Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (2024)

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Posted: | Last updated: by Erin K. Browne 28 Comments
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These sharp and spicy sausage balls without Bisquick are made totally from scratch and will disappear off of your party trays during the holidays!

Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (1)

What Are Sausage Balls?

Sausage balls are a ubiquitously popular appetizer - especially in the South - and are often seen gracing the appetizer trays during the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The most often used recipe starts with Bisquick baking mix, cheddar cheese, and ground sausage. The ingredients are mixed together, formed into balls, and baked.

The result is a batch of spicy and addicting poppable savory treats that you just can't stop eating. My version of sausage balls is made without Bisquick but they are still just as simple and easy as the 3-ingredient original. Give them a try - I know you'll love them!

What Ingredients Do I Need?

  • All-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and butter: These ingredients make up the substitution for Bisquick, which is a commonly used baking mix to make sausage balls easier. But I like this version from scratch because it removes the need to buy a special product.
  • Pepper and Onion Powder: These spices add extra zip to the cheese and sausage mixture.
  • Sage Sausage: I love the flavor and aroma of sage sausage - it just makes me think of the holidays! This tasty sausage also makes amazing sausage balls. If you don't have sage sausage, add 1 tablespoon of rubbed sage to the recipe.
  • Sharp Cheddar: Buy a solid block of sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese and grate your own. The pre-shredded cheese in the bag will not stick together as well as freshly-shredded due to the cellulose coating added to the bagged product. Sharp varieties of cheddar are best for imparting bold flavor into your sausage balls. You could even use half sharp cheddar and half pepper jack - yum!
  • Milk: You only need ¼ cup of milk (use any kind) to help moisten the mixture and help everything come together nicely.
Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (2)

Tips For Success

  • Don't Use Pre-Shredded Cheese: The shredded cheese you buy in the bag is mighty convenient, but it will not work well for making sausage balls. Pre-shredded cheese has a coating that keeps the cheese from sticking together in the bag, but that coating will also make it difficult for your sausage ball mixture to hold together.
  • If You Only Have Regular Sausage: I like to use sage sausage because I love the extra flavor and the smell and taste of sage makes me think of the holidays. If you can only find regular, add 1 tablespoon of rubbed sage to the recipe.
  • Don't Overbake: True for basically any recipe ever, but especially important for sausage balls. Leaving the balls in the oven for too long can cause them to be dry and hard. They should look moist and lightly golden on top and brown on the bottom (But not too dark). During the cook time, I sacrifice one by slicing into it to check doneness.
  • Use Your Hands: If you've ever made a meatloaf, you've likely discovered that getting in there with your (clean) hands is the best way to get everything mixed together. These sausage balls are no different. Mixing them with your hands will make quick work of forming the balls.
Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (3)

Do You Have To Cook Them Right Away?

Need to make these the night before? No problem. Form the mixture into balls and place the unbaked sausage balls onto the baking sheet tightly wrapped with plastic. They'll keep in the refrigerator for up to a day. Just unwrap and pop them into the oven when you're ready to serve your fresh, hot appetizers.

Can You Freeze Sausage Balls?

Yes, you can!

To Freeze: Place the unbaked sausage balls onto a baking sheet and place into the freezer for one hour. This will flash freeze them so that they do not stick together. After the hour is up, place the balls into a freezer safe zip top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

To Bake Frozen Sausage Balls: Take them out of the freezer and let them sit on the counter while your oven preheats (use recipe directions). Then place the balls onto a lightly-sprayed baking sheet and bake as usual.

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Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (4)

Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

4.7 from 14 reviews

  • Author: Erin
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 46 balls 1x
Print Recipe

Description

These sausage balls are made from scratch without the use of a premade baking mix. The use of sage sausage and sharp cheddar gives them lots of bite! Makes enough to feed a hungry party crowd.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (see notes)
  • 1 pound sage ground pork sausage
  • 3 TBS unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and baking powder.
  2. Add the cheese and toss until coated.
  3. Add the sausage, melted butter, and milk. Mix well - I find that using clean hands to mix the ingredients together works best.
  4. Form mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a large lightly-greased baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until browned and cooked through. Serve fresh.

Notes

Do not use pre-shredded cheese. That type of cheese has a coating that will hinder the sausage ball mixture's ability to stick together when forming the balls. Grate cheese from a block instead.

If you use regular sausage, add 1 tablespoon rubbed sage to the mixture.

You can freeze unbaked sausage balls. Place the balls on a baking sheet and freeze for one hour, and then transfer the balls to a zip top freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months for best quality.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Category: Starters
  • Method: Oven

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Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (7)

About Erin K. Browne

Erin is a mom of two human babies and a sweet kitty named Biscuit Fingers. She loves comfy clothes, eats too much peanut butter, and watches excessive amounts of Netflix. Make her day and toss her a like on Facebook or follow her on Instagram. Post may contain affiliate links including those via the Amazon Associates program

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (8)Debra

    So happy to have No bisqiuck!!!!! Love the recipe. Thanks. Happy new year

    Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (9)E

      Time and temp are not accurate. Need lower temp or less time unless you want rocks. Flavor is good minus the char.

