Sausage Cheese Balls need only breakfast sausage, sharp cheddar, and eggs. Mixing the simple combination by hand creates a cohesive, cheese-studded mixture that can become 12 substantial portions or 24 smaller party bites.
The listed recipe yields 12 large or 24 mini balls and serves 12. Preparation takes 5 minutes. Large balls bake for 40 minutes, producing the listed 45-minute total; the mini option bakes for 20 minutes. Both sizes must reach 160°F.
Sausage Cheese Balls Ingredients
Use 1 pound ground breakfast sausage, 1½ to 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and exactly 2 large eggs.
Optional dipping choices are ranch dressing, honey mustard, chive-and-onion sour cream, or maple syrup for breakfast. None of those sauces goes into the sausage mixture.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like Bacon BBQ Chicken Sliders.
How to Make Sausage Cheese Balls
- Heat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Combine sausage, shredded sharp cheddar, and 2 eggs in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly by hand until evenly distributed and able to hold together.
- For 12 large balls, use 2 tablespoons mixture apiece and space them about 1 inch apart. Bake 40 minutes.
- Alternatively, form 24 mini balls with 1 tablespoon mixture each and bake 20 minutes.
- Confirm an internal temperature of 160°F, cool 2–3 minutes, and serve warm with optional sauce.
For food-safety guidance while cooking, use the USDA safe minimum temperature chart.
Preheat to 375°F
Choose Sharp Cheddar
Combine Three Core Ingredients
Mix Thoroughly by Hand
Choose Large or Mini Portions
Roll Smooth, Even Balls
Bake Large Balls for Forty Minutes
Bake Mini Balls for Twenty Minutes
Verify 160°F Internally
Cool for Two to Three Minutes
Select an Optional Dip
Make Ahead and Freeze
Avoid Common Portioning Errors
Conclusion
Heat the oven to 375°F and line a sheet with parchment. Mix 1 pound breakfast sausage, 1½ to 2 cups sharp cheddar, and two eggs thoroughly by hand. For 12 large balls, use 2 tablespoons mixture each, space them 1 inch apart, and bake 40 minutes. For 24 mini balls, use 1 tablespoon each and bake 20 minutes. Confirm 160°F internally, cool 2–3 minutes, and serve with optional ranch, honey mustard, chive-and-onion sour cream, or maple syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How many sausage cheese balls does the recipe make?
It makes 12 large balls or 24 mini balls and serves 12.
- → How long do large sausage balls bake?
Bake 2-tablespoon large balls at 375°F for 40 minutes.
- → How long do mini sausage balls bake?
Bake 1-tablespoon mini balls at 375°F for 20 minutes.
- → What internal temperature should they reach?
Every size must reach 160°F in the center before serving.