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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Sausage Balls Recipe with Flour (Non-Greasy)

    Sausage Balls Recipe with Flour (Non-Greasy)

    Published: Nov 10, 2018 · Modified: Nov 13, 2022 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    4.56 from 68 votes

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    A platter of cheesy sausage balls

    This non greasy sausage ball recipe is made with flour and no Bisquick. They’re a classic favorite at our house. Less greasy than the traditional recipe making them perfect for game days, brunch, and holiday get togethers.

    A platter of sausage balls with some holiday napkins in the background.

    Making Sausage Balls with Flour instead of Bisquick

    Sausage balls have always been a treat in our house around the holidays. Everyone loves them for breakfast but they are just as delicious as appetizers for parties or get togethers and they’ll go about as fast as bacon wrapped tater tots.

    The Bisquick recipe for sausage balls was on the back of the box of Bisquick when I was growing up. My mom used Bisquick for everything. I don’t really like the idea of using processed foods if I can avoid it, so I recreated a sausage ball recipe without Bisquick.

    If you read the ingredients on the box, it’s flour and shortening and some chemicals.  I decided that you should be able to use flour with a little butter and baking powder to get the same results.

    Three sausage balls on a grey napkin with a coffee cup next to it.


    We were all thrilled with the results. Using flour with a little butter instead of shortening makes the same delicious sausage balls but they are less greasy. I first tried baking them on a wire rack on a cookie sheet but you don’t need it; there was hardly any grease that dripped through.

    Not only were they not as greasy but the texture was so much better than the Bisquick version. They were almost biscuit like.

    If you’re going to serve this at a party, get some helpful tips along with 25 delicious game day appetizer recipes to choose from.

    Why you’ll love this Sausage Ball recipe with Flour

    • They’re a tasty finger food appetizer that can be eaten hot or room temperature!
    • The sausage adds a lot of flavor to the melty cheese
    • They aren’t greasy
    • Great for breakfast, brunch or apps!
    A sausage ball torn in half.

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      What are Sausage Balls made of?

      The ingredients for Sausage Balls
      • Sausage – this needs to be uncooked so it mixes into the flour and cheese to form balls, any breakfast sausage will work. I love Neeses.
      • Cheddar cheese – take the extra minutes and grate the cheese yourself so it melts better. If you’re using a food processor, grate the cheese first.
      • Flour – this helps bind the ingredients, if you want to make them gluten free follow the recipe for sausage balls with almond flour.
      • Butter, salt, baking powder

      What is the best kind of sausage to use for Sausage Balls?

      The best type of sausage to use for sausage balls is a breakfast sausage. Try to find a local sausage like Neese’s in the South, otherwise, any breakfast sausage that you can find in the bacon and sausage area of the grocery or at the meat counter will work.

      How To Make Sausage Balls without Bisquick

      Step 1

      Place the flour, baking powder and salt in a food processor or large bowl, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, add butter and process until combined or use a pastry cutter.

      Dry ingredients for sausage balls in a food processor.
      Flour mixture and cheese in a food processor.
      Dry ingredients for sausage balls in a stand mixer bowl.
      Flour and cheese mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer.

      Step 2

      Add uncooked sausage and process until well combined. If you don’t have a food processor, use your hands or a stand mixer to combine. I used my hands for years and they turned out beautifully.

      Sausage ball mixture in a food processor.
      Sausage balls mixed in a food processor.
      All the ingredients for sausage balls in a stand mixer.
      Sausage balls mixed with a stand mixer.

      Step 3

      Use a small ice cream scoop to form into balls and place on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Once the ingredients are combined, you can roll them into balls, but it’s quicker and you will get prettier shaped sausage balls if you use a small ice cream scoop.

      Step 4

      Sausage balls on a baking sheet.
      Use an ice cream scoop to form into balls.

      Bake for 15 minutes until browned.

      Baked sausage balls on a cookie sheet.
      Bake sausage balls on parchment paper.

      Pro tip: You can mix the ingredients with your hands, but if you have a mixer, I highly recommend letting it do the work! It binds all the ingredients and then you just scoop out perfectly shaped balls.

       How long to cook Sausage Balls

      Sausage balls are made with raw pork, so depending on how large you form them, they should take about 15 minutes to cook.

      Tools for making Sausage Cheese Balls with Flour

      The worst thing about making sausage balls has always been getting all the ingredients combined. The only way I knew to do this was to use my hands. But this time, I was making the flour butter mixture in the food processor and just dumped the cheese and sausage in and OMG, it was perfectly blended and I didn’t even have to get my hands dirty.

