These bite-size Cheddar Sausage Balls are a classic Southern appetizer made with biscuit mix, country sausage, and plenty of cheddar cheese. They’re perfect for holiday parties, Christmas morning, brunch gatherings, and game day tailgating. Plus, air fryer instructions are included for an easy alternative cooking method.

Ingredients to Make Cheddar Sausage Balls Recipe

The classic sausage balls recipe uses only biscuit mix like Bisquick, breakfast sausage and cheddar cheese leaving plenty of room to personalize them with seasonings and flavor twists. They’re well worth the effort and incredibly tasty, you won’t be sorry for being persistent. Once you make this easy appetizer, you’ll be hooked on the classic taste.

Key ingredients you’ll need to make these Easy Cheddar Sausage Balls Recipe: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

Store-Bought Biscuit Mix – You’ll need two cups of biscuit mix i.e. Bisquick or a similar brand to form the soft texture of the sausage balls.
Sausage – One pound of breakfast sausage gives these cheddar sausage balls their signature flavor. I recommend using Jimmy Dean.
Cheese – Freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese gives them a robust cheese flavor.
Onion – Finely chopped green onion for a mild onion flavor.
Seasonings – Garlic salt (or garlic powder and plain table salt), ground mustard and paprika amps up the flavor.
Liquid – Water adds moisture.
Sides – Dijon mustard or honey mustard for dipping.

How to Make the Southern Cheddar Sausage Balls

Heat Oven and Prepare Pan – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets (or cookie sheet) with parchment paper.
Sift Dry Ingredients – Use a whisk to sift together the biscuit mix, garlic salt, dry mustard and paprika.
Combine with Sausage – Add the green onion, sausage, shredded cheddar cheese and water. The water adds just enough moisture to help the sausage mixture come together.
Mix Well – Using your hands or a hand mixer on low speed, mix until all of the ingredients are fully moistened and evenly distributed. Be patient, this may take a few minutes as the mixture is stiff.
Roll the Sausage Mixture into Bite-Size Balls – Roll into approximately 1-inch balls and place on the baking sheet. Leave about one inch between each one. You can use a meatball scoop to evenly divide the sausage mixture.
Oven – Bake on a cookie sheet per the baking time in the recipe until lightly golden brown and cooked through.
Enjoy – Serve immediately with mustard for dipping.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Sausage Cheese Balls

Large bowl.
Balloon whisk.
Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Small meatball scoop, cookie scoop or ice cream scoop.
Cheese grater.
Baking sheet pans or cookie sheets.
You can also use an electric mixer to combine the ingredients. A hand mixer or a stand mixer will do.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

Sausage – Choose a quality breakfast pork sausage to make these sausage balls. I used Jimmy Dean brand and find that it’s not terribly greasy which can cause the sausage balls to shrink while baking. You can make sausage balls using spicy hot pork sausage, hot Italian sausage, ground turkey sausage or chicken sausage.
Cheese – You can use a different flavor or cheese to change the flavor profile. Pepper jack cheese or medium cheddar cheese, gruyere cheese or any cheese that you enjoy.
Be Patient and Mix Thoroughly – The most important thing is to be patient and thoroughly combine the sausage mixture. If you’ve never made sausage balls before you may think they’re too dry since it does take some time to fully incorporate. The mixture is stiff, so keep working with it until it comes together.
Grate Your Own Cheese – For the best end result, I highly recommend that you grate the cheese yourself to ensure it’s freshness. While pre-shredded cheese in a bag is convenient, it includes anti-caking agents that makes it more dry than freshly grated cheddar cheese.
What Sauces are Good for Dipping Sausage Balls? You don’t have to serve sausage balls with any sauce they’re perfectly delicious all on their own. that said, I like serving them with honey mustard sauce but you could use ranch dressing, chili sauce, chick fil a sauce, comeback sauce or bbq sauce. Serve them with any dipping sauce that you enjoy!
How to Serve Sausage Balls – After baking the sausage balls, serve them hot with additional mustard for dipping. I recommend sweet-hot mustard, honey or Dijon mustard.
You may also enjoy my recipe for Cream Cheese Sausage Balls.

Storage and Leftovers

Make-Ahead Tip – You can make the sausage mixture one day in advance and pop it into an airtight container and into the fridge. Scoop and form the balls just before baking and serving.
Leftovers – Store baked Cheddar Sausage Balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating – Reheat in single servings in the microwave, on a sheet pan in a preheat 350°F oven or in a 350°F air fryer.
Freezing Sausage Balls – After forming the sausage mixture into balls, they can be baked before or after baking them. Place them onto a sheet pan and freeze solid, then place them into a plastic freezer bag or container for storing.
Baking Frozen Sausage Balls – You can bake frozen sausage balls straight from the freezer. When doing so, you’ll need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if they’re unbaked. It’s also perfectly fine to let them sit on the prepared pan for 10-15 minutes at room temperature to thaw slightly.
Sausage Balls that were baked prior to being frozen can be reheated on a sheet pan from frozen in a preheated 350°F oven for 15 minutes.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Make

Bisquick sausage cheese balls are the sort of two-bite snacks that are holiday staples here in the South. They’re ideal for tailgating, brunch, tea time or any occasion when small bites are on the menu. Other recipes using sausage that you may like to try:

Gooey homemade Mozzarella Sticks.
Dijon Sausage Rolls made with puff pastry.
Grab some tortilla chips and for dipping in this cheesy Rotel Dip.
Kicked Up Creole Sausage Balls for Mardis Gras and holiday parties.
Make your own Crudité platter with this Easy Veggie Dip.
Sausage Cream Cheese Bites for weekend brunch.
Crisp Fried Ravioli with warm marinara for dipping.
Cheesy Dijon Sausage Cups made with wonton wrappers.
Caprese Skewers from Food Network.

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