Cheesy Sausage Balls

These Cheesy Sausage Balls are perfect for holiday appetizer parties and get-togethers with friends. They’re easy to make…and even easier to eat!

This Cheesy Sausage Balls post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, but the recipe and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Spiced!

This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

There’s a reason why these Cheesy Sausage Balls were a staple at every holiday gathering when I was a kid. They’re easy to make…and they’re insanely delicious! Plus, the leftovers (if there are any) reheat quite well. Flavorful, easy to make, and they make great leftovers? Count me in!

There are a lot of different versions of sausage balls out there. This version is on the spicy side, but I’ve included some tips below for making a milder version. If you’re looking for a great appetizer recipe for holiday parties, then look no further. A batch of these Cheesy Sausage Balls should do the trick!

Cheesy Sausage Balls

We’re heading into appetizer season here in our house. Holiday gatherings with friends and neighbors morphs into New Year’s Eve celebrations which in turn morphs into Super Bowl season. We have lots of favorite appetizer recipes, but I have to say that these Cheesy Sausage Balls rank up there pretty high on the list!

Easy appetizer and snack ideas are especially helpful whenever you’re hosting get-togethers or heading to neighborhood potlucks. Trust me – nobody’s going to be upset if you show up to a party with a batch of these homemade sausage balls!

To put a spicy twist on these Cheesy Sausage Balls, I went with Cabot’s Habanero Cheddar Cheese. I love grating a bit of that spicy cheddar cheese into scrambled eggs, but this was the first time I used it in this sausage balls recipe. Holy cow! So tasty! These sausage balls are spicy, though, so if you’re making these for a party, you might consider throttling the heat back a bit (tips below).

We always (and I mean always) keep a variety of Cabot cheeses in our refrigerator. Whether we’re making appetizers like these Cheesy Sausage Balls or nachos or just a simple cheese quesadilla, Cabot cheese is never far away. If you haven’t tried Cabot’s cheeses yet, then definitely look for Cabot cheese in your area.

Cabot is a coop creamery owned by farm families throughout New York and New England. They also happen to make amazing products! Their Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese is our all-time favorite when it comes to sharp cheddar. Their Monterey Jack Cheese and Pepper Jack Cheese are perfect for when you need good melty cheeses – try this cheese sauce next time you make nachos!

And then you get into some of the fun other flavors of Cabot cheese. The Habanero Cheddar I used in this sausage balls recipe is perfect for when you want to bring the heat. Their Horseradish Cheddar is a personal favorite whenever I make egg sandwiches. Just a bit of that Horseradish Cheddar grated into eggs takes them to a whole new level!

Ingredients

• Flour, baking powder and salt. You can also use store-bought baking mix for this part, but I find it just as easy to make your own version at home.
• Butter. A bit of extra butter adds flavor as well as fat that helps hold the sausage balls together.
• Pork Sausage. I recommend using mild breakfast sausage here. And don’t grab the links – use bulk sausage instead. Italian sausage is not the best option for this recipe.
• Cheese. The Habanero Cheddar used in this recipe is not for the timid! If you want to tone down the heat in this recipe, use a combination of ½ Habanero Cheddar and ½ Seriously Sharp Cheddar. Growing up, my mother made this recipe using all sharp cheddar cheese. Feel free to adjust as desired!
• Pickled Jalapenos. The sliced pickled jalapenos inside of these sausage balls adds a fun twist to things. Make sure to buy tamed pickled jalapenos, though! The pickled jalapeno adds just enough moisture to help hold each sausage ball together, too. If you’re omitting the jalapenos, you might need to add a couple tablespoons of milk to the sausage ball mixture.
• Ranch Dressing. We like to serve these sausage balls with ranch dressing as a dipping sauce on the side. This is optional…but highly recommended!

Can you make Sausage Balls ahead of time?

Absolutely! Just mix and shape the sausage balls and then store ’em in a ziptop bag with layers of wax paper or parchment paper in between. The unbaked balls will last 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can store the unbaked sausage balls in the freezer for 3-4 months. Just let them thaw at room temperature for about 20 minutes before baking.

How to Keep Sausage Balls Warm?

These Sausage Cheese Balls taste great at room temperature, but you can also keep them warm by putting them in a slow cooker on the low or warm setting.

How to Store Leftover Sausage Balls?

Leftover sausage balls should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let come to room temperature or reheat before serving leftovers.

As we head into the most wonderful time of the year, I hope you have lots of fun parties and get-togethers planned with friends and neighbors. And I hope all of those events involve these Cheesy Sausage Balls. Cheers!

Did you make a batch of these Cheesy Sausage Balls at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me (@Spicedblog) and Cabot (@CabotCreamery) on Instagram – we’d love to see your version!

Cheesy Sausage Balls

These Cheesy Sausage Balls are perfect for holiday appetizer parties and get-togethers with friends. They're easy to make…and even easier to eat!

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 72 balls

Calories: 60kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter cold
• 16 oz. mild breakfast sausage uncooked
• 4 cups shredded Cabot Habanero Cheddar Cheese i.e. 16 oz.
• sliced pickled jalapenos
• {optional garnish} chopped fresh chives
• {optional dip} prepared ranch dressing

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spray with nonstick cooking spray; set pans aside.
• Using a large bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt; stir until well combined.
• Using a pastry cutter or two table knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture until well combined.
• Crumble sausage into the bowl; mix until well combined.
• Add shredded cheese; mix until well combined.
• Shape into 1” balls, placing a sliced pickled jalapeno inside of each ball. Place sausage balls on prepared sheet pans.
• Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until light golden brown. (Note: If you have an instant read thermometer, the internal temperature should be at least 160°F.)
• {Optional} To give the sausage balls a more golden brown color, broil them for 2-3 minutes near the end of the baking time.
• Place cooked sausage balls in bowl and sprinkle with chopped fresh chives. Serve warm or at room temperature with ranch dressing for dipping {optional}.

Looking for more cheesy appetizer recipes? Check out these other favorites, too: