian sausage instead. They taste great with a dipping sause such as pizza sauce.
I made these for a Thanksgiving appetizer and they tasted terrific. I added a few dashes of tabasco, some Italian Seasoning, and used low fat Bisquick.. It is really important to mix these thoroughly. If you keep mixing, the heat from your hands will help draw out some of the fat from the sausage, which will allow the mixing in of the baking mix and the cheese. Mine turned out just fine. Don't skip on the aluminum foil step. I sprayed mine with cooking spray and had only a little trouble with sticking.
I made these sausage balls for my husband's poker party and the guys loved them! I baked them earlier in the day and then heated them in a crock pot. After reading other reviews, I used 3 lbs. sausage, (2 regular, 1 hot) 3c Bisquick, and 6c of cheese. They turned out great! Be sure to spray non-stick cooking spray on the foil prior to cooking.
GREAT with some adjustments. i've always made these a different way...2, 2, & 2! 2 cups of bisquick, 2 lbs of sausage (1 mild, 1 hot), and 2 cups of cheddar cheese they are to die for!!
Three stars for the recipe as written. Cut the baking mix in half and the world is good, 5 stars adapted! Also,after many times of peeling these off of the foil or scraping them off the bakeing sheet, have found that puting parchment paper down helps a lot and they come right up!
I made these over the holiday and they were just a great finger food. I put in fresh basil and parsley for 1/2 of the batch. These are addicting, you can't eat just one. I used very fine cheddar cheese and this made it easier to work with. You have to really work the dough for it to hold but it cooks up great. Make sure that you form small balls when making. I froze part of the batch after baking and will just heat them up and serve as needed.
My mother used to make these years ago at our anual Christmas parties and I haven't tasted them since then. What a treat to discover the recipe for them here. Thanks!
This is how my mother always made them (I think with half the cheese, but that part isn't critical). The trick is that you have to use your hands to mix them, so all the Bisquick is absorbed by the sausage and cheese. They are supposed to be a very firm dough. If you use less Bisquick, they will flatten out and not be balls.
Our family uses the simple proportions 1-2-3; 1 pound sausage, 2 cups bisquick, 3 cups cheese
These are SUPER easy and really good. If you think there is too much baking mix, simply use a cookie sheet to mix all the ingredients together, the pound it out into a thin layer and it should be moist again to absorb more mix. I usually do this about 5 times and it soaks up all the mix and the kneading of the sausage helps soften it up also. Great for parties, serve with a mustard dipping sauce and put toothpicks with them!
These are great! An old trick my mother used to keep them from being too dry is add 1 cup of milk. AWESOME!
These were awesome! Cooked/drained 2 lb sausage in skillet (1lb italian, 1lb regular), I didnt have spicy sausage so I added some pepper flakes & seasonings. 1 bag shredded cheddar, 1.5 cups bisquick. Baked @400 for 20-25min. Will def make again :D
These were delicious!! Not as "sausagey" as others I have made, which is what I was looking for. Also, I made half a recipe and ended up with 30 (fairly large) balls! Don't know how that happened, but I was glad later when they were all gone.
This is simply the best recipe for these guys, they are always a huge hit during holiday times. The great thing about them is you can use whatever sausage or cheese you like and they'll turn out great. My favorite is sage sausage with sharp cheddar and peper jack cheese. Try em!
Simply amazing, and simple to make. I use this recipe frequently when I'm asked to bring appetizers to a get-together. Instead of using three cups of Bisquick per pound of sausage, I used one cup, and it came out beautifully. I've been asked to make this recipe again and again. It's a great one to keep on hand in case of emergency!
I've made these for over 30 years and for what it's worth add some a medium diced onion (very very small dice) and a bit of chile or chipolte powder (I like spicy). I agree with others that the correct ratio is 1 sausage to 1 1/2 baking mix and 2 cups cheese. Use extra sharp chedder and hot sausage. I've given the recipe to so many people over the years I've lost count.
WAY TO MUCH BAKING MIX...Total waste, I don't understand how for some people this works great and the other half not at all. Take my advice do not try this recipe it is folly.
