Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

These two-bite Cream Cheese Sausage Balls are a mainstay on appetizer menus in the South. You can enjoy them as a starter as well as breakfast and brunch with a variety of sauces for dipping.

Ingredients to Make Cream Cheese Sausage Balls Recipe

Sausage balls are a favorite in the South for appetizers and small bites. You’ll almost always see them around the holidays but they’re a fabulous option for brunch or game day snacking, too. To make Cream Cheese Sausage Balls with cheddar cheese: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

• Sausage – You can use hot sausage or mild pork sausage for this recipe depending on your personal taste.
• Cheese – Sharp cheddar cheese will give the most notable flavor.
• Cream Cheese – Chive and onion flavored cream cheese expands the flavor profile.
• Mustard – Dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard complements the pork sausage without dominating.
• Seasoning – Granulated garlic or garlic powder.
• Biscuit Mix – You can use Bisquick or a private store brand of biscuit mix that you enjoy.

How to Make the BEST Cream Cheese Sausage Balls Recipe

• Mix Together: Use an electric mixer on low speed to mix together sausage, biscuit mix, shredded cheese, cream cheese, Dijon mustard and granulated garlic until fully combined. (A dough hook works best.)
• Refrigerate: Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Divide the Sausage Mixture: Use a meatball scoop to divide the mixture rolling into 1-inch balls. Arrange on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
• Oven: Bake per the recipe in a preheated oven until lightly golden brown.
• Serve: You can serve these with honey mustard, sweet hot mustard, bbq sauce, ranch dressing or maple syrup on the side for dipping.

Tips for Making Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: Large bowl, hand mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, meatball scoop or small cookie scoop, cheese grater, measuring cups, measuring spoons, baking sheets and wire rack.,
• You Can Also Mix By Hand: A mixer makes light work of blending the sausage mixture together, You can mix the ingredients together by hand or using a mixer on low speed. I find that a dough nook works best. If you mix them by hand patience is key but it will come together.
• Use a Quality Sausage: Since sausage is the star of these sausage balls I highly recommend using one that’s not terribly greasy. I use Jimmy Dean with consistently good results.
• What is Biscuit Mix? It’s a convenience item for making biscuits and pancakes found on the baking aisle of most grocery stores and supermarkets. There are many brands, and you may already have a particular one that you enjoy. If so, it’s perfectly fine to use that product. I used Bisquick for this recipe.
• Chill the Sausage Mixture to Firm: After making the sausage ball mixture, it’s important to chill it in the fridge so the cream cheese will firm. This prevents them from spreading too much while baking. The flavor would be the same, but the shape would be flatter and similar to a cookie, if the mixture isn’t firm.
• When to Serve Bisquick Sausage Balls: You can serve these for Christmas gatherings, Thanksgiving, game day snacks and tailgating, potluck parties, breakfast, brunch or entertaining.

Recipe Variations

• Use Biscuit Mix: Biscuit mix and self-rising flour aren’t the same thing. This recipe uses a biscuit mix i.e. Bisquick.
• Protein: You can use use mild, sage seasoned or spicy pork sausage for these sausage balls. You could also adapt using turkey sausage.
• Cream Cheese: You could substitute one 8 ounce block of plain cream cheese and one teaspoon of onion powder in place of chive and onion cream cheese. The chive and onion flavored cream cheese expands the flavor profile overall.
• Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese will give the best flavor. If you prefer, you can use the same amount of mild cheddar cheese or medium cheddar cheese, colby jack cheese or pepper jack cheese for spice.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store baked Sausage Balls in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in the microwave, in a preheated 350°F oven on a sheet pan or in air fryer just until heated through.
• Freezer: You can bake the Sausage Balls, cool completely and package in freezer bags. Store baked Sausage Balls frozen for up to 3 months.
• Reheating from Frozen: Bake from frozen in a preheated 350°F oven on a sheet pan for 10-15 minutes just until heated through.

More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Make

• Shredded Zucchini Fritters made on the stovetop.
• These loaded Tachos are a crowd pleaser!
• Serve these crispy Coconut Shrimp with cocktail sauce or Asian chile sauce for dipping.
• Easy Corn Salsa for dipping with tortilla chips or on top of salads, tacos and more.
• Make Potato Skins and watch them go.
• This BLT Dip is great for holiday gatherings, picnics and game day snacking.
• Jalapeno Popper Puffs made with crescent rolls.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Sheet Pans
• Small Scoop
• Cheese Grater
• Mixing Bowls