By Becky Hardin
Published Aug 10, 2023
Sausage Balls are a classic Southern recipe perfect for party appetizers and holidays. This recipe is a simple combination of sausage, Bisquick mix, cheddar cheese, and a bit of sauce to add some spice. They are easy to make and they’re always a hit at parties, especially on game day. Paired with an Apricot Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce, these sausage cheese balls are absolutely irresistible!
What’s in this Sausage Balls Recipe?
Sausage cheese balls are hearty, cheesy, savory, and a little bit spicy…all the best flavors! And when you dip them in this homemade Apricot Sweet Chili Sauce, you’ll never want to eat anything else.
- Sausage : Bulk pork sausage is the classic choice. I like Jimmy Dean , but any brand will work.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese makes these balls gooey and cheesy.
- Bisquick : Baking mix binds the ingredients together and ensures they don’t turn out too dense.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds a sweet and spicy flavor. You can also use hot pepper jelly.
- Dipping Sauce: A combination of apricot jam, sweet chili sauce, and lemon juice makes the perfect sweet, fruity, and slightly spicy dipping sauce for these rich sausage cheese balls.
Pro Tip: Use freshly shredded cheese for the best results. Pre-shredded cheese is too dry!
Variations on Bisquick Sausage Balls
This classic sausage ball recipe, in my opinion, can’t be beat. But if you’re looking for some different options to offer up, try these:
- Spinach: Add finely chopped cooked spinach (squeezed to remove excess moisture) and mozzarella cheese.
- Bacon Jalapeño: Add some crumbled cooked bacon and finely diced jalapeños to the mix.
- BBQ Pineapple: Add drained diced pineapple, and swap out the chili sauce for your favorite BBQ sauce .
Sausage balls are made of just 4 ingredients– pork sausage, cheddar cheese, Bisquick baking mix, and sweet chili sauce. Easy peasy!
Bulk pork sausage meat works best here since you don’t have to remove the casings. However, you could really use any kind of sausage you like, so feel free to get creative!
Bisquick is great for simplicity, but if you don’t have any on hand, don’t fret! You can substitute 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
Sausage balls are a delicate balance of ingredients. If you find that yours are crumbly or falling apart, it’s likely because you used packaged shredded cheese or low-fat sausage. The fat in the sausage and the moisture in freshly grated cheese go a long way! But you can fix the problem by adding a bit of milk to the mixture.
If you’ve followed my recipe exactly and your balls are still dry, make sure that you’re measuring the Bisquick using the spoon-and-level method. If you scoop directly from the box with a measuring cup, you are packing the mix into the cup, which can cause you to use more than intended. Again, you can remedy this problem by adding a bit of milk!
These balls are finished baking when they are nicely browned and have a crisp outer layer. They should register 160-165°F internally on an instant-read thermometer.
No! Pork should not be left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. Otherwise, bacteria can begin to grow which could give you food poisoning.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover sausage cheese balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze Bisquick sausage balls in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen at 400°F for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
These sausage Bisquick balls are made for dipping. I made an Apricot Sweet Chili dipping sauce for these sausage cheese balls. The Apricot jam is sweet, fruity, and smooth. Mixed with a sweet chili sauce, you can just the right amount of spice in there.
Some other great options for dipping include garlic aioli , honey mustard , BBQ sauce , or sweet and sour sauce .
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Sausage Balls
- ▢ 1 pound sausage room temperature — Jimmy Dean works well
- ▢ 10 ounces freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese room temperature
- ▢ 2 cups Bisquick baking mix
- ▢ 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce or hot pepper jelly, room temperature
For the Apricot Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
- ▢ ½ cup apricot jam or preserves
- ▢ ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice (from ½ lemon)
Video
Instructions
For the Sausage Balls
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sausage and cheese and mix well. Add the baking mix and sweet chili sauce and mix, on low speed, until smooth. The mixture will be somewhat dry. 1 pound sausage, 10 ounces freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, 2 cups Bisquick baking mix, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- Roll/press the “dough” into 1½-inch balls (by hand) and place 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 400°F 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Transfer the Sausage Balls to a paper towel-lined platter.
For the Apricot Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl and press (with a rubber spatula) through a fine mesh sieve. ½ cup apricot jam or preserves, ¼ cup sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Fine Mesh Sieve
Becky’s Tips
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best results. Pre-shredded cheese is too dry!
- If you don’t have Bisquick, substitute 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- If the batter seems too dry, add in ¼ cup of milk.
- These sausage balls are best served warm; keep them warm in a crockpot on the “warm” setting.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Sausage Ball Recipes We Love
- Air Fryer Sausage Balls
- Sweet Potato Chorizo Sausage Balls
Sausage Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Fine Mesh Sieve
Ingredients
For the Sausage Balls
- 1 pound sausage room temperature – Jimmy Dean works well
- 10 ounces freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese room temperature
- 2 cups Bisquick baking mix
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce or hot pepper jelly, room temperature
For the Apricot Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
- ½ cup apricot jam or preserves
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (from ½ lemon)
Instructions
For the Sausage Balls
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Cover a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sausage and cheese and mix well. Add the baking mix and sweet chili sauce and mix, on low speed, until smooth. The mixture will be somewhat dry. 1 pound sausage, 10 ounces freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, 2 cups Bisquick baking mix, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- Roll/press the “dough” into 1½-inch balls (by hand) and place 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 400°F 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Transfer the Sausage Balls to a paper towel-lined platter.
For the Apricot Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl and press (with a rubber spatula) through a fine mesh sieve. ½ cup apricot jam or preserves, ¼ cup sweet chili sauce, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 month.
Video
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best results. Pre-shredded cheese is too dry!
- If you don’t have Bisquick, substitute 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- If the batter seems too dry, add in ¼ cup of milk.
- These sausage balls are best served warm; keep them warm in a crockpot on the “warm” setting.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