I followed the 2lbs sausage ( Jimmy Dean - one Hot and one Sage) with 3 C shredded sharp cheddar and 1 1/2 c Bisquick. Have not even made it to the party yet and they are almost gone! 12-13 min cook time gives you that delicious crispy oozy cheese!
These were a hit for our Christmas morning feast!
These are a long time favorite and have been around for ever. This is an easy thing to put together for Christmas morning and is delicious served with apple butter on the side. One tip I've learned over the years: in order to avoid having this all over my hands I actually put all the ingredients into a gallon ziploc bag and knead it together. It takes a long time to get the ingredients incorporated and you can't knead it too long. Make sure you combine the ingredients really really well before you start rolling them into balls. They will be greasy but that holds them together. Also, I bake them on parchment paper because they will stick to your pan, even if you spray with cooking spray! But we love them and they freeze well after they are baked for breakfast on the go later. Love it!
I have been making this recipe for years. I use Hot Bob Evans sausage uncooked when you mix it. Its a winner. Carole MI
Good, easy and quick to make. These are a favorite requested party dish. Try them with hot sausage ~ yummy!!!
My mom has been making this recipe for as long as I can remember. I like to make a huge batch & freeze them before cooking then I can take out however many I want & cook them for a quick & easy breakfast.
I use this recipe all the time!!! I cut the baking mix down by about 1/4 cup, as I like my balls a little meatier. My boyfriend and roommates can't get enough of these. Also, I dipped them in maple syrup and it was AMAZING. I might figure out some sort of maple flavored dip.
I'LL GIVE 2 STARS because this recipe has the right basic (but bland) ingredients, but amounts and seasonings are way off. BEWARE folks - this recipe is only 1/3 right! A recipe rating is supposed to be for the recipe as IT is written, maybe w/some MINOR personal changes! I should have read the reviews before preparing, but with the four stars, I thought it would be a SOMEWHAT safe bet. WHOA! You reviewers that are changing the recipe SO much, yet giving it 5 stars, should submit your own winners - they are GREAT, those are the recipes that deserve 4-star ratings!!
This recipe has been a christmas tradition for our family for over 20 years! We add chopped green olives to it as well, it adds some moisture and a bit of zing.
I added a little onion and garlic powder, used one package 2% cheese, one package full fat and turkey sausage to cut fat and calories. Will definitely make again!!
We loved it!!!
I only wish there was an easier way to mix the ingredients! Very tasty and perfect for holiday parties.
These were good but were hard to shape. They tended to fall apart on me. I will try using partially cooked or raw meat next time.
This recipe as listed is not a good one. The BEST recipe for this is 2 packages hot ground sausage (or 1 hot/1 regular italian sausage), 1 package large shredded cheddar cheese and 2 cups bisquick, 20 min at 400 degrees. THEN they will be perfect!
This recipe was horrible.... Stuck to the pan, no flavor, dry, way too much baking mix! I made this for a houseful of hungry, football watching men and I threw almost the whole tray out at the end of the game!
I wish I'd read the reviews before I made this. I made it as written and, yep, there is way too much baking mix; I should have cut it by half at least. They were ok but very dry, and not terribly flavorful. If I were to make them again I would add some garlic powder and Italian herbs. I think they would be good with marinara sauce too.
First time I made them with only the 1 package of sausage. Works so much better and not as dry if you use 2 pounds of Sausage. These are great.
I always carry these to family functions and come home with an empty bowl. These also make a great breakfast food... I freeze them in balls and pop a few in the toaster oven in the morning. Quick and easy
We have made this one every Christmas for years. We have them out every Christmas brunch, usually in a crockpot set on low. They go fast, so make a lot! We also tried adding crumbled bacon one year, and that was also a hit.
I have made these for years - for a kick - try using "hot" sausage... Also, good dipped in honey mustard sauce (discovered after too many beers at a super bowl party!!)
Always anticipated by the men and children in my family at the holidays. The best tip to avoid sticking and drain some of the grease is to crumple a piece of foil (heavy duty works best), stretch it out a little, leaving some texture in it. Spray lightly with cooking spray. The grease drains off into the nooks and crannies, and you can simply pick them off with tongs. I cut back on the baking mix to a little over 3 cups. I like JD sage sausage and mix a little cajun seasoning in the baking mix before adding the other stuff. Honey mustard makes a great dip for these.
