Easy Sausage Balls Recipe (Cream Cheese & Bisquick)

This easy sausage balls recipe combines spicy sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and Bisquick for tender, cheesy bites with golden brown edges. These cream cheese sausage balls are the perfect appetizer for game day, holiday parties, or Christmas morning!

Why You'll Love It

Easy Sausage Balls Recipe (Cream Cheese & Bisquick) is one of those ridiculously delicious appetizers that disappears almost as quickly as you put it on the table. And y'all, these little cheesy bites are a real crowd pleaser!

If you've ever made traditional Bisquick sausage balls, you probably know the classic recipe. It's usually made with just breakfast sausage, cheddar cheese, and baking mix. But adding cream cheese? TOTAL GAME CHANGER.

It makes these sausage cheese balls extra tender, rich, and flavorful without a ton of extra work.As a professional chef and lifelong cheese lover, I love an easy recipe that delivers big flavor using simple ingredients. And these have been a hit for years that I even came up with a new rendition with of cheddar apple sausage balls for fall!

We're talking hot pork sausage, tangy cream cheese, plenty of sharp cheddar cheese, and just enough Bisquick to hold everything together. The result is some of the best sausage balls you'll ever make! And the best part? These easy sausage balls are practically foolproof. Just combine everything in a mixer, roll the sausage mixture into little balls, and bake until perfectly golden.

They're the perfect finger food for Super Bowl Sunday (check out my super ball snack recipe collection!), Christmas Eve, brunch, or your next party. Serve them with my 3 Ingredient Honey Mustard or the sweet chili mayo included below.You can even make the uncooked sausage balls ahead of time and freeze them for later.

Because having delicious homemade appetizers ready to go in the freezer? That's my kind of meal prep!

Ingredients & Substitutions

These easy sausage balls come together with a handful of simple ingredients you can find at almost any grocery store. The combination of spicy sausage, cream cheese, and Bisquick baking mix creates tender, flavorful bites without any complicated prep work.

For the Sausage Balls

• Hot Pork Sausage: I love Jimmy Dean hot sausage because it adds a little kick without being overwhelmingly spicy. You can use any kind of pork sausage, including mild sausage, regular breakfast sausage, or sage sausage. Turkey sausage also works as a substitute, but its lower fat content can make the finished balls drier. I wouldn't substitute cooked smoked sausage directly because this recipe relies on raw ground pork sausage to bind everything together.
• Cream Cheese: This is the secret ingredient that makes these cream cheese sausage balls so tender! Use a full-fat block of cream cheese and let it soften slightly at room temperature before mixing.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese adds bold, savory flavor. I recommend freshly shredding your favorite cheese for the best texture, but pre-shredded cheese works too. Extra sharp cheddar, Colby Jack, or pepper jack cheese are delicious alternatives.
• Bisquick: A box of Bisquick makes this recipe ridiculously easy. The baking mix contains flour, leavening, salt, and fat, which help hold everything together. A homemade Bisquick mix or homemade biscuit mix can also work, although the results may vary. Plain flour or bread crumbs aren't direct substitutes.
• Scallions: These add a little freshness and mild onion flavor. They're optional, but I love the extra color. Finely chopped chives make a great substitute.
• Garlic Powder: Optional, but a little garlic powder adds another layer of savory flavor. You can also experiment with a pinch of onion powder.

For the Sweet Chili Mayo

This quick dipping sauce is creamy, sweet, and a little spicy. It takes about a minute to stir together and pairs perfectly with the rich sausage and cheese.

• Mayonnaise: Creates a creamy base. Duke's or your favorite mayonnaise works great.
• Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds a sweet and tangy kick. Use your favorite bottled Thai sweet chili sauce.

You can also serve these with honey mustard sauce, BBQ sauce, or barbecue sauce mixed with a little hot sauce.

How to Make It

These step-by-step instructions make homemade sausage balls incredibly easy, even if it's your first time making them. You only need a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, a cookie scoop, and a rimmed baking sheet.

• PREHEAT THE OVEN: Preheat your oven to 400°F (degrees Fahrenheit). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
• PREP THE INGREDIENTS: The first thing you'll want to do is soften the cream cheese slightly at room temperature. Shred the cheddar and finely chop the scallions if using.
• MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER: Add the uncooked pork sausage, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, Bisquick, scallions, and optional garlic powder to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for 1 minute. Increase the speed slightly and mix for another 1-2 minutes until combined. Alternatively, combine pork sausage and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl using clean hands.
• ROLL THE SAUSAGE BALLS: Use a small cookie scoop to portion the sausage mixture into approximately 1-inch balls. Roll gently between your palms until smooth.
• ARRANGE ON THE BAKING SHEET: Place the sausage balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one. Use a second baking sheet if needed.
• BAKE UNTIL GOLDEN: Bake for approximately 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the bake time. The sausage balls should be golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
• MAKE THE DIPPING SAUCE: While the sausage balls bake, stir together the mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• SERVE: Transfer the sausage balls to a serving platter and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce. They're perfect party food alongside honey mustard, sweet chili mayo, or even beer cheese dip.
• SAVE: Store leftover sausage balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat until hot throughout before serving.

Tips for Making Perfect Sausage Balls

Why add cream cheese to sausage balls?

If you've ever made the classic recipe using just sausage, cheddar, and Bisquick, you know it can sometimes turn out dry.That's where cream cheese comes in!

Cream cheese adds moisture and richness while helping everything hold together. It also creates a softer texture without making the sausage balls taste overly creamy. The combination of sharp cheddar cheese and cream cheese gives you the best of both worlds. You get bold, cheesy flavor with a tender bite.

And that's what makes these cream cheese sausage balls different from traditional sausage ball recipes.