      I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of the food processor before. If you don’t have one, then try putting it in a stand mixer and mix it together or you can use your hands to combine the ingredients.

      Put a food processor on your Christmas list if you don’t own one, this is my second one which I’ve had for at least 20 years. I had to replace one of the parts that I broke, but it’s still going strong.

      A sausage ball being removed from a platter.

      What goes good with Sausage Balls?

      Sausage balls are so versatile, we love them on Christmas morning where you can just grab one as your opening gifts, no fork needed. They are equally good for game day appetizers or for movie night. They don’t need any sauce or dip, just scrumptious all by themselves.


      If you’re serving something sweet like cinnamon rolls, savory sausage balls will offset the sweetness. You can also serve them for brunch along with a sweet potato frittata or quiche.

      If eating them for breakfast or brunch, try serving them with a crustless quiche or with a slice of honey oat bread or add some pimento cheese for a truly Southern addition.

      How to store Sausage Balls

      Can you freeze sausage balls?

      Sausage balls can be frozen in an airtight container either after you have formed them into balls or after they have baked. Let them thaw completely before baking or reheating.

      Do sausage balls need to be refrigerated?

      Sausage balls do not need to be refrigerated after being baked. You can store them on the counter in an airtight container for 2-3 days. After that, they should be refrigerated or frozen.

      Can sausage balls sit out?

      After you have formed the sausage balls, you can leave them on the counter for a short period of time, but since it is raw meat, you should store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake. After they have cooked, you can leave them at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

      What’s the best way to reheat sausage balls?

      Place them in an oven at 350º for about 5 minutes. Don’t microwave.

      Sausage Balls FAQs

      Can you make sausage balls without a food processor?

      You can use a strong mixer or your hands to combine the ingredients. A hand held mixer will not be strong enough.

      How can you make these low carb or keto?

      Substitute almond flour and make keto sausage balls.

      Why are my sausage balls so dry?

      If you are using very lean sausage, you may need to cut back on the flour.

      Can you make Sausage Balls ahead of time?

      What’s nice about these is that you can make them in advance and freeze them before cooking.  You can also freeze them after they’ve cooked and warm them up. If re-warming, sprinkle with a little water and bake at 350º until warm.

      Can you microwave sausage balls?

      NO!! Don’t microwave them, you’ll get rubbery sausage balls. That doesn’t mean I haven’t done it in a pinch, but they are so much better if you can warm them in the toaster oven. I use my toaster oven all the time, I don’t think they sell it anymore but it’s similar to this toaster oven.

      Why won’t my sausage balls stick together?

      If your sausage balls are not sticking together, you may have added too much flour or it could be due to using pre-grated cheese. You can add a little milk to the mixture if it is too dry.

      How to know when Sausage Balls are done?

      Sausage balls are done when they start to turn brown on top. If you’re not sure, you can open one up and make sure it’s not pink inside.

      What can you use in place of Bisquick?

      Instead of bisquick, you can use a flour mixture with baking powder, salt and butter.

      Why are my sausage balls tough?

      Sausage balls can be tough if they are over cooked. Bake them until the bottoms are slightly brown.

      Need more Game Day recipes

      • Franks Hot Sauce Buffalo Chicken Dip
      • Short Rib Chili
      • Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
      • Pimento Cheese Dip

      More finger food appetizers

      • Try making some mini croque monsieurs with puff pastry if you’re in the mood for a french appetizer
      • Savory puff pastry pinwheels
      • Family favorite mushroom cream cheese balls
      • Hard to resist cheesy crackers

      If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.

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      A pile of sausage balls with a linen napkin in the background.

      Sausage Balls with Flour

      Author: Barbara Curry
      This Sausage ball recipe is made with flour and no Bisquick. They are a classic favorite at our house. Less greasy than the traditional recipe making them perfect for game days, brunch, and holiday get togethers.
      4.56 from 68 votes
      Print Pin
      PREP: 20 minutes
      COOK: 15 minutes
      Servings: 60

      Ingredients
       

      • 2 cups flour
      • 3 teaspoons baking powder
      • ½ teaspoon salt
      • 2 tablespoons butter cold
      • 1 lb. sausage uncooked
      • 8 ounces cheddar cheese grated

      Equipment

      • Food Processor
      • Toaster oven
      Prevent your screen from going dark

      Instructions
       

      • Preheat oven to 400º. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
      • Add flour, baking powder, salt and butter to a stand mixer or food processor and mix until butter is incorporated or pinch the butter together with your fingers until it is incorporated into the flour. Add grated cheese and mix. Add sausage a little at a time and mix until it comes together
      • Using a 1 tablespoon ice cream scoop, form into balls and place on prepared rack.
      • Bake for 15 minutes until slightly browned on the outside. Serve warm.