I cooked my sausage with some sweet onion. Had to add some milk to bring it all together. Used a cookie scoop to put on the silpat....they were delicious. Didn't know it was so easy....thank you
This was so quick and easy. And my kids ate them up in an instant. You will not go wrong with this one!
Easy to prepare, and delicious! I use hot spicy sausage and sharp cheddar cheese for a spicy treat!
Biscuit-mix sausage cheese balls are one of our family favorites for breakfast gatherings and holidays. I've found that this recipe will vary depending on where you live. Baking at higher altitudes, in general, calls for reducing the fat in recipes, increasing the flour (or biscuit mix), and adding a little liquid. So, living in Denver, I cook and drain the sausage, and add 3/4 cup water as I'm mixing everything together. I bake them at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. You may need to experiment with this recipe a couple of times to get the balance of ingredients just right for your location and your family's preferences. All the oooh's and ahhh's you'll get will be worth it!
I used pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar. Delicious! Also I baked them on a wire rack - no sticking and no grease.
I used this recipe as a base, and added the same amount of cheese and soy sausage but a little less baking mix. They turned out WONDERFUL, and even my meat eater husband loved them!
With all the different reviews of how much of each ingredient to use... I just "guesstimated" amounts untill it looked right. I used 3 cups of shredded cheddar, 1 pound of sage sausage, 1 pound of bulk italian sausage, and approximately 3 cups of baking mix. I also used 1 32oz jar of sauerkraut, rinsed, drained, and excess liquid squeezed out. I used an ice cream scoop to make the balls, and put them on a foil-lined cookie sheet. I'd advise using non-stick spray on your foil, as they stuck rather badly. I baked for 15-18 minutes at 400. My husband was leery of how they would turn out, but he loves them, as do my 4 yr old and 6 yr old. Will DEFINITELY make them again soon!
These are good if you dr. em up a little.. I ended up adding eggs to the mixture to make em stick... I froze the majority of them for two different parties... they were still just as great.. i got a lot of compliments off them and they were gone by the end of the night.
I'm glad I did a little research before following this recipe. The majority of similar recipes I saw called for 2 pounds of sausage to 1 1/2 cups of baking mix. As written, this would be VERY dry. I made them (using 32 oz sausage and 1 1/2 cups baking mix) for an anniversary party that I did lots of finger foods for. Several people asked me for the recipe. I have a hard time quitting once I start eating these.
easy, fun for the kids and a great snacker!
Something different and really good! I mixed one regular ground sausage with one hot ground sausage-- more than the requested pound on the recipe. I got many compliments on these as well as the other recipes. People at Easter Dinner were so filled up by all the great appetizers I made that no one touched the main Easter dish my mom made!
I am from the South, so no excuseto have dry anything! Bad advice.....good advice? Cut the bisquick in half, that's the way it should be!
Like all the other comments, I cut back on the bisquick and cheese. Made this for a main dish, but was kind of rich. Would be better as an appetizer.
I made it like this: 1 pound of SAGE or HOT Jimmy Dean sausage (Regular works too but it is not as good, and the Italian tastes like pizza rolls) 1 pound of shredded SHARP cheddar cheese 2 cups of Bisquick It makes about 80 1-1.5 inch diameter balls ("walnut-sized") and they are soOoOoO delicious.
These are good, but I didn't know whether to cook the sausage before putting them into the balls. I cooked it a bit, then crumbled them up into the Bisquick.
Don't give up on this if you think the mixing is too difficult. I put the ingrediants in my food processor (with the metal blade) and it was beautifully mixed in minutes...try it!
l have made these forever ... l would also like to say l am a professional cook, that being said, for each pound of sausage of your liking, uncooked add about 1.5 cups of shredded cheddar cheese and no more than 1 cup of bisquick. Make balls about 1" bake 350 for 10 - 15 minutes.
I agree with Navy_Mommy, too much Bisquick. Will go with her suggestion next time.