Why are my sausage balls dry or crumbly?

Dry sausage balls usually happen when there's too much biscuit mix or not enough moisture in the sausage mixture.

The most important thing is measuring the Bisquick correctly. Instead of scooping directly from the box, spoon the dry ingredients into your measuring cup and level them off. Also, make sure the cream cheese is soft enough to mix evenly. If the mixture seems crumbly, mix for an extra minute before adding anything else. Sometimes that's all it needs!

If it still won't hold together, try adding a little milk, starting with just a teaspoon or two. You shouldn't need a full cup of milk for this recipe. Adding too much liquid can make the sausage balls spread while baking.

Should you use freshly shredded cheese?

I prefer freshly shredded cheddar because it melts beautifully and distributes evenly throughout the sausage mixture.

But pre-shredded cheese is absolutely fine if you're short on time. Many packaged shredded cheeses contain anti-caking ingredients, which can slightly affect how they melt. For better results, use a good-quality sharp cheddar and avoid adding extra Bisquick to compensate for the cheese's texture.

If you want to experiment with other cheeses, pepper jack cheese adds a delicious spicy kick. You can also replace a small portion of the cheddar with Parmesan cheese for extra savory flavor. Just keep the overall amount of cheese the same.

Do you need a stand mixer or food processor?

A stand mixer is my favorite way to make these because it combines everything quickly.

But you definitely don't need one! You can mix the ingredients by hand in a large mixing bowl. Just make sure the cream cheese and sausage are evenly distributed. I wouldn't recommend using a food processor for the entire mixture. It can overprocess the sausage and change the finished texture. A paddle attachment on low speed or mixing by hand gives you more control.

Why are my sausage balls greasy?

Pork sausage and cheddar cheese both contain fat, so a little grease on the baking sheet is completely normal.

The type of sausage and cheese you use can affect how much fat renders during cooking. If needed, transfer the cooked sausage balls to a paper towel-lined plate for a minute before serving. I wouldn't recommend using extremely lean sausage without testing it first. The fat helps create the tender texture that makes these sausage cheese balls so delicious.

Can you make sausage balls ahead of time?

Absolutely! This is one of my favorite appetizer recipes for getting ahead of holiday entertaining.

Prepare the sausage mixture and roll it into balls as directed. Arrange them on a baking sheet, cover, and refrigerate promptly. For best quality, bake within 24 hours. When you're ready, transfer them straight from the refrigerator to the oven. You may need an extra minute or two of cook time.Just make sure the centers reach 160°F.

This is especially convenient for Christmas morning when you've got a million other things going on.

Can you freeze sausage balls before baking?

YES! These are such a great freezer-friendly snack recipe.

Prepare the sausage mixture and shape it into 1-inch balls. Arrange the uncooked sausage balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer to flash freeze the balls until firm.

Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 2-3 months for best quality.When you're ready to bake, arrange the frozen balls on a prepared baking sheet.

My original freezing instructions recommend baking at 375°F for approximately 25-30 minutes. Cooking time depends on their size and your oven, so always check for an internal temperature of 160°F.

Can you make sausage balls without Bisquick?

You can use another biscuit baking mix, but the texture may be slightly different.

Bisquick contains a combination of flour, fat, leavening, and salt. That's why simply replacing it with all-purpose flour doesn't give you the same results. If you have a homemade biscuit mix designed to replace Bisquick, that's your best alternative. I wouldn't substitute bread crumbs because they absorb moisture differently.

Can you make sausage balls in an air fryer?

You may be able to cook these in an air fryer, but I haven't tested an exact time and temperature for this version.

Because the sausage balls contain cream cheese and cheddar, they can brown quickly. If you experiment with the air fryer, work in small batches and monitor the internal temperature. For the original recipe, I recommend the oven.

What dipping sauces go with sausage balls?

One of my favorite things about these easy sausage balls is how many sauces you can serve with them.

The sweet chili mayo below is creamy, tangy, and delicious with spicy sausage. My homemade honey mustard sauce is another favorite, especially for brunch. You could also serve them with ranch, hot honey, BBQ sauce, or a little barbecue sauce mixed with Dijon mustard. And if you're making a big game day spread, a warm beer cheese dip would be delicious alongside them.

Do sausage balls need to be refrigerated?

Yes! Because these contain cooked pork sausage and dairy, they need to be refrigerated after serving.

Don't leave them at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. If the temperature is above 90°F, refrigerate them within 1 hour. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat until hot throughout before serving.

Are sausage balls good for holiday parties?

YES! They're practically a holiday staple in my book.

These little cheesy bites are perfect for Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, New Year's parties, and Super Bowl Sunday. They're easy to transport, simple to make ahead, and delicious served warm. Plus, they're the perfect appetizer when you want something hearty that people can grab and eat without utensils.

They're also a great addition to a brunch board with fruit, eggs, and a few sweet treats.

What to Serve It With

These easy sausage balls are delicious on their own, but they're even better as part of a big brunch or appetizer spread. I love pairing them with something tangy, fresh, or extra cheesy to balance all that savory goodness. And of course, they're so good with my funeral sandwiches!

My 3 Ingredient Honey Mustard is a natural pairing. The sweet, tangy sauce cuts through the richness of the sausage and cheese.

For a party platter, add my Dill Pickle Deviled Eggs. They're creamy, tangy, and loaded with pickle flavor.

If you're serving these for brunch or a cookout, my Dill Pickle Potato Salad is another delicious addition. Its bright, tangy dressing is a great contrast to the warm sausage balls.

And for the ultimate game day spread, serve them alongside my Easy Beer Cheese Dip. Add soft pretzels and crunchy vegetables, and you've got a spread that cheese lovers will absolutely lose their minds over.

Recipe