Bisquick Sausage Balls

These Bisquick Sausage Balls recipe is the easiest appetizer using just 3-ingredients: pimento cheese, sausage, and baking mix. They’re a foolproof bite-sized snack perfect for any party! Easy to assemble ahead of time, you’ll want to make a double batch because they’re always gone in no time.

It’s not a holiday party until these Bisquick Sausage Balls hit the table! They’re just one of my viral sausage ball recipes that can be made mild or with a spicy kick and can be served for breakfast, brunch, or as an appetizer!

At over 3 million views, these sausage balls using Bisquick have been one of the most popular finger food recipes on the website for the past 3 years. With only 3 ingredients, quick preparation, and the option to make ahead of time, it’s a guaranteed hit! Make this recipe one time and it’ll be a new tradition!

These cheddar sausage balls are something you’ll want to make a double batch of. You can assemble them in advance and keep them in the fridge. Bake them as the party continues on so they’re hot and fresh.

If you’re a pimento cheese fan, make sure to try my mom’s famous Pimento Cheese that we served at our restaurant, and my quick and easy Pimento Cheese Cornbread!

So delicious! You can have these for breakfast, lunch or serve them as an appetizer. These will disappear! – Kelley N.

So easy and versatile with so many variations. You’ve covered just about every detail in making these. They will definitely be on “ my favorite recipe” list. Thank you! – Cheryl

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easiest Appetizer Recipe. It doesn’t get much easier than 3 simple ingredients and less than 10 minutes to prep.
• Perfect for Every Occasion. Game day, holiday, birthday, any day of the week…this Bisquick Sausage Balls recipe is always the perfect breakfast, brunch, or appetizer addition!
• Crowd Favorite. Anytime I bring these to a party, there are never any left!
• Incredible Flavor using a Store-bought Shortcut Ingredient. Sausage, cheese, and seasonings from the biscuit mix or seasonings you decide to add makes for an unbeatable blend of flavors.

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

• Creamy Pimento Cheese (Spicy or Regular): Adds a creamy and slightly tangy element to the balls. It also contributes to the overall flavor profile with the addition of pimentos. My personal preference is Palmetto Cheese.
• Breakfast Pork Sausage (Spicy or Regular): Provides savory flavor and a meaty texture. My personal preference is Jimmy Dean or Old Folks Sausage.
• Bisquick Original Pancake & Baking Mix: Acts as a binding agent and helps create a dough-like consistency, giving structure to the balls.

See alternatives for these items under Tips for Success and Substitutions.

Best Pimento Cheese for Sausage Balls

You have the flexibility to use either store-bought or homemade pimento cheese. Using store-bought pimento cheese offers convenience, but making your own allows for creative customization of flavors.

Whichever you choose, ensure that it’s an easily spreadable, creamy pimento cheese style. My personal preference for these pimento cheese sausage balls is Palmetto Cheese.

If your pimento cheese isn’t creamy and your dough appears dry, you can add 2 ounces of cream cheese to the mixture or 1/4 cup whole milk. Add more of either if needed.

Tools You’ll Need

• Mixing Bowl
• Small Scoop
• Spatula
• Sheet Pan

How to Make Bisquick Sausage Balls

1. To a medium mixing bowl, add the biscuit mix, pimento cheese and sausage.

2. Mix by hand, with a hand mixer, or in a stand mixer with the dough hook or paddle attachment until the mixture is incorporated well.

3. Scoop and roll into 1-inch balls.

4. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray or line with non-stick aluminum foil. Add the balls to the pan.

5. Bake at 375ºF 15-20 minutes or until they’re golden brown on top and cooked through at a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Transfer immediately to a serving dish.

Expert Tips and Substitutions

• Pan Preparation: Bake the sausage balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet or pan spritzed with nonstick cooking spray. Nonstick aluminum foil also works great! These make for easier cleanup.
• Sausage Variety: Pork breakfast sausage is the most commonly used, but you can choose your favorite sausage variety—whether it’s mild, hot, mild Italian, hot Italian, or a unique flavor blend—to personalize it to your taste. The level of fat content can change the texture of the end product.
• Spice it Up: Besides the option of using spicy sausage and spicy pimento cheese, you can also add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.
• Dipping Sauces: Pair your 3 ingredient sausage balls with a tangy dipping sauce like honey mustard, bbq sauce, or ranch dressing for an extra layer of flavor. It’s also excellent served with maple syrup.
• Seasoning Additions: You can add additional seasonings as desired such as garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, ground sage, or crushed red pepper flakes.