      Reply

  2. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (10)Lois Marie Stevens

    I grew up having sausage balls for Christmas morning every year but now I am a full time missionary in Africa, so I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to have them this year! Then I found this recipe and was able to have a little piece of home here in Africa!! They were a huge hit here with our team!! Thank you for the recipe

    Reply

  3. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (11)Emily

    Love this simple recipe - I only had shredded cheese on hand and they still turned out awesome!

    Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (12)Erin

      Awesome! Thank you for the kind review!

      Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (13)Dana Dobias

      I have made Sausage Balls for years and always have to remember to get Bisquick. Today I decided to look for a substitute recipe and I think yours is a winner!
      A couple of differences: I add picante sauce (couple of tbs) it adds an interesting zip.
      And I have always been admonished to never refreeze raw pork. But these freeze great when they are baked. I can grab a couple from the freezer, pop them in the microwave and have a quick snack or reheat the entire batch to feed to a group.
      Mine are traveling to Bunko tonight, they keep nicely warm in a French Corning casserole dish.

      Reply

  4. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (14)Christy

    I followed this recipe exactly expect I doubled the cheese amount and didn't use sage sausage. I've always made them with Bisquick and when I realized I didn't have any I found this recipe. They came out great! So good to know I don't have to have Bisquick in the future! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (16)Jennifer Warren

      When I made these I served them with a white gravy for dipping, and they were freaking delicious!

      Reply

      • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (17)Erin

        Oh my goodness, I love this idea!! Like a biscuits and gravy appetizer. Love it!

        Reply

      • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (18)Wendy Grohman

        Did them in grape jelly it raspberry spread. You won’t regret it!

        Reply

  5. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (19)Kacee

    How long do you bake then if they are frozen? I'm excited to try these!

    Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (20)Erin

      Sorry I'm just seeing this! Let them thaw on the baking sheet for about 15 or 20 minutes, then bake as directed. They may need an extra few minutes in the oven.

      Reply

  6. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (21)Angie

    These sausage balls were delicious! The recipe is the best I have used, ever.

    Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (22)Erin

      Thank you SO much for this comment, Angie! So glad this recipe worked well for you.

      Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (23)Erin

      I'm so happy to hear that!

      Reply

      • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (24)Pat Keffer

        I make sausage balls every year for Christmas. I normally used Bisquick but my daughter in law has become allergic to soy so I was excited to see this recipe. My husband says they turned out better using your recipe!

        Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (25)Charyssa

      I’ve even used ground venison with 80/20 ground beef and it works well. Added a little extra butter and milk, but still worked.

      Reply

      • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (26)Erin

        That sounds sooo good! Thanks for sharing your alteration!

        Reply

  7. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (27)Dee

    This was by far one of the best recipes I've found. I used chicken sausage and added smoked paprika and a bit of sage. I also used maybe a tablespoon or two of additional milk.

    Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (28)Erin

      Sounds so yummy! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

      • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (29)Mae

        I always make sausage balls for Christmas morning and this year my hubs is having to change his diet a bit so I'm thinking about doing it with turkey breakfast sausage, whole wheat flour, and EVOO. No idea if it'll turn out right but I'm so glad to have found a recipe I can at least try out.

        Reply

  8. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (30)Lori

    These turned out great! Nice to have a way to make these without having to buy Bisquick. I just don't use it enough to keep it in my pantry. These weren't dry either. I think the extra step with the cheese, grating it and coating it before adding in the sausage, butter, and milk, made all the difference in these betting the hit of the night.

    Reply

  9. Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (31)Heidi Jones

    I've seen some recipes that use 8oz cream cheese instead of one of the cups of cheddar. Think this would work? Sometimes sausage balls are too dry for my taste, so I was looking for something a bit moister.

    Reply

    • Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (32)Erin

      I haven't tried that out with this particular recipe, so I can't say for sure, I'm sorry! You may have better luck searching specifically for a recipe using cream cheese.

      Reply

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Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I use if I don't have Bisquick? ›

Yes, you can substitute Bisquick with a combination of flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening or butter. For every cup of Bisquick needed in a recipe, use 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons shortening or cold butter.

Can I use self-rising flour instead of Bisquick? ›

Self-rising flour might be able to be used but it's missing the shortening that is often needed and accounted for in those recipes that use Bisquick so I do not recommend it. How to store homemade Bisquick? Place your Bisquick in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Why are my sausage balls so dry? ›

Why are my sausage balls so dry? Sausage balls can dry out if there is too much Bisquick mix in the sausage mixture or if the sausage balls were not mixed well enough. You can try adding a little bit of milk if the mixture still seems too dry. But be careful not to add too much liquid.

