These Sausage Balls Without Bisquick are so tasty and addictive! We're taking your favorite sausage cheese ball recipe and amping it up with bacon and onion! Even better you can make them in the oven or air fryer!! These sausage balls are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even game day!
I like to call these Super Bacon Sausage Balls because they are so good and it's so easy to eat many! The flavors blend perfectly together!
No matter which kind of sausage you use they turn out great! If I am making these for breakfast or brunch I try and use breakfast sausage. Dipping these sausage balls in a sunny-side-up egg is so tasty! If I am making them as a snack for an evening event I prefer using honey garlic or Italian sausage for more savory flavors.
My easy pizza dough balls and cheeseburger meatball stuffed crescent rolls inspired this recipe!
Why You Will Love This Sausage Balls Without Bisquick Recipe
- Pantry Staple Ingredients. So easy to make using common pantry staples such as flour instead of Bisquick.
- Versatile Dish. They're perfect to serve for breakfast, brunch, or as an appetizer.
- Simple Prep. All you need is a mixing bowl and a baking sheet or air fryer to make these crowd-pleasing, addictive, tasty treats.
Ingredients
Here's a look at the easy ingredients you need to make sausage cheese balls with Bisquick!
- Sausage: I recommend a pork sausage that you enjoy as a breakfast sausage for the mildest flavor. You can also use spicer varieties of ground sausage as well.
- Bacon: Any flavored bacon will work as long as it's diced and cooked. You can also leave it out if you prefer.
- Onion: Elevates the flavor without overwhelming it.
- Flour: The base of your sausage balls that provides them with some structure.
- Buttermilk: Moistens the dry ingredients and helps sausage balls rise and become airy and fluffy.
- Baking Powder: Works with the buttermilk to give these sausage bites some lift.
- Butter: Adds flavor and makes the sausage balls moist and tender.
- Shredded Cheese: Remember the type of cheese you choose to use will influence the flavor of your sausage balls. We typically use sharp cheddar for bold flavor, while regular cheddar cheese is milder but still great, or pepper jack adds a nice heat. All kinds of cheese work so just use your favorite.
See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Variations
- Spicy: Add some chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the sausage ball mixture for a bit of heat.
- Jalapeno or Green Chili Sausage Balls: Add diced chilies to the sausage ball mixture for a mildly spicy flavor.
- Add Garlic: Fresh or powdered garlic adds a savory touch along with the onion.
- Traditional Sausage Cheese Balls: Skip the bacon and just use sausage.
How to Make Sausage Balls Without Bisquick
Step 1: Cook the bacon and onions in a skillet until the bacon is crisp and the onions are tender. Drain on a paper towel when done cooking.
Step 2: Remove the casings from the sausages and dice or break up the meat.
Step 3: Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl and stir with a whisk until mixed together.
Step 4: Add the butter and use a fork or your fingers to mix until the mixture is crumbly.
Step 5: Add the uncooked sausage, bacon mixture, and cheddar to the flour mixture and stir to mix everything up.
Step 6: Add the buttermilk to the bowl.
Step 7: Stir until everything is combined.
Step 8: Work with wet hands and roll the dough into bite-sized balls. Place them on your prepared sheet, as evenly spaced as possible.
Step 9: Bake until the balls are a golden brown color. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking if your oven has a hot spot!
Step 10: Transfer cooked sausage balls to a rack to cool before serving.
⭐️ Hint: You can also cook in a preheated 350° F air fryer for 13 to 16 minutes, depending on their size.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy our cream cheese biscuits, Kielbasa in air fryer, bacon cheese biscuits, or sausage crescent rolls.
Storage
- Store: Store cooled leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to two months.
- Freeze Unbaked Sausage Balls: Prepare the recipe all the way through shaping them. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container or a sealable freezer bag for up to two months. Bake them from frozen and add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Reheat: Place them in a preheated 350° F oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through. If you're reheating frozen sausage balls, there’s no need to thaw. You simply bake them in the oven for 18-20 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave them in short intervals of 30 seconds, though the texture may be less crisp as a result.
Serving Suggestions
When you prepare Sausage Balls Without Bisquick, consider them the ideal finger food for gatherings for breakfast, brunch, or as a snack. They can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature. They're great with a dipping sauce!
- BBQ sauce adds a smoky, tangy kick, or some hot honey sauce for a bit of kick.
- Buttermilk ranch dip or ranch dressing has a creamy texture and wonderful flavor making it a classic dip. Our fried pickle and ranch dip is a refreshing change or buffalo ranch is great if you love spicy.
- Honey mustard mayo or honey mustard dip is sweet, tangy, and zesty, always a crowd-pleaser.
