Easy Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese

These sausage balls with cream cheese come together so easily with just 4 ingredients! They’re delicious with or without a dip and can even be made in advance.

Stock up your freezer with these quick and easy sausage balls with cream cheese!

Cream cheese transforms your average sausage balls into extra moist, tender, bite-sized porky goodness. Add cheddar cheese to the mix, and these cream cheese sausage balls are bound to disappear on your dining table fast. 

Pork sausage, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese…Those are only 3 ingredients.

What’s the 4th for this 4-ingredient recipe? 

These sausage bites are also made with an unexpected ingredient: Bisquick. 

The baking mix we typically use for pancakes and dumplings removes the greasiness we hate in regular meatballs and gives these sausage balls a consistency similar to a biscuit!

What are Sausage Balls?

Sausage balls are delicious bites of ground pork sausage and different mix-ins and seasonings. There are many variations of these savory finger foods, but you can’t get any simpler and easier than this 4-ingredient recipe. 

These are sausage balls with cream cheese, baking mix, and cheddar cheese.

You can combine the ingredients by hand or in an electric mixer. Serve them as party appetizers with or without dips, or freeze them for future meals on busy days. 

The cream cheese makes these sausage balls soft and moist, while the baking mix turns each piece into a cross between a meatball and a biscuit. 

Instead of greasy meatballs, you’ll get deliciously fluffy nibbles of tender meat and cheese.

Say goodbye to dry, crumbly sausage balls that fall apart with these cream cheese sausage balls!

Why You’ll Love This Sausage Ball Recipe

• 4 Ingredients Only: It’s hard to believe that these meaty, flavorful bites of pork and cheese are only made with 4 simple ingredients. They also don’t require special kitchen tools, but you can make the process less messy with an electric mixer.
• Versatile: These sausage balls with cream cheese and Bisquick are customizable for every occasion! Shape the balls as big or small as you like, or stir in your favorite spices and seasonings to the sausage ball mixture and make this recipe your own. 
• Freezer-Friendly: Sausage cream cheese balls are great for busy families because you can prepare them in advance and just pop them in the freezer. And if you cooked them earlier than other dishes for a gathering, simply keep them in a CrockPot. 

What Do Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese Taste Like?

Sausage balls with cream cheese taste savory, meaty, and cheesy. It’s guaranteed that you can’t eat just one. 😋

But what makes these sausage cream cheese balls a winner is their texture, thanks to the 2 secret ingredients.

They’re fluffy like a biscuit because of the baking mix, and the cream cheese makes the meat moist and tender. 

Now, you can make the balls in any size you like, but I think they’re more enjoyable if you can eat them in at least two bites, haha!

Hot pork sausage is also perfect, as the kick complements the sharp flavor of the cheese. Nonetheless, this is a flexible recipe.

Experiment with different types of ground meat, cheese, and add-ins. 

These sausage balls don’t require dips to taste satisfying, but I shared some ideas on what to serve with them below. 

Ingredients For Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

• Hot pork sausage – You can use any sausage you like as long as it has a decent amount of fat to keep the sausage balls moist. Italian and sage sausages are other delicious options for this sausage ball recipe with Bisquick. 
• Cream cheese – Use softened cream cheese at room temperature for easier combining with the rest of the ingredients.
• Baking mix – The binder for these sausage balls. This is also the secret behind the irresistible light texture of the baked sausages. 
• Cheddar cheese – Have fun customizing these sausage balls with cream cheese. Besides sharp cheddar cheese, you can also use Colby Jack and Gruyere. Just shred the cheese yourself so it’ll melt well. 
• Parsley – For garnish.

Tools Needed To Prepare Sausage Cream Cheese Balls

• Baking sheet for cooking the cream cheese sausage balls
• Parchment paper for lining the baking sheet
• Cooking scoop for portioning the sausage mixture

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Sausage Balls

Hot sausage alternative

For me, these sausage balls with cream cheese and baking mix are best made with hot pork sausage. The spice just goes well with cheddar and cream cheese, and ground pork makes juicy sausage balls.

However, you can also use chorizo or, for a leaner option, ground turkey or ground chicken.

But what if the mixture turns out to be too dry?

You can add some milk to boost the moisture of your lean meat sausage balls!

Can I make this recipe without Bisquick?

Did you know you can make your own baking mix for these cream cheese sausage balls? A baking mix is simply a combination of flour, baking powder, salt, and vegetable shortening.

But if you don’t feel like buying multiple ingredients to make a baking mix from scratch, you can just use a box of biscuit mix for these sausage cheese balls.

Add-ins

Make each sausage cream cheese ball a flavor fiesta in the mouth by adding your favorite herbs and seasonings to the sausage mixture.

I personally like my sausage and cheddar balls extra spicy, so jalapenos or red pepper flakes are my favorite add-ins.

You can also chop up some onions or stir in garlic powder, oregano, and rosemary!

