Whether served as an irresistible appetizer or as part of your holiday brunch, everyone will love the savory, cheesy flavor of these Homemade Sausage Balls. And you will love how easy this sausage ball recipe is to make--even without using Bisquick!

Plate of homemade sausage balls with cheese served next to a bowl of maple syrup.

When it comes to entertaining, nothing beats a simple crowd-pleasing recipe. Whether you are looking for an appetizer to serve while tailgating alongside Air Fryer Chicken Wings, a finger food to serve at a cocktail party alongside Antipasto Skewers, or a savory addition to your holiday brunch alongside French Toast Casserole, these Sausage Balls are one of my all-time favorite party snacks!

Reasons to Love Sausage Balls

No Biscuit Mix Needed. Whether you are out of your all-purpose baking mix or you simply avoid this convenience food for various reasons, this recipe uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand to replicate the taste and texture of sausage balls made with Bisquick.
Easy Recipe. Even when you leave the biscuit mix on the shelf, this recipe for sausage balls only requires a few minutes of hands-on prep work.
Make-Ahead Recipe. These sausage balls can be assembled up to baking and frozen to pull out and bake whenever guests show up or the craving for sausage balls strikes.
Bite-Size Finger Food. What is better than a food that doesn't require utensils at a party? Only the fact that everyone loves these savory bites!

Sausage Balls Ingredients

Ingredients for homemade sausage balls on counter.

Flour + Baking Powder: To replace the all-purpose baking mix (AKA Bisquick), this recipe calls for all-purpose flour and baking powder.
Seasonings: To make the BEST sausage balls, I highly recommend adding seasoned salt, onion powder, and garlic powder to the mixture. These will work to add an incredible depth of flavor to an otherwise simple recipe.
Sausage: The best sausage to use when making sausage balls is bulk ground pork sausage, like Jimmy Deans. You don't want to use Italian sausage or breakfast sausage, as those flavors would overwhelm the cheesy, savory sausage balls.
Cheese: Use sharp cheddar cheese for the best cheesy flavor. I also recommend shredding the cheese yourself. Bagged shredded cheese is coated with anti-caking agents, which can dry out the sausage balls.
Milk: Any variety/fat percentage of milk works for this recipe. If you opt to use nondairy milk, be sure it is unsweetened and unflavored.
For Serving: I love serving these savory sausage balls with maple syrup for dipping. However, mustard, queso, sweet chili sauce, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or hot honey would all make delicious options for dipping sauces as well.

Substitutions/Modifications

Gluten-Free Sausage Balls: Ensure your sausage is gluten-free and replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour flour.
Bisquick Sausage Balls: Omit the baking powder and seasoned salt (baking mixes already contain added salt) from the recipe and use the baking mix (aka Bisquick) in place of the all-purpose flour.
Lower-Fat Sausage Balls: Use skim milk and your favorite bulk chicken or turkey sausage.
Spice It Up: Add up to ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the flour mixture and/or replace 1 cup of the cheddar cheese with pepper jack.

Tips to Remember When Making Sausage Balls

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Don't Overmix. Just like when making meatballs, it is best to use your hands to mix the meat into the other ingredients. This will prevent overworking the sausage, which can make tough sausage cheese balls.
Use a Cookie Scoop. Using a medium cookie scoop not only makes forming the Sausage Balls a quick and easy task but also ensures that each sausage ball is the same size and will bake evenly.
Use Damp Hands. Lightly wet your hands prior to rolling the sausage balls to prevent sticking.
Bake on a Baking Rack. Using a baking rack to bake the sausage balls will prevent the sausage balls from becoming overly greasy as they bake and fat renders out of the sausage and cheese.
Don't Forget the Dipping Sauce. If you are serving these sausage balls as a part of a breakfast or brunch spread, I recommend serving alongside maple syrup for a sweet and savory treat. If you are serving them as a party appetizer or game day snack, serve alongside mustard, queso, sweet chili sauce, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or hot honey.

Baked Sausage Balls on baking rack on sheet pan lined with foil.

Make-Ahead Instructions

One of my favorite features of this sausage ball recipe is that it is a great make-ahead recipe that freezes well.

To freeze sausage balls, prepare the sausage balls up through rolling the dough into balls. Place the balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for 1-2 hours, or until hardened. Remove the flash-frozen sausage balls from the baking sheet and place them in a freezer-safe storage bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. To bake sausage balls from frozen, bake at 350 degrees F for 28-32 minutes.

More Party-Perfect Recipes

If you tried this recipe for Sausage Balls, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.