- Our onion ketchup is better than the regular sweet and tangy ketchup but will always work in a pinch.
Need more dip ideas? Check out our collection of best dip recipes for some ideas.
Tips
- Even Cooking. Be sure to roll the sausage mixture into uniform-sized balls and space them apart on the pan to allow even heat distribution and keep them from sticking together.
- Rotate the Pan. Do this halfway through the baking time to encourage even browning.
- Don't Over Mix. Applying too much pressure or overworking your dough can make the sausage balls dense and tough.
- Don't Over Bake. Monitor them closely in the oven. You're looking for a lovely golden brown finish and a firm texture when they are done. Bake too long and this can dry them out.
- Grate Your Cheese. Freshly grated cheese usually melts better than pre-shredded cheese which can contain additives that affect melting.
- Dampen Your Fingers. The dough is quite sticky so keeping your hands wet makes the rolling process easier!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C), and place the sausage balls in the basket, ensuring they're not touching to allow for even cooking. Cook them for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to promote browning on all sides. Remember, your air fryer cooks more rapidly than an oven, so it's crucial to check on your sausage balls to prevent overcooking.
No, the sausage cooks in the oven. Just ensure that it's thoroughly blended with the other ingredients.
Video
You have to check out our video for Super Bacon Sausage Balls below!
More Sausage Recipes
Do you like sausage? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Sausage Balls Without Bisquick
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6-8 slices bacon diced
- 6 small breakfast sausages, casings removed or ⅓ of a pound ground sausage, your favorite variety
- ⅓ cup onion diced
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ¾ cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a skillet, over medium to medium high heat, cook bacon until crisp and onions until tender. Remove to drain on paper towel. Set aside.
- Remove casings from sausages and dice meat.
- In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Stir with a whisk until blended. Add butter and using a fork or your fingers mix until mixture resembles coarse meal, or a pile of crumbs. Add uncooked sausage, cooked bacon and onions, and cheddar and stir until blended. Add buttermilk and stir until combined.
- Work with wet hands, roll dough into bite sides balls. I get between 18 and 25 sausage balls. Place on your prepared sheet, as evenly spaced as possible. Bake until a golden brown color, 20 to 26 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking if your oven has a hot spot! Transfer cooked sausage balls to a rack to cool if desired. Serve warm with dips such as ketchup, sweet and sour sauce, ranch dressing, a sunny side up egg or whatever your heart desires!
Air Fryer
- You can also cook in a preheated 350 degree air fryer in a basket coated in cooking spray for 13 to 16 minutes, depending on their size.
Notes
- Even Cooking. Be sure to roll the sausage mixture into uniform sized balls and space them apart on the pan to allow even heat distribution and keep them from sticking together.
- Rotate the Pan. Do this halfway through the baking time to encourage even browning.
- Don't Over Mix. Applying too much pressure or overworking your dough can make the sausage balls dense and tough.
- Don't Over Bake. Monitor them closely in the oven. You're looking for a lovely golden brown finish and a firm texture when they are done. Bake too long and this can dry them out.
- Grate Your Cheese. Freshly grated cheese usually melts better than pre-shredded cheese which can contain additives that affect melting.
- Dampen Your Fingers. The dough is quite sticky so keeping your hands wet makes the rolling process easier!
Nutrition
This post was originally published January 2018. It has been updated with new images and content.
Melanie says
These were so good my kids love them for quick on the go breakfast bites and they reheated well too!
Karin and Ken says
I’m so glad to hear it. We usually have some inside our freezer. They’re so good! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. All the best. Karin
Lisa says
We can't get enough of these balls. My husband always wants me to make them now. Bacon and sausage With the cheese just makes these balls perfect!
Karin and Ken says
I could not agree with you more! Glad you’re enjoying them. All the best. Karin
Nikita says
If I need to make a lot of these for a potluck, using a lb of breakfast sausage, how would I adjust the other ingredients accordingly?
Karin and Ken says
I apologize. It never occurred to me to put the weight of the sausages on this recipe! I just did. Six of those breakfast sausages weighs 1/3 of a pound. So I would triple everything. These are so tasty. I hope you all enjoy them as much as we do! If you have a moment please let me know what you thought of them. I would love to hear! Regardless thank you for bringing that error to my attention and if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask! I am here. All the best. Karin
Super Dave says
Instead of doing all that rolling what about spreading out flat of in like log shapes then cut into bite size pieces to serve?
Karin and Ken says
What a great idea! I never thought of that but now I am going to have to try it! Can't thank you enough for the suggestion! Anything that saves time benefits all of us! Please, if you have a moment, let me know what you think after you try them. I would love to hear your opinion! I love these and hope you do too! Take care and all the best. Karin