Our easy sausage ball recipe with Bisquick makes a classic bite-sized appetizer or snack with just three ingredients. And it’s ready in just 30 minutes! Scoop up a batch or two to make Bisquick sausage balls and freeze the rest to have the perfect appetizer ready for the next gathering or game day.
Everyone needs quick and easy appetizer recipes they can rely on, and we have dozens of easy appetizer recipes.
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What Makes Our Recipe The Best?
- They’re perfectly moist and flavorful with just 3 ingredients!
Thanks to our ideal ratio of seasoned breakfast ground pork, tangy cheddar cheese, and baking mix you’ll have tender appetizer balls with comforting flavor in every bite. - Ours is a make ahead recipe. so you can refrigerate or freeze them!
Simplify your next get-together by mixing a batch (or two!) ahead or store in the fridge or freezer so they’re ready to bake. - They’re ready to serve in just 30 minutes!
Everyone needs a tried-and-true, fast mix-and-bake finger food recipe, and this is it. With minimal prep and short oven baking time, you’ll have them ready to serve quickly.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground Pork – We use Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage, but there’s so much room for personal preference. Mild or spicy ground pork with sage or a hot Italian will scoop up and bake just fine — just make sure it’s ground.
- Cheddar Cheese – Sharp cheddar cheese is recommended, but creamy Monterey Jack, some Colby, or spicy Pepper Jack are good alternatives. Freshly shredded cheese will melt the smoothest and give the most tender results.
- Bisquick Baking Mix – The original, classic mix you find in the yellow box. Don’t have any? No worries — check out our homemade baking mix recipe for how to DIY your own!
Optional:
- Green Onion – Although this is optional, chopped or minced green onions introduce dimension, a pop of flavor, and a delicious aroma.
Recipe Variations
This recipe is similar to the Jimmy Dean sausage balls recipe, but ours uses fewer ingredients and mild ground pork. You can make them spicier with spicy ground pork instead of mild, or add some minced jalapenos, chili powder, cayenne, or red pepper flakes to the baking mix.
Looking to cut the fat? Then make our turkey sausage balls, featuring a leaner protein. You can even combine the Heart Smart Bisquick with the turkey alternative for an appetizer that you can really feel good about!
How to make Sausage Balls with Bisquick
- Combine – all ingredients to a large bowl and mix well.
- Form the mixture into balls – using clean hands or a medium-sized scoop, form the mixture into 24 golf-sized meatballs and arrange them on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake – them in the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown or 145ºF on internal temperature.
- Serve – with your favorite dips and sauces (we have suggestions below!).
Recipe Tips
- Give your baking mix a good stir before measuring for a moist sausage ball recipe.
This ensures the right ratio of dry and moist ingredients and prevents having dry and crumbly appetizers.
- Don’t overmix the meatball mixture.
Use gentle pressure when combining the ingredients and forming the meatballs.
This will help you avoid dry and crumbly meatballs.
- Check the internal temperature to make sure they’re cooked all the way through.
It’s always a good idea to check the temperature of the meat with an instant-read thermometer to ensure it’s cooked to at least 165°F.
If they need a little more time, pop them back in for a couple more minutes.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Put out a tray of sauces and dips for serving. Here are some suggestions:
The ground pork in this sausage balls with Bisquick recipe pairs perfectly with our spicy mustard or 3 ingredient BBQ sauce.
Sweet chili mango sauce can add a little more heat, but calm it down with a little bit of sweet, too! The flavor is a bit like the sauce used in our sweet chili meatballs.
Storing and Reheating
Let cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. Reheat in the oven or let them reheat in the crockpot.
We recommend freezing before baking for a make-ahead appetizer or snack. Scoop them onto a baking sheet to flash freeze them, and then transfer them to a freezer bag. Let them sit at room temperature for an hour before baking.
Serve in a slow cooker to keep warm.
One thing to note about this easy appetizer recipe is that the meatballs don’t stay warm for very long — particularly if you’re serving them for a three-hour football game!
Serve them warm in a crockpot. Preheat the crockpot while the meatballs are baking, then add them to the preheated slow cooker when they’re done to keep them warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s possible that you used too much baking mix in the mixture (see our tips for stirring your mix first). This is easy to catch before baking — the mix will look crumbly and won’t clump properly. If this happens, add a little milk!
It may also be because of the ingredients used. Pre-shredded cheese and low-fat ground pork both lack moisture and aren’t suitable for making sausage balls with Bisquick.
It’s easiest with a digital cooking thermometer, as the internal temperature is the best indicator of fully cooked ground pork—it should be at least 145ºF and golden brown on the outside.
Yes, Bisquick mix and pancake mix have similar ingredients, and you can use them as substitutes. However, the pancake mix’s sugar content may add a bit of sweetness to the sausage balls.
Consider Making These Other Appetizer Recipes…
- Tater Tot Appetizer Cups
- Hot Cream Cheese Corn Dip
- Cajun Crab Dip with Shrimp
- Tortellini Caprese Skewers
If you tried making our bisquick sausage balls recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Bisquick Sausage Balls
Equipment
- rimmed baking sheet
- medium cookie scoop
- instant-read digital cooking thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork sausage We use Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage or Italian sausage
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded (1 pound)
- 2 cups Bisquick baking mix homemade or store bought
Optional
- ½ cup chopped scallions (green onions) green part only
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º F. Prepare the baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Add the ground pork, shredded cheddar cheese, baking mix, and green onion (if using) to a large mixing bowl. Using clean hands, a potato masher, or a stand mixer, combine the ingredients. **If using your hands, it works best to knead or fold the Bisquick and cheese into the ground meat mixture.
- Using a medium scoop or large tablespoon, portion out and shape 24 balls, about the size of a golf ball. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each.
- Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the meatballs are lightly golden brown in color. **Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the center of the sausage balls registers 145º F. in temperature.
- Serve with your favorite dip, like marinara sauce, zesty BBQ sauce, or cheese dip.
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Ieva says
Brilliant recipe that the whole family enjoyed! We will definitely be adding it to our Easter menu too this year 🙂
Harriet Young says
Yum yum yum! These were amazing. They made a perfect appetiser with a bbq sauce. Will be making again!