      Video

      Barbara’s Tips + Notes
      • If you want a low carb version, try Sausage Balls with Almond Flour
      • If making pimento cheese sausage balls, substitute cheddar cheese for 10 ounces of pimento cheese. 
      • You will get the best results if you grate the cheese instead of buying pre-shredded cheese.
      • Use a stand mixer or food processor to combine the ingredients.
      • For perfectly shaped balls, use a small ice-cream scoop.
      • You can refrigerate the balls prior to baking or freeze once they have been baked.
      • To reheat, sprinkle with water and bake at 350º for 5-10 minutes.

      Nutrition

      Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 95mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
      Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Linda W Flood says

        December 31, 2018 at 3:07 pm

        I am wondering if you brown the sausage first or put it in raw?

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          January 31, 2019 at 7:41 pm

          Linda,
          You put the sausage in raw and it cooks in the oven.

          Reply
      2. Barbara Curry says

        December 31, 2018 at 8:15 pm

        You put it in raw, how easy is that!

        Reply
      3. Nancy Turner says

        April 04, 2019 at 5:10 pm

        Great…lighter than the old Bisquik version! If serving at breakfast or as a part of “breakfast for dinner,” set out a little pitcher of warm maple syrup to drizzle over the balls!! YUM!

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          April 04, 2019 at 9:19 pm

          The syrup is a great idea, thanks Nancy.

          Reply
      4. Nancy Turner says

        October 07, 2019 at 9:13 pm

        I made sausage balls again for a fall party. I added chopped dates for a sweet note in the savory mix.

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          October 13, 2019 at 7:45 am

          Sweet and savory sounds delicious!

          Reply
      5. Emily says

        December 21, 2019 at 5:05 am

        5 stars
        I will be making these for Xmas morning … But wonder … Can I make these without the sausage? Would I need to adjust some other ingredients?

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          December 21, 2019 at 5:56 pm

          I don’t think they would stay together without the sausage. If you just want a cheese biscuit, then try these with or without the caramelized onions.

          Reply
      6. Vonda says

        December 28, 2019 at 11:28 pm

        Can you just use self rising flour instead of the flour, baking soda and salt

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          December 30, 2019 at 4:51 am

          Yes, I just never have self-rising flour around.

          Reply
      7. Tony says

        August 14, 2020 at 1:00 am

        5 stars
        Best recipe

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          August 16, 2020 at 10:07 am

          They’re my favorite for weekend or holiday mornings.

          Reply
      8. Heidi says

        November 26, 2020 at 12:22 pm

        5 stars
        Thank you so much for this recipe! I never seem to have bisquick on hand so I’ve looked many times for a recipe to make sausage balls without bisquick. Your recipe is prefect! I’ve tried quite a few over the years- some were way too greasy, some were dry, some were downright impossible with the amount of flour called for. I wasn’t sure why add the butter, but I trusted you and glad I did! I did add a little water to the final mix bc my mixer was struggling. We love sausage balls and this is by far the best recipe I’ve found. It beats any bisquick recipe. If you’re on the fence, just give them a try. Thanks again!

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          November 26, 2020 at 12:32 pm

          The butter is needed to make them biscuit like. If the sausage you’re using is lean, then you might need to add a little liquid to help it come together. Glad this was a success for you. Can’t live without sausage balls!

          Reply
          • Chris B. says

            December 25, 2020 at 2:24 am

            5 stars
            Added a few tsp of cold milk to help it come together, and mixed half pork sausage and half venison sausage. They came out amazing. They have a good flavor, a nice crust, and Sooo soft inside. This will be my new go to dausage balls, AND patties recipe.

          • Barbara Curry says

            December 26, 2020 at 7:11 am

            Chris, I’m glad to hear the recipe works with venison sausage.

      9. D says

        January 19, 2021 at 5:40 pm

        5 stars
        They are great. I use Kroger Sausage (40-50% cheaper and just as good, very lean) I do add red pepper flakes for me and the boys but not for the kids. Saves going to grosery store, saves on calories. I don’t even use the butter, just a teaspoon of water. Great recipe!

        Reply
        • Barbara Curry says

          January 22, 2021 at 12:43 pm

          Any breakfast sausage will be great in these. We don’t have Kroger in NC but glad to know that their house brand is good.

          Reply
      10. Deb says

        January 23, 2021 at 9:09 am

        5 stars
        I added 3oz cream cheese to make them more moist. Great recipe!

        Reply
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      Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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