How to Make Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 lb hot pork sausage
• 1 8-oz block cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups baking mix
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• Parsley, chopped for garnish (optional)

Tools you need:

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cooking scoop

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients.

STEP 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line the baking sheets with parchment paper.

STEP 3: Combine the sausage and cream cheese.

STEP 4: Add the baking mix and combine.

STEP 5: Add the cheddar cheese and mix.

STEP 6: Scoop out the mixture into the lined baking sheets. The yield of this recipe will depend on how big you make your sausage balls.

STEP 7: Chill the sausage balls in the fridge for 10 minutes.

STEP 8: Bake the sausage balls with cream cheese in the oven for about 22 to 25 minutes. Once they’re firm and golden brown, they’re done. You can also insert a thermometer into the center of a ball to see if it has reached 160°F.

STEP 9: Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve the sausage balls with a side salad or dip.

What to Serve with Sausage Balls?

Enjoy these sausage balls with cream cheese for breakfast, as party appetizers, or with sides for a filling meal. 😋

Serve the sausage balls with maple syrup and start the day right.

You can also have them with your favorite dip (or dips). The more the merrier, right?

Some delicious dips for these sausage balls with cream cheese and Bisquick are chili sauce and mayo-mustard. (Scroll down for more ideas that go beyond ketchup and mayonnaise.)

If you are having these cream cheese sausage balls for lunch or dinner, you can’t go wrong with spaghetti to accompany them. Try our Instant Pot spaghetti and meatballs for a fuss-free take on the classic dish!

Or, for your next gathering, enjoy these sausage cheddar balls as cocktail meatballs.

Serve them with our cozy hash brown potato soup for a yummy pairing that everyone will want to dig right into.

Tips About Making Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese

• The mixture for these sausage cream cheese balls can be quite sticky. If making a big batch, you can combine the ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment.
• Before baking, we chilled the Bisquick sausage balls to keep them from spreading and burning on the bottom. You can also flip them halfway through the cooking time so their bottoms won’t brown too much. 
• This sausage ball recipe is air fryer-friendly! Cook the sausage balls with cream cheese for 6 minutes at 375°F or 10 minutes at 350°F. And, of course, remember not to overcrowd the basket!

How to Store Sausage Balls

• Fridge: Transfer the leftover cream cheese sausage balls into an airtight container, and they should keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. But don’t worry; leftovers for these sausage balls are very rare. 😉
• Freezer: Meal prep these sausage balls! Flash-freeze the uncooked sausage cream cheese balls in the lined baking tray before you store them in a freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 1 month. And the good news? You don’t need to thaw them before baking. 
• Reheating Leftovers and Cooking Make-Ahead Sausage Balls: You can reheat the cooked sausage balls in the microwave at 30-second intervals until heated through. For uncooked sausage balls from the freezer, just follow the remaining steps of the recipe. 

How Long to Cook Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese?

Bisquick sausage balls with cream cheese and cheddar can take 22 to 25 minutes to cook, depending on the size and number of the balls. 

Ultimately, you know your oven best, so adjust the baking time and temperature accordingly.

But what if they came from the freezer?

These sausage balls are great for making ahead because they’re freezer-friendly.

To cook frozen sausage balls, just place them on a lined baking sheet and follow through with the rest of the recipe. 

You don’t need to thaw them, but you can add a few minutes to their cooking time. 

What is the best way to keep sausage balls warm?

These sausage balls are best enjoyed warm.

Place them in a chafing dish, or if you won’t be serving them right away at the party, just use a slow cooker in the warm setting. 

What to Dip Sausage Balls In?

These sausage balls with cream cheese and baking mix are tasty on their own, but if you like yours with a dip, take them to the next level with these combinations:

Combine sour cream and green onion seasoning powder for an effortless, crowd-pleasing dip, perfect for game day. 

You can also make an apricot Dijon dipping sauce instead of the usual honey mustard. Just mix Country Dijon mustard with your favorite apricot preserves and a bit of mayonnaise.

But if you want something creamy with a kick, you’ll love the fusion of sweet chili sauce, sour cream, and mayonnaise. 😋

FAQ About Sausage Balls

Conclusion

These sausage balls with cream cheese are made with hot pork sausage, cream cheese, baking mix, and shredded cheddar cheese. That’s it!

The cream cheese makes these savory bites perfectly moist and tender, while the baking mix keeps their texture soft and fluffy. And if sharp cheddar is not your thing, you’re free to use your favorite cheese for this recipe. 

Serve these cream cheese sausage balls with fun dips and get the party started, or pair them with your favorite salads, soup, and pasta dishes for a filling meal.

They’re super easy to make and can even be stored in the freezer to make your weeknight dinners a breeze. 

Want more quick and easy appetizers like these sausage balls with cream cheese? Here are some stress-free recipes that are guaranteed to impress:

• Prosciutto Mascarpone Honeyed Arugula Bruschetta
• Deviled Eggs with Relish
• Gluten-Free Stuffed Mushrooms
• Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
• Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders