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    Home » Recipes » Party Appetizers

    Sausage Cream Cheese Balls (No Bisquick Pancake Mix!)

    Published: Oct 6, 2021 · Modified: Mar 8, 2022 by Aleka Shunk · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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    This recipe for Sausage Balls is made without Bisquick pancake mix. Instead, I used my own pancake mix ingredients plus cream cheese to make them a bit creamier. They are the perfect breakfast, brunch or Christmas appetizer that is guaranteed to be a hit at your next party!

    If you love meatballs, check out these 11 creative ways to use frozen meatballs!

    Cream cheese sausage balls without pancake mix on a plate with ketchup and skewers.
    Serve with toothpicks or skewers!

    If you have never had sausage and cream cheese balls, they are SO delicious!!

    They really are the perfect finger food ANY time of day and ANY time of year but many people make them around the holidays, especially on Christmas morning like my Sweet Bread French Toast.

    They taste like a cheesy biscuit with sausage inside.

    They go so well with breakfast like eggs or pancakes and french toast or they can be served as a skewered holiday appetizer or for next Sunday's football game or tailgate party!

    Either way, they are cheesy, moist and packed with flavor!

    Contents hide
    1 How These Cream Cheese Sausage Balls Are Different
    2 Ingredients
    3 No Pancake Bisquick Mix Needed!
    4 Dipping Sauce Ideas
    5 Expert Tips
    6 Make-Ahead/Storage Tips
    7 FAQ's
    7.1 Other sausage appetizers you will love:
    8 Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Mix
    8.1 Ingredients
    8.2 Instructions
    8.3 Recipe Notes
    8.4 Nutrition

    How These Cream Cheese Sausage Balls Are Different

    No this recipe is not your typical 4 ingredient Bisquick sausage ball recipe.

    It is not "SIMPLER" than the others but it IS tastier and healthier if you prefer not to use all those ingredients they put in the boxed mix.

    I never carry Biquick because I prefer to make my own pancakes, so if you are like me, this recipe is meant for you!

    This recipe ALSO includes cream cheese! I believe using cream cheese prevents your sausage balls from drying out, becoming dense.

    Plus, I use maple syrup! It is a huge flavor enhancer and just makes these balls 100x more breakfast-worthy in my opinion.

    Ingredients

    • ground pork/sausage - you can choose spicy sausage if you really like heat or mild.
    • flour - flour helps to hold the balls together. You can swap with gluten free flour, wheat, self-rising or almond flour. If using almond flour, the texture will be a bit different.
    • baking powder- this helps the sausage balls expand a bit and keeps them light.
    • cream cheese - this makes the balls creamy, moist and tender.
    • maple syrup - this adds sweetness and pairs perfectly with sausage.
    • milk - to add moisture,
    • garlic/onion/cayenne/salt - to season your meat. You can add any seasoning you prefer.
    Sausage ball ingredients in a food processor pureed together.

    No Pancake Bisquick Mix Needed!

    The old fashioned, or traditional, version of this recipe uses a box of good ol' Bisquick mix!

    But the thing is, many of us do not have that on hand OR many of us are not a fan of the mystery ingredients in those pancake mixes. So this recipe is a delicious alternative to using a boxed pancake mix.

    Most pancake mixes, including Bisquick, are made with the following ingredients:

    • flour
    • milk
    • leavening agent (baking powder/soda)
    • sugar
    • shortening

    So for my sausage balls, I started with all of the above ingredients (except for the shortening) all of which work just as well as a boxed mix. Since sausage is greasy on it's own, not adding any additional fat will help cut down on the greasiness.

    In addition to those, I used uncooked sausage. You can use spicy/hot sausage if you like that better. Jimmy Dean has a great sausage selection.

    To make these super creamy, I also added cream cheese and cheddar cheese to my mix which helps your balls stay moist and juicy.

    Lastly, I added MAPLE SYRUP! I am a sucker for sweet and savory especially when the savory ingredient is spicy.

    And I think we all can agree that sausage goes VERY well with maple syrup. Hellooo pancakes with sausage! So that ingredient alone makes these the best sausage balls...in my humble opinion.

    Sausage balls rolled on nonstick baking sheet ready to bake.
    Use parchment paper or a non-stick silicone pad for best results!

    Dipping Sauce Ideas

    Sausage goes well with so many different ingredients, both savory AND sweet. My go-to sauce is simple. Ketchup!

    Warmed maple syrup would be a delicious option for breakfast!

    If you want other dipping sauce options that would go well with sausage balls, any of these would be delicious:

    • Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
    • Maple Aioli
    • Garlic Aioli
    • Burger Sauce

    Expert Tips

    1. Use a mini ice cream scooper to scoop out your sausage mix so that each ball is uniform in size and perfectly bite-sized. This also helps them to cook evenly.
    2. Use a food processor to easily mix your dough otherwise it will be tough to mix everything together. If you don't have a food processor, get one!! They are amazing and save lots of time. Here is a mini one I love!
    3. You should not be using pre-cooked sausage. The results will not be the same and your balls wont hold together.
    4. To prevent your sausage balls from being flat on one side, I recommend popping them in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking. Then rotate them so they come out round.
    5. Use a sweet sausage for ever more sweetness.
    6. Add more cayenne pepper if you like heat.
    7. Use can use a stand mixer if you need with a hook attachment to help mix easier!
    Sausage ball close up with ketchup on skewer.
    Serve with ketchup or maple syrup for dipping!

    Make-Ahead/Storage Tips

    Store your sausage balls in a sealed tupperware container for up to 3-4 days. You can freeze your sausage balls and reheat them later in the oven until heated through. I recommend defrosting them first.

    FAQ's

    What sausage so you recommend?

    Jimmy Dean is a popular brand. You can use sweet, spicy or smoked turkey or pork sausage!

    Can I use almond flour instead of regular flour?

    Yes! Just know that the texture will be a little different.

    Should I brown my sausage first?

    No need to! You want them to stick together and pre-cooking your sausage will not allow for that.

    Can I use self-rising flour instead of the flour + baking soda?

    Yes.

    Do I NEED to use a food processor?

    No but it helps. You can use a stand mixer with a hook attachment or your hands if you want a workout!

    Sausage balls on a plate around ketchup for dipping.
    Sprinkle with chopped green onions for some color.

    Other sausage appetizers you will love:

    Sliced Chicken Apple Sausage Appetizer (w/ Onion Glaze)

    Puff Pastry Pigs In A Blanket with Creamy Dijon Sauce

    Cheesy Sausage Stuffed Pillsbury Biscuits (with jalapenos)

    Skewered Party Appetizers

    Easy Crock Pot Appetizers For Your Next Party

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    sausage balls without pancake mix on a plate with ketchup and skewers.

    Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Mix

    This recipe for Sausage Balls is made without bisquick. Instead, they are made with cream cheese, flour and baking powder. These are the perfect breakfast, brunch or holiday appetizer that is guaranteed to be a hit at your next party! *Substitute almond flour for a keto or GF option!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 22 minutes
    Calories: 405kcal
    Author: Aleka Shunk

    Ingredients

    • ½ lb. uncooked ground sausage (spicy or mild) (*you can also use plain ground pork)
    • ⅓ cup flour
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 4 ounces cream cheese
    • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1½ tablespoon milk
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (*more if you like heat)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1-2 scallions, finely chopped (*reserve some for garnishing)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425° F.
    • Add all your ingredients to a food processor and puree until well blended. Add your scallions last and pulse 1-2 times to incorporate.
      *If you don't grate your cheese ahead of time, it will be difficult to blend.
      *If you don't have a strong food processor, you can mix by hand!
    • Use a mini ice cream scooper to neatly and evenly scoop out ½ ounce. Use your hands to roll them into round balls. Place on a nonstick baking sheet or parchment paper.
    • The bottom of your sausage balls will bake flatter so if this bothers you, place them in the freezer for about 10 minutes to firm them up a bit. Then remove and re-roll them in between the palms of your hands to round them out again.
    • Bake for 6-8 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Do not overbake!
    • Serve hot with scallions as a garnish and ketchup or maple syrup for dipping!

    Recipe Notes

    Yield* 15-17  (½ ounce) balls
    • This recipe does not use as much flour as other traditional sausage ball recipes. I believe they turn out more moist this way.
    • Add ⅓ cup shredded cheddar cheese if you prefer a cheesier sausage ball.
    • If the size of your balls are larger than ½ ounce. the bake time will increase and the yield will decrease.
    • If you want to make these in advance and freeze them, roll them out and lay them FLAT on a baking sheet. Then flash freeze them for about an hour. This will allow you to add them together in a container or bag without sticking together! Freeze for 6-8 weeks.
    • *Read the post above for more tips and frequently answered questions!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.2g | Protein: 21.4g | Fat: 28.1g | Saturated Fat: 12.8g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 798mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 5.1g
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    Comments

    1. Karen

      October 03, 2021 at 7:26 am

      Hi Aleka,
      You have mentioned that you use cream cheese and cheddar cheese in this recipe however I do not see cream cheese listed in the recipe. How much cream cheese do you use? I like the sound of the added cream cheese and would like to try your recipe with the cream cheese.
      Your recipe sounds great…. much better then the 3 ingredient recipe that is out there. Looking forward to making these. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Aleka Shunk

        October 08, 2021 at 1:38 pm

        Hi Karen! I just updated the recipe a bit. Thanks so much for pointing that out!!

    2. Brittany Johnson

      August 19, 2021 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      Going to try to make some in advance for easy meals with my next baby on the way... When you bake from frozen, do you thaw first?

      Reply
      • Aleka Shunk

        August 20, 2021 at 1:45 pm

        Hi Brittany! I am assuming you are freezing them fully baked. If this is the case, you don't need to thaw them. Heat them at about 300 degrees F for about 15 minutes or until heated through.

    3. Lawson

      December 25, 2020 at 3:48 pm

      How many sausage balls are in a serving size? Much enjoyed!

      Reply
      • Aleka Shunk

        December 26, 2020 at 9:55 am

        Hi! I estimated about 4 balls per serving.

    4. Lisa Gray

      December 24, 2020 at 10:55 am

      Do you think I can just omit the maple syrup, or would I need to replace it with something? I’m excited to try these!

      Reply
      • Aleka Shunk

        December 24, 2020 at 5:06 pm

        You can omit it if you'd like! Let me know how they turn out! 🙂

    5. Nancy

      November 18, 2020 at 4:40 am

      I tried at home it was delicious..

      Reply
      • Aleka Shunk

        November 18, 2020 at 12:23 pm

        I am so glad you liked it!

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