I love this recipe but I add my own ingredients. I add one jalapeno, finely chopped yellow onion, and some finely chopped red bell pepper. It gives the sausage balls intense flavor that my family and friends crave.
I thought these were a little dry I made these for a cookie exchange. But the next day I took what was left and heated them in the microwave 100% better. PattyKloe
i used hot sausage and they were good. a little cakey tasting but thats due to the amount of baking mix. otherwise very good
These were gross! Much too much baking mix. Very dry and bland. Will stick to my old standbys.
My family and I love these! I make them every year at the holidays. I usually add a drop or two of milk to keep them from being too stiff. I use hot sausage and sharp cheddar cheese. I usually use Jimmy Dean sausage. I've never had any compaints on these.
I added 2 lb of sausage and kept the other stuff the same. They were okay, but not exactly what I was expecting. Also, I found them a bit bland, they definately need something else...I don't think I will make them again.
I made this recipe today using the ingredients as listed and they turned out great. The secret is to use room temperature hot Jimmy Dean Sausage and room temperature finely grated sharp cheddar cheese. I use a large bowl so I can really mix it and squeeze the ingredients together.
I believe either the sausage amount or the baking mix amount is incorrect. Mine turned out very dry. Could have been better with maybe reducing baking mix to 1-1/2 cups for 1 lb of sausage OR Using 2lbs of sausage with the 3 cups of baking mix. I may try to adjust it and see what happens.
With changes recommended by other reviewers, this was a 5 STAR RECIPE!!! Ingredients: 2lbs COOKED sausage (I used 1lb Sage and 1lb Hot) 1.5 cups baking mix, and 3 cups cheese. I didn't use foil, just my non-stick cookie sheet. This recipe makes just enough balls to fill up my 9x13 casserole for transport. I made beer cheese dipping sauce and it was the party favorite. Next time, I might try all hot sausage or a mix of hot and italian to pump up the flavor. There will definitely be a next time!
This recipe is too dry - it should have twice as much sausage (like other recipes I've seen online). The mix was too dry to stick together, and the balls baked up dry and crumbly. For the second bath, we doubled the sausage and they were perfect.
I did it exactly per the recipe and had a lot of trouble making it stick together. So I had two different types of sausage balls because I had to add water to get the rest of the bowl to form balls. It was very good both ways. This is a very versatile recipe.
Yeah, cut the biscuit mix down to half. I do two pounds of hot breakfast sausage. I use sharp cheese and add 2 diced Jalapenos. Nice kick with the peppers and hot sausage. I did use 1/2 cheddar and 1/2 velveeta once, all I had. Just as good, and maybe a bit better.
good flavor but far too doughy! less baking mix would be a big fix to this recipe
Taste was ok but think the baking mix could go down to 2 cups. I doubled the sausage and it was still too 'doughy' for us.
For those who say there is way too much baking mix in this recipe and they could not incorporate it, I had the same problem. I added some milk so the mix would not be so dry and I could incorporate it in with the sausage and cheese. It gave more of a biscuit quality to the sausage cheese balls, which was ok with me as an appetizer. Everyone ate them without any complaints; none were left. If you don't want to add milk, you just have to work more at smashing all the dough into balls, they will have a rather dry feel to them but the cheese will melt and make up for it.
I will definitely make these again, but perhaps using the suggestions of all the others that commented
peoeple at tailgate party loves them, added garlic power and lemon pepper for flavor.
Yums. Lot less baking mix though. I only used about 1 1/2 - 2 cups of baking mix. But i could see using less cheese as well. 4 cups is an awful lot.
Made this Recipe for an event I was having and everyone wanted a baggy full to take home by the end of the night.. This was really easy and will use again in the future. Thanks for the recipe!
This is such an easy recipe and it's so good. Wether you choose to eat it right out of the oven, room temp or cold right out of the fridge as a snack. It's very flavorfull, will continue to make!!
These were really good. I took the tip of another reviewer, to crinkle tin foil for the grease to drip in to, but there was no need! No Grease! I added chopped fresh rosemary and sage, and cut the ingredients in half. 1/2 lb sausage, 1 c bisquick mix, 1 cup cheddar. these turned out really great
