Cream Cheese Sausage Balls – The Appetizer Everyone Will Beg For! (So Easy, They’ll Think You Baked All Day)

🛒 What You’ll Need: Pantry Staples, Maximum Flavor

Grab these cozy ingredients—you probably already have most:

1 lb hot pork sausage (or mild, Italian, or plant-based crumbles)

8 oz (1 block) cream cheese, softened (full-fat for creaminess)

2 cups Bisquick baking mix

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (plus extra for topping if you’re feeling fancy)

That’s it.

No eggs. No milk. No measuring drama.

Just real food, mixed into magic.

💡 Pro tip: Let cream cheese sit out 30 mins for easy blending.

🔥 How to Make Them: Step-by-Step, Bite-by-Bite

Let’s cook this like we’re hosting a party—but only spending 10 minutes in the kitchen.

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat.

Step 2: Cook the Sausage

In a skillet over medium heat, brown sausage, breaking it into small pieces.

Drain excess fat and let cool slightly (~5 mins).

👉 Don’t skip draining! Too much grease can make balls greasy.

Step 3: Mix the Dough

In a large bowl:

Beat softened cream cheese until smooth (~1 min).

Add cooked sausage, Bisquick, and cheddar cheese.

Stir until fully combined into a thick, sticky dough.

👉 Use hands if needed—it’s messy, but worth it!

Step 4: Roll into Balls

Scoop by tablespoon (or use cookie scoop).

Roll gently into 1-inch balls.

Place on prepared baking sheet, 1 inch apart.

Optional: Sprinkle tops with extra cheese before baking.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake 20–25 minutes, until:

Golden brown on top

Set through the center

Slightly crisp edges

👉 No need to flip! They bake evenly as-is.

Step 6: Cool & Serve

Let cool 5 minutes—this helps them hold shape.

Serve warm—with honey mustard, ranch, or marinara for dipping.

Bonus: Leftovers reheat beautifully in the oven or air fryer (never microwave—they get soggy).

💡 Pro Tips for Next-Level Success

🧀 Shred your own cheese —pre-shredded has anti-caking agents that can make texture grainy

🌶️ Spice it up: Add ½ tsp garlic powder, cayenne, or red pepper flakes

🍯 Sweet & spicy? Drizzle with honey or maple syrup before serving

🧈 Extra creamy? Add 2 tbsp sour cream or Greek yogurt to the mix

🍽️ Make ahead: Shape balls, refrigerate overnight, bake before serving (+2 mins)

🧊 Freeze them: Freeze unbaked balls on tray, then bag. Bake from frozen (+3–5 mins)

🍽️ When to Serve These Golden Gems

🏈 Game day appetizers (disappear fast!)

☕ Brunch with mimosas and fruit

🎉 Holiday parties and potlucks

🫶 To someone who says, “I don’t eat apps” —watch them grab three

Because once they taste that cheesy-savory, creamy-crunchy magic?

They’ll be converted.

❤️ Final Thought: Great Food Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

You don’t need 17 ingredients or a culinary degree to make something magical.

Sometimes, all it takes is:

A block of cream cheese

A pound of sausage

And the courage to roll it into balls

And when your partner says, “Did you buy these?”

Or your kid asks for “one more” after finishing their plate…

You’ll know:

You didn’t just make an appetizer.

You made joy.