Cream Cheese Sausage Balls (+ Video)

This easy recipe for cream cheese sausage balls only has 4 ingredients! Combine Bisquick, cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and breakfast sausage for a quick breakfast favorite.

Doesn't every family have one of those tried-and-true holiday recipes? Today, I thought I'd share my absolute favorite!

On holidays, one of my time-saving secrets is to have a super easy, make-ahead recipe for breakfast. Nobody wants to be in the kitchen on a holiday like Easter or Christmas when you're supposed to enjoy time with your family. So, the night before a big holiday, I prep a make-ahead recipe that I can pop in the oven the next morning.

My absolute go-to recipe for holidays is Cream Cheese Sausage Balls. These are incredibly easy to prep ahead of time. I make these so often that my kids have started expecting them on Easter and Christmas!

♥️ Why You'll Love This Recipe

• So easy to make ahead of time. Prep these the night before and simply pop in the oven the next morning for a great grab-and-go breakfast.
• Insanely delicious. I dare you to eat just one. This savory combination of cheese and sausage is an absolute flavor party. We rarely have leftovers!
• Uses just 4 staple ingredients. Who knew you could create something so yummy with just Bisquick, cream cheese, breakfast sausage, and cheddar?
• Not just for breakfast! This is also a great appetizer or snack that can be served warm or cold.

🧀 Ingredients

There are only 4 ingredients you need for this recipe. (See recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.)

• pork breakfast sausage - I love making these with hot breakfast sausage for a little kick! If you're not a fan of spice, stick to mild sausage. And make sure it's uncooked when preparing this recipe - it'll cook in the oven in the last step.
• cream cheese - The cream cheese in this recipe makes your sausage balls stay super tender and ensures they don't dry out. I like to have this at room temperature to make blending the ingredients easier.
• Bisquick baking mix - If you don't have Bisquick on hand, you can substitute 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
• sharp cheddar cheese - The sharp cheddar gives it a great bite! I recommend grating your cheese for this recipe instead of using the pre-shredded stuff. You'll notice a flavor and texture difference.

Variations & Additions

This is a great recipe to tweak to make your own. A few popular variations...

• Use Italian sausage instead of breakfast sausage.
• Change up the cheeses! Instead of sharp cheddar cheese, you could use gouda, gruyere, parmesan, mozzarella, or Colby jack cheese.
• Add unique elements like sun-dried tomatoes or finely diced peppers.
• Add spices to really take the flavor to the next level! Garlic powder, onion powder, cajun seasoning, or oregano would be great additions.
• Use cheddar bay biscuit mix instead of Bisquick for a serious flavor boost.

👨‍🍳 How to Make Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese

Step 1: Make the Sausage Ball "dough."

Add Bisquick, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and breakfast sausage to a large bowl. Using your hands, knead this mixture into a dough with a cookie dough consistency. (It will be kind of sticky.)

Step 2: Add sausage balls to a pan.

Using your hands, roll pieces of dough into 1-inch balls (a melon baller or cookie scoop is very helpful for measuring these out).

Place sausage balls ½-1" apart on a half-sheet (13x18") rimmed baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat, aluminum foil, or parchment paper. (This recipe fits perfectly on this size baking sheet.)

At this point, you can either bake the sausage balls or store them in the refrigerator. I just cover my cookie sheet with a paper towel to keep the sausage balls from drying out. They can be stored up to 48 hours before baking.

Step 3: Bake.

Bake in a 375-degree oven for 35-40 minutes, until the outside of the sausage balls start to brown and the inside is cooked through.

🎥 Step-By-Step Recipe Video

See this recipe in action with the video below! Not a video fan? You can find the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

🍽️ What to Serve with Bisquick Sausage Balls

This recipe is a great make-ahead dish that's perfect for breakfast, an appetizer course, or even a quick snack. While these are just fine on their own, they also pair wonderfully with so many different dishes.

Breakfast Pairing Ideas

• Fruit Salad
• Peanut Butter Waffles
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Egg Bites
• Donut Bread Pudding

Appetizer Pairing Ideas

• Rotel Cheese Dip
• Dipping Sauce (ranch, barbecue, or honey mustard are all great!)
• Simple Salad
• Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
• Pasta Salad

🥡 Leftover Storage & Reheating

If you happen to have leftovers (we rarely do!), simply store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days after cooking. They reheat very well in the microwave in 30-second increments.

Can I freeze sausage balls?

Yes, they can be frozen! Bake your sausage balls as instructed and store them in a freezer bag for a quick breakfast in the future. Just thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in the microwave (roughly 30 seconds) when ready to eat.

Make sure to store these in an airtight container, whether you're freezing or saving leftover sausage balls in the fridge to eat later. The smells can easily mingle with other foods (which, trust me, isn't a good combination). We like to put a paper towel at the bottom of our storage container to absorb any leftover grease.