Do you have to refrigerate sausage balls after you make them? ›

Sausage balls can sit out while serving for up to two hours. Past that point, they should be refrigerated and reheated. Do sausage balls need a dipping sauce? Sausage balls are delicious all on their own, but you can pair with ranch, honey mustard, or any other dipping sauce you love.

Can I substitute Bisquick for regular flour? ›

Yes, Bisquick can be used as a substitute for flour in certain recipes, particularly those that call for a leavening agent such as baking powder or baking soda. However, it's important to note that Bisquick already contains other ingredients like shortening and salt, so adjustments may be needed in the recipe.

Can I use pancake mix instead of Bisquick? ›

While pancake mix and Bisquick share many ingredients, the two are not the same. The main difference is that the pancake mix is sweeter. Most pancake mixes can be used in place of Bisquick and vice versa in sweet recipes. Compare your pancake mix with Bisquick's ingredient list before swapping.

What is the same as Bisquick? ›

Pancake Mix – Pancake mix is a lot like Bisquick, but it may yield a slightly sweeter result due to its sugar content. Jiffy Baking Mix – Use Jiffy baking mix in place of Bisquick and get delicious results! Krusteaz Baking Mix – Just like Jiffy, Krusteaz baking mix can be swapped in place of Bisquick with no issues.

What happens if I use self-rising flour instead of all-purpose flour? ›

Remember that self-rising flour is a softer flour, so baked goods made with it will not be the same as when you use all-purpose flour—for example, cookies may spread more and be thinner and crisper than if made with all-purpose flour.

What is Bisquick mix made of? ›

The ingredients in Bisquick Original consist of bleached wheat flour (enriched with niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin and folic acid), corn starch, dextrose, palm oil, leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate), canola oil, salt, sugar, DATEM, and distilled monoglycerides.

How to keep sausage balls from burning on the bottom? ›

HOW DO YOU KEEP SAUSAGE BALLS FROM BURNING ON THE BOTTOM?
  1. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (Silpat) to create a barrier between the sausage balls and the direct heat of the baking sheet. ...
  2. If possible, choose a light-colored baking sheet. ...
  3. Check early and often.
Jan 11, 2024

What makes sausage moist? ›

Properly salting the pork and letting it rest for eight hours in the refrigerator allows the meat to retain moisture and ensures the cooked sausage will have a juicy, springy texture.

Why do my sausage balls go flat? ›

Why do my sausage balls go flat? With enough flour mixture and sausage ratio, these sausage balls should be able to hold their shape once they are scooped out and rolled into balls. But if you use pre-shredded cheese, their anti-clumping agent might cause these balls to collapse while baking or cooking.

What to eat with sausage balls for dinner? ›

The best side dishes to serve with sausage balls are sauteed mushrooms, mashed sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, cheese dip, Brussels sprouts with bacon, scrambled eggs, wedge salad, yellow rice, grilled asparagus, biscuits and gravy, roasted red peppers, tomato and mozzarella salad, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and ...

Why are my sausage balls not sticking together? ›

Why are my sausage balls not sticking together? Usually, this means there is too much baking mix to sausage ratio. You can try adding in a little milk to help them hold together.

Is cooked sausage ok to eat if left out overnight? ›

If you reheat food that was forgotten on the counter overnight or was left out all day, will it be safe to eat? TWO HOURS is the MAXIMUM time perishable foods should be at room temperature (ONE HOUR at temperatures 90 degrees F and higher). This INCLUDES the time they're on the table during your meal.

What can I use instead of milk Bisquick? ›

To make Bisquick pancakes without milk (or Bisquick biscuits without milk), substitute an equal amount water or non-dairy milk for the milk called for on the recipe on the package. Add any other ingredients, such as oil and eggs, as instructed.

Is Bisquick the same as baking mix? ›

If you've never had it, Bisquick is simply a premade baking mix made of flour, fat, leavening, and salt. What is this? It's traditionally used to make pancakes or waffles, biscuits, and muffins. But you'd be surprised at all of the ways you can use an all-purpose baking mix like this.

Did Bisquick change its formula? ›

If you use it in any recipes, you'll have to add oil now. At least in the United States, the packaging for Original Bisquick now says "new recipe directions". The recipe on the back of the box, for basic biscuits, says you need to add a tablespoon of oil.

Is Hungry Jack like Bisquick? ›

The Hungry Jack batter was even more thin than the Bisquick mix had been, and that was after letting it stand for three minutes. The runny batter made the pancakes super thin, and big craters appeared in the surface.

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