Substitutions

• Bisquick Mix Substitution: You can substitute the Bisquick mix with one of these options:
  • 1.36 ounce Red Lobster Biscuit Mix (see my Spicy Sausage Balls recipe)
  • Homemade Bisquick Mix Substitution: Combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons grated cold butter.
  • 2 cups self-rising flour plus 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 cups pancake mix
• Pimento Cheese Substitution: You can experiment with different pimento cheese flavors. Palmetto’s original and jalapeño.
  • You can also omit the pimento cheese and instead use 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 8 ounces cream cheese.

Troubleshooting

1. Sausage balls are too dry:
   • Problem: Overmixing the dough or using a lean sausage can result in dry balls.
   • Solution: Mix the ingredients until just combined. Consider using a sausage with a slightly higher fat content or adding a bit of melted butter to the mixture.
2. They’re too greasy:
   • Problem: Using a sausage with a high-fat content can lead to them being greasy.
   • Solution: Choose a sausage with a moderate fat content.
3. They are unevenly cooked:
   • Problem: Placing them too closely together on the baking sheet or not rolling equally sized balls can result in uneven cooking.
   • Solution: Ensure that there is enough space between each sausage ball on the baking sheet to allow for even airflow. Consider turning the balls halfway through the baking time. Use a cookie scoop to ensure consistent size.
4. The balls are not holding their shape:
   • Problem: The mixture may be too wet or not well-chilled before baking.
   • Solution: Add a bit more baking mix or flour to the mixture if it’s too wet. Additionally, refrigerate the formed balls for at least 30 minutes before baking to help them hold their shape.
5. They are too salty:
   • Problem: The sausage or cheese used may be high in salt content, or additional salt was added to the mixture.
   • Solution: Choose a ingredients with lower salt content.
6. The balls are undercooked or overcooked:
   • Problem: Baking times can vary depending on the size of the sausage balls and the oven temperature.
   • Solution: Follow the recommended baking time in the recipe, but keep an eye on them and adjust the time as needed. They should be golden brown and cooked through.
7. Sausage balls are too dense:
   • Problem: Overmixing the dough can result in them being dense.
   • Solution: Mix the ingredients until just combined to avoid overworking the dough. This helps maintain a lighter texture in the finished product.

Storage and Freezing

Store leftover sausage balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days. To reheat, place them in the oven or microwave until heated through.

These are great for making advance as well. You can make the dough the day before, roll, and place the balls in an airtight container. That way, you can pull them from the refrigerator, transfer to a prepared sheet pan, and bake as directed.

You can freeze uncooked sausage balls for future use. Place the raw rolled sausage balls in a parchment paper lined freezer-safe container, cover, and place in the freezer. They can be frozen up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to bake them, place your desired amount on a greased or non-stick foil lined sheet pan. You can bake them directly from the freezer or thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Add additional time if baking from the freezer.

What to Serve with Sausage Balls using Bisquick

They’re often served with breakfast, brunch, or as appetizers, so they pair well with dipping sauces like mustard, barbecue sauce, ranch, honey mustard, ketchup, or a spicy aioli. They can also be enjoyed dipped in maple syrup or on their own or with a side of pickles.

Other delicious breakfast recipes that I like to serve with sausage balls are:

• Amish Baked Oatmeal
• Overnight Breakfast Casserole
• Bakery Style Strawberry Muffins
• Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins
• Holiday Coffee Cake

Appetizers that go well with sausage balls are:

• BLT Deviled Eggs
• Pimento Cheese Biscuits
• Simple Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Caramel Apple Dip

FAQs

More Easy Appetizer Recipes

• Mini Corn and Cheese Tarts
• Jalapeno Cranberry Salsa
• Herb and Onion Dip
• Pimento Cheese