If ever there was a universally popular appetizer, these easy sausage balls are it! They are so quick to make, and they're almost addictive! They go together fast, and they disappear just as quickly!
No matter the occasion; a tailgate, a gathering to watch a game on TV, or keeping the crowd at bay while you finish making Thanksgiving dinner, you want this recipe!
You only need three ingredients! A pound of bulk sausage (and I always use Jimmy Dean's sausage,) a one-pound block of sharp cheddar cheese, and three cups of baking mix. Add parsley for color and chili or red pepper flakes or Tobasco for some heat if you like!
Many people say that hot sausage is the only way to go, but I was "born to be mild," so I used his yummy regular packaged bulk sausage, then added a smidgen of red pepper flakes as a compromise to my people at the tailgate!
I made these easy sausage balls with Jiffy Baking Mix. Bisquick is a fantastic product, but I'm thrifty, too, and that day at the store, there was a nearly two-dollar difference between the same size package of both products.
The products are virtually identical, but interestingly, Jiffy's baking mix uses shortening, not oil, in the mix, and it includes buttermilk.
I'm a huge fan of Jiffy products. The modest company has been in business since 1901, and Jiffy has been around since 1930. It's still a family-owned business!
Because it puts all its energy into making great products and none into marketing and advertising, they're able to put a limited line of high-quality products on the shelf at a price much lower than its competitors.
Instead of trying to impress us and convince us what we should want, Jiffy does the right thing and works to meet a genuine need for convenient, wholesome food.
If you have Bisquick in the cupboard, by all means, use it!
All you really need are three ingredients; anything else is an optional add-in.
If you have a stand mixer and a food processor, this is super easy! If not, it's still easy; it just takes a few minutes longer.
Begin by cutting a one-pound chunk or two eight-ounce chunks of sharp cheddar cheese into pieces the size that will fit through the chute of a food processor with a grater blade. I could cut the chunk lengthwise into four "logs," which fit perfectly.
In no time at all, the cheese was beautifully grated. Please use chunk cheese and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is a tempting time-saver, but the flavor is better if you grate your own, and the anti-caking stuff in pre-shredded cheese is a moisture inhibitor, and you can end up with dry sausage balls.
When you measure the baking mix, don't scoop it out of the box with your measuring cup. Spoon it lightly into the cup and level it off with the flat side of a knife or a spatula. If you err, err on the side of making it a scant three cups.
Put the baking mix, sausage, and grated cheese into the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment and use it to combine all the ingredients quickly.
Add some chili flakes or hot sauce you like if you want to add some heat. Very quickly, you'll have a mixture perfect for forming into easy sausage balls.
A cookie scoop is an ideal gadget for shaping the mixture into 24 easy sausage balls. Line them up on a rimmed baking sheet and bake them at 350 degrees for about twenty to twenty-five minutes, or until they are a little brown on the bottom.
In case you're wondering about the picture, I was taking them to a tailgate, so I made a double batch! These are wonderful to pop in your mouth one after another, but you might also like one of your favorite dipping sauces with these tasty nuggets!
You might also enjoy one of these popular appetizer recipes: Classic Bruschetta or Delicious Dried Beef Dip in a Bread Bowl.
This is a classic, quick, and easy recipe for delicious sausage and cheese balls that are always a hit!
If you don't have a stand mixer, a wooden spoon or Danisk whisk works well, or you can use your hands to combine the ingredients.
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Was looking for something to being to a family breakfast..thought these would be tasty.
Came together easily and had a nice taste.
I made my own bisquick mix ( recipe on pintrest). The balls did not keep their shape
..but that is OK
I hope everyone likes them.
That sounds like a great idea for breakfast! I bet they go over in a big way!!
Would adding an egg to mixture help hold their shape
It wouldn't hurt to try. Let me know! This is the very old original recipe and becuase of all the fat in the cheese and sausae it wokr pretty well especially if they are at room temperature.
My family and friends love these. I make them when we plan a late lunch and they are gone in no time. Good dipped in honey or syrup.