There’s nothing like the biscuit like texture of homemade sausage balls. Learn the secret for how to make sausage balls without Bisquick and you’ll have a light and less greasy version with no added chemicals. Whether you’re making them for breakfast or as an appetizer, these are a winner.

Sausage Balls without Bisquick
Here in the South, sausage balls are a staple for all holidays or parties, and no game day is complete without a plate of these delicious bites. But do you know how to make sausage balls without Bisquick?
While most people make the classic Bisquick recipe for sausage balls you might not have a box in your pantry or just want to avoid processed foods, or maybe you want a sausage ball with a biscuit like texture that’s less greasy and a little addictive!
Why you’ll love Sausage Balls (No Bisquick)
- You just need a few ingredients
- They’re quick and easy to make
- They are a staple around the holidays
- There’s nothing better to serve for Game Day
- The biscuit like texture is amazing
Tips for making Sausage Balls from Scratch
- Let the sausage warm up on the counter for about 15 minutes. This will make it easier to combine with the flour and cheese.
- Try to keep the sausage balls about the same size so that they are not overcooked.
- To prevent them from being dry, don’t cook these too long. Remove them as soon as they start to brown.
- If you want to make these a day in advance, roll them into balls and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Don’t use pre-shredded cheese.
- If using pimento cheese, try to find a brand that does not have very much mayonnaise.
- If the mixture is too dry and does not come together, you can add a little milk to the mixture. If it is too sticky, add a little more flour.
Sausage Balls without Bisquick – 3 Ways
I have three favorite sausage ball recipes, none of which require Bisquick.
Sausage Balls with Flour
For traditional sausage balls you will use a breakfast sausage and sharp cheddar cheese. You can change these up and make them spicer by adding cayenne pepper. You can use sausage with sage, or use Italian sausage instead. As long as you are using ground pork it will work in this recipe.
If you want to increase the flavor, use an aged sharp cheddar cheese. Any other cheese will work, but a sharp cheddar adds that traditional flavor we expect in a sausage ball.
Sausage balls are great all by themselves but you can also serve them with dip, like honey mustard or ranch dressing if you are serving them as an appetizer. For breakfast, they are perfect all by themselves or serve with your favorite quiche. On Christmas morning, we serve them with cinnamon rolls!
Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls
Adding pimento cheese to sausage balls combines two Southern classics into an amazing sausage ball. If you aren’t familiar with pimento cheese, it’s a creamy spread made with sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and pimentos. The slight tang from the mayonnaise and pimentos elevates the traditional sausage ball.
Using a pre-made pimento cheese also eliminates the need to shred the cheese and the mayonnaise in the spread keeps them from drying out.
When choosing the pimento cheese, try to choose a brand that is not too creamy, the less mayonnaise the better. If the brand you’ve chosen has too much mayonnaise, the sausage balls will be sticky and will spread when baking.
To avoid this, just add a little more flour to the sausage balls. The mixture should be dry enough that you can roll it with your hands without the sausage mixture sticking to your hands. Pimento cheese makes the best cheesy sausage balls with a boost of flavor.
Keto Sausage Balls
You can even make sausage balls without all purpose flour. Adding almond flour instead adds a slightly different flavor but is equally delicious. You’ll need to add an egg to the mixture in order to get a good texture and keep them from falling apart.
If you want to make a gluten free or low carb recipe, this is one that will win everyone over. You don’t have to have dietary restrictions to love these sausage balls. The baked version will be a little lumpier due to the texture of the almond flour.
Grab some sausage and cheese and you’re ready to make the best game day appetizers, or save this recipe for the next time you have friends over and don’t forget the holidays.
What to serve with sausage balls
If serving for breakfast, they can be a stand alone breakfast, kind of like a mini sausage biscuit. They are also great as a side to any egg dish, or carb load and serve them with cinnamon rolls, the sweet and savory are a great combination.
If you’re serving as an appetizer, here are some others to add to the spread.
Sausage Balls Recipes FAQs
Instead of Bisquick combine flour, baking powder, salt and butter.
The amount of fat in the sausage can affect how dry they are. If the mixture does not come together when you’re forming into balls, add a little milk. Also be careful not to over bake them, take them out as soon as they start to turn brown.
You can make sausage balls a day ahead of time. Just cover the prepared balls with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
You will want to use ground pork of any kind for sausage balls. Traditional recipes use breakfast sausage but you can also use Italian sausage.
For the best flavor, try an aged sharp cheddar cheese or pimento cheese.
The easiest way to make sausage balls is with a stand mixer, it will do a great job of combining all of the ingredients. You can also use a food processor. However, you can make perfectly delicious sausage balls by mixing them with your hands.
Sausage balls do not need to be refrigerated after they have been cooked. They will stay fresh in an airtight container for 1-2 days. After that, they should be refrigerated or frozen.
Sausage balls may not stick together if you have used pre shredded cheese which has a coating on it that prevents it from sticking. They also could have too much flour. Just add a tablespoon of milk to the mixture and continue adding until they stick together.
To keep sausage balls warm, try wrapping them in a cloth napkin in a serving bowl. While sausage balls are best warm, they are still delicious at room temperature.
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