Easy To Make Sausage Balls Recipe with Flour (2024)

Today we are bringing to you a holiday classic recipe that is also a favorite of mine and so many around the South, Sausage Balls recipe. Typically, these are made with Bisquick baking mix but today I am bringing you a way to make an easy-to-make sausage balls recipe with flour. It is so simple and easy, you must try it!

I do believe that Bisquick may have been the one that came up with this recipe but honestly, I am not sure. In this recipe, I was able to come up with a way to make sausage balls without Bisquick.

The Bisquick baking mix combines all of the ingredients needed to make biscuits. It is supposed to make it easy and quick for those who want to make biscuits and other items. It has the flour, leavening agents, and fat all mixed into the mix.

In order to keep the fat stable though, it has other ingredients as well, like hydrogenated stabilized oil.

With that being said, the sausage already has fat in it so why not just use regular self-rising flour and cut out all those nasty ingredients that we don’t need? So, we decided to make a sausage ball recipe without Bisquick!

It turns out that it works pretty well.

What are Sausage Balls?

Sausage balls are a type of Hors D’oeure or light snack that is usually served around the holidays. You will start to see them pop up around Thanksgiving and Christmas time. They are especially a big hit in the South. They make the perfect appetizer or snack.

What You Need to Make This Sausage Ball Recipe

Ingredients for Sausage Ball Without Bisquick:

• Ground Pork Sausage-Choose a high-quality sausage to make sausage balls with. You will need a 1 lb package.
• Cheese I like to use Sharp Cheddar or Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese in my sausage ball recipe without flour. I love the extra sharpness that this cheddar gives. I like to buy the cheese in a block and grate it myself. Not only does it taste better, but pre-shredded cheese also has a coating on it that causes it not to stick together. this coating helps absorb moisture and in return is not good to use in this recipe. It will absorb the fat from the sausage that we need to make this recipe work. You will need 1lb of Sharp Cheddar Cheese.
• Self-Rising Flour Self-Rising Flour is similar to Bisquick baking mix in the sense that it has the leavening agents already added in (baking powder and salt) but it does not have the fat. We were trying to get away from the Bisquick baking mix to reduce the number of unwanted ingredients that we felt we did not need. The fat in this sausage ball recipe with flour comes from the fat from the sausage. Self-rising flour is a better alternative. If you want to do even better, you can buy All-purpose flour and add your own baking powder and salt as if you were making biscuits.

Equipment needed

Cookie sheet or baking sheet

I like to bake mine on a cookie sheet. I have had really good luck with Wilton Products. My favorite brand though is Nordic Ware. Nordic Ware is an American-made and Family-owned company. Check out the link to the cookie sheet below.

Stand Mixer

You don’t have to have a stand mixer to make Sausage balls, but boy does it make light work out of making them. When it comes to stand mixers, KitchenAid is the best in my opinion.

Cookie Scoop

Just like the stand mixer, this isn’t a must-have but it sure makes life easier.

How To Make Sausage Ball Recipe without Bisquick

Follow These Steps to Make These 3 Ingredient Sausage Balls

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2. Grate the cheese. Set that to the side for the moment.

If you have a stand mixer, this works the best and takes the least effort but you can do this by hand as I demonstrate in my video.

For this recipe, we are going to show you the by-hand method but if you are using a stand mixer, just add in the flour, and then the sausage a little at a time. Then do the same with the cheese until it forms a smooth ball.

By Hand Method

Step 3. In a large bowl, add the two cups of flour.

Step 4. Gradually add in the sausage breaking and mixing it up as you go. You can see the video below for how I do this.

Step 5. Add in the cheese a little at a time as well. Mix with your hands as you go.

It does take a good bit of effort to get it all mixed up together. You want it to form a smooth well-mixed ball of dough. You should be able to pull a small amount apart and roll it up and it sticks together.

Step 6. After you have your ball of dough formed. You will need a couple of baking sheets. Spray them or coat them with a light coating of oil. You could also line them with parchment paper to keep the balls from sticking to the pan.

Step 7. Pull a small amount from the ball of dough and roll it in your hands to form 1-inch balls. It should be roughly about the size of a walnut or golf ball. A cookie scoop also works great for this method.

Step 8. Once you have them all rolled out, pop them in your preheated oven.

Step 9. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes until they are golden brown.

Note: If you have a stand mixer, this will make your life much simpler. Don't fret though, it can be done by hand and really is not that bad. 

FAQ’s

Can I Freeze Sausage Balls?

Yes, you can freeze them. Make sure to put them in an airtight container or freezer bag. They should last roughly about 6 months frozen or longer.

Can I make sausage balls ahead of time?

Yes. There are two ways you could do this. You could bake them, then put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for the next day. For best results, just reheat them before serving.

Or

You could make the uncooked Sausage balls ahead of time and then bake them the day you are going to serve them. You could even freeze the uncooked sausage balls. The day you want to serve them, take them out of the freezer and let them thaw, then bake them before serving.

My Batter Seems Dry, What Can I Do?

If your batter seems dry, keep mixing it. Eventually, it will all come together. The cheese will warm up as well as the sausage. Once this happens some fat is released and it mixes up with the flour. If it still seems dry, try adding in a little bit of milk. A teaspoon at a time. Remember though, when the cooking process happens, the fat from the sausage and cheese will be rendered out.

Can I add a different type of cheese?

Yes. You can mix and match what types you would like. Sharp Cheddar and Mozzarella are a couple of my favorite cheeses. Both of these together would make an epic combination. I also think Pepper Jack Cheese would be wonderful in a Spicy Sausage Ball Recipe.

I like spicy food, what can I do to make these spicy?

There are a few things you could add to turn up the heat. You could add in the spicy hot sausage. Another great tip would be to add in some red chili flakes or cayenne pepper. Both of these methods should add in a little kick.

What can I use as a dipping sauce?

I recommend using Ranch dressing, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce to dip them in. Ranch is my favorite dipping sauce to dip these sausage cheese balls in. I have also been known to dip mine in ketchup as well.

Can I substitute another type of sausage?

Yes. If you want to make a healthier version, try using ground turkey sausage or ground chicken sausage. Also, you can change the flavor profile but using Italian sausage or even maple syrup sausage.

Can I add in any seasonings or herbs?

Yes. Feel free to experiment with different herbs and seasonings. Italian seasoning would be great to add to this recipe. I have even thought about adding chili powder.

Check out these awesome recipes as well:

• Step-by-Step How to Make Catfish Stew (South Carolina Recipe)

• Chicken Bog | A Traditional South Carolina Dish

• Southern Food Junkie Chili

• Brunswick Stew

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