These Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese are extra easy to make, require minimal steps to prepare, and bake right in the oven — all in just 30 minutes. They are perfect as a party appetizer for game day or holiday gatherings.
You’ll love serving these as a party appetizer along with Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers, and Halloumi Fries.
These sausage balls couldn’t be easier to make. Just add the simple ingredients to a bowl, mix, roll, then bake. That’s it!
Minimal time spent in the kitchen and minimal clean-up after. They also store well and can easily be made in advance to serve later.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why you’ll enjoy this recipe
- Made in just 30 minutes.
- Great for serving an appetizer at parties.
- Can be made ahead, refrigerated or frozen, then reheated.
- High in protein.
➡️ Ingredients
⏲ How to make sausage balls with cream cheese
This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Ingredients: To a large mixing bowl, add all of the sausage ball ingredients. Using an electric mixer, mix together until well combined.
Recipe Tip: Mixing the mixture with an electric mixer is likely the easiest and quickest option. A stand mixer will also work. If you need to, though, you can mix it with your hands.
- Shape Sausage Balls: Roll the sausage balls or scoop using a cookie scoop into 24 equal-sized balls and place each atop the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the internal temperature of the sausage balls reaches 160 degrees F, about 12-17 minutes, flipping each over about halfway through bake time.
- Serve: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the sausage balls to cool for a few minutes. Then, transfer them to a serving plate and, optionally, garnish them with fresh parsley, and serve.
👉 Ingredient substitution suggestions
- Italian Sausage: Ground pork, ground pork sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken will work here. Note that cooking times may vary slightly, so be sure to use an instant-read thermometer.
- All-Purpose Flour: Biscuit mix will work here; if you use that, you can omit the added baking powder.
- Shredded Cheese: I use pepper jack cheese, which adds a nice kick, but you can also use cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or any cheese variety you prefer.
- Cream Cheese: Sour cream or Greek yogurt can be used.
- Sugar: If you want to reduce sugar or prefer a different sweetener, you can use honey, maple syrup, or a low-carb substitute like erythritol. You can also altogether omit the sugar.
- Baking Powder: The recipe will work fine without this, so you can omit. I like using it because it yields a lighter, fluffier texture.
✨ Variations
- Consider adding other seasonings, like garlic powder or onion powder.
- Add finely chopped jalapeño for a spicy kick.
- Use a mix of different shredded cheeses, like cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella.
- Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top before or after baking for added heat.
〰️ How to serve
- Dipping Sauces — Pair with a dipping sauce, like mustard, marinara sauce, ranch dressing, honey mustard, or barbecue sauce.
- Coleslaw — Pair with a side of coleslaw, either creamy or vinegar-based.
- Vegetables — Serve with roasted or grilled vegetables, like baked sliced zucchini, bell peppers, or asparagus.
💬 FAQs
Can I make these in advance to serve at a party later?
Form the sausage mixture into balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Wrap the baking sheet in storage wrap, then refrigerate for up to 1 day. When you’re ready, bake according to recipe instructions.
How should the cream cheese sausage balls be stored?
Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How should sausage balls with cream cheese be frozen and reheated?
Flash-freeze the sausage balls first by arranging them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then place them in the freezer until they’re firm (this is to ensure they don’t freeze all together in a clump). Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or a resealable storage bag, separating each layer with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, reheat them straight from frozen in the oven at 350 degrees F until heated through, about 15-20 minutes.
📚 More appetizer recipes
🍽 Recipe
Email Recipe
Enter your email below and we’ll send you this recipe!
Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
Optional Garnish:
- Finely chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Ingredients: To a mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Using an electric mixer, mix together until well-combined.
- Shape Sausage Balls: Roll sausage balls or scoop using a cookie scoop into 24 equal-sized balls and place atop prepared baking sheet.
- Bake: Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until internal temperature of sausage balls reaches 160 degrees F, about 12-17 minutes, flipping each over about halfway through bake time.
- Serve: Remove baking sheet from oven and allow sausage balls to cool for a few minutes. Then, transfer them to a serving plate and, optionally, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve.
Leave a Reply