The BEST Cream Cheese Sausage Balls recipe

Name: Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. breakfast sausage; 8 oz. cream cheese (softened ); ½ cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese are the best bite-sized appetizer and are actually so simple to make at home! All you need are 7 ingredients and a little time to make the juiciest, most decadent sausage balls. No pancake mix necessary.

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Close up of cream cheese sausage balls garnished with chopped parsley

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The BEST Sausage Ball recipe:

You know those items that you look forward to at certain gatherings?

Sausage balls are those for me because they are utterly delicious. They always feel so decadent and special… and then I end up hovering by the food because I keep eating them throughout the event. Which is both good and bad. *cries laughing*

Well, this recipe has been on my radar for YEARS, but it has taken multiple tests to get it just right.

And these Cream Cheese Sausage Balls? Absolutely, 100% just right.

Why I love this recipe:

I have struck the perfect balance in these sausage balls… and it comes down to the combination of ingredients, which are few.

Now… these are sausage balls without Bisquick (or another pancake mix)… but in my testing, I discovered that having some flour and leaveners actually helps the texture.

And the process of mixing these up was also a part of my testing. Turns out, using a hand mixer to blend the breakfast sausage with the cream cheese is important so that everything is well incorporated.

The end result are meaty, juicy little sausage balls that have pops of gooey cheese. They are just utterly delicious for all kinds of snacking, whether it’s game day, game night or you are making them just because.

You’re welcome / I’m sorry.

More easy appetizer recipes to try: Jalapeno Popper Dip | Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese Bruschetta | Caramelized Onion Guacamole | Whipped Ricotta Dip | Cottage Cheese Dip

Sausage and other ingredients to make sausage balls in bowls on a stone surface next to a blue and white striped linen

What you need to make this recipe:

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Rimmed sheet pan
Parchment paper or nonstick baking mat
Large mixing bowl
Hand mixer or stand mixer
Measuring cups and spoons and/or a kitchen scale
Box grater

Let’s talk ingredients!

In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.

Here is what you need to get at the grocery store:

Breakfast sausage — use a package of your favorite breakfast sausage! It needs to be the kind in a tube so that it’s completely loose. You could also purchase links, but you’d need to remove them from their casing and that takes more time and effort.
Cream cheese — please use the full-fat cream cheese, as it blends up much more nicely than lower fat or nonfat cream cheese. Make sure it’s at room temperature, too, so it can easily be combined with the other ingredients.
All-purpose flour — we’re essentially making our own pancake or biscuit mix for this recipe… but we don’t need a ton. AP flour is the base for that. I have not tried this with a gluten-free flour blend or a different type of flour and do not recommend it at this time.
Leaveners — we add a combination of baking powder and baking soda to this mixture to help the sausage balls fluff up a bit as they bake. Make sure yours are fresh or they will be more dense.
Kosher salt — I use medium grain kosher salt in all my baked goods. (Diamond Crystal is my favorite brand.) You can use a similarly sized sea salt.
Sharp cheddar cheese — use your favorite brand and shred your own since pre-shredded cheese does not melt as well or evenly. I prefer sharp cheddar because it stands up to the sausage and cream cheese mixture, but you do you. You could substitute it for another shredded cheese, like pepper jack or Monterey jack, if you prefer or want a different vibe.

Blended cream cheese and sausage in a bowl

How to make Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

These sausage balls are easy to make and even easier to consume.

Mise en place. Set out the cream cheese to soften. (This will take 20-30 minutes.) Shred the cheese. Preheat the oven and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Blend the sausage and cream cheese. Measure them both into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Blend until smooth.

This may take a few minutes and is really important. You don’t want to have huge chunks of cream cheese throughout the mixture… so taking the time to do this is really helpful.

Homemade pancake mix on top of the sausage mixture in a bowl

Add the dry ingredients. This includes the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.Blend those into the meat mixture,

Add the cheese. Sprinkle that in, and blend until combined. It’s OK if the cheese breaks down as you blend it.

Scooped sausage balls on a sheet pan before baking

Measure and scoop. Use a 1-tablespoon scoop to scoop the sausage balls onto the prepared sheet pan. You can do this with your hands, too, and form them into 1-inch balls if you don’t have a scooper.

Just be sure to give them a little space between each so that they can expand slightly.

Bake. Transfer the sheet pan to the oven, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the sausage balls are golden brown and fluffy.

Cool and serve. Let the sausage balls cool off slightly before serving warm. Enjoy!

how to store:

Store the cooled sausage balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheat in the microwave for 30-second increments or reheat in a 300F oven until warmed through.

Sausage balls on a sheet pan after baking

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

Psst. Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese are the perfect party appetizer and starter because they’re easy to make, easy to serve and easy to enjoy.

Here is what I would do, if I were making this for a crowd:

Double the recipe. While the original recipe makes 44 (1 tablespoon) sausage balls, I might double it for a crowd.
Serve with festive toothpicks and paper napkins so that guests don’t have to use their hands to pick up anything.
Make it a platter and add a dipper, like Cajun Dipping Sauce, or even homemade ranch dressing.

A platter of homemade sausage balls on a stone surface next to a blue and white striped linen

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this a lower fat recipe?

I have not tried using a lower fat sausage or cream cheese in this recipe. You could probably do it, though I do not know how different they would look or taste.

Can I use a different type of sausage?

I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure a sweet Italian or even hot sausage would work in the place of breakfast sausage, if you prefer. You could use a different type of meat, like a breakfast chicken or turkey sausage, if you dislike or do not eat pork sausage.

A platter of cream cheese sausage balls without bisquick on a stone surface in front of two glasses of beer

When to share…

GAME DAY: Want a classic football food to make and share? This is it.
GAME NIGHT: These are an easy snack to enjoy while playing your favorite game(s).
HAPPY HOUR: Not only are these quick to put together, but they make a lot and pair nicely with a sipper.

Here’s how you can make it at home…

Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

Servings: (1T) sausage balls

Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

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