Sausage Stuffing Balls

These addicting 3-ingredient Sausage Stuffing Balls are the easiest appetizer or side dish for any party or gathering. We love to serve them during the holidays. Be sure to make extra, they will be gone in an instant!

It's difficult to sum up in words how much we love Sausage Stuffing Balls! This recipe has been in our family for multiple generations and is at every holiday event in the fall and winter. We always make a double or triple batch of the recipe because everyone truly loves them!

With just 3 ingredients, almost anyone can master stuffing balls with sausage. They are the best appetizer or also a great side dish for any meal. You can customize them with herbs, different cheeses, and spice blends as you desire.

We're famous for sausage balls and have a few varieties to try. Our viral recipe for Red Lobster Sausage Balls uses pimento cheese and Red Lobster Biscuit Mix (it has over 12 million views!). We also have Bisquick Sausage Balls that are flavorful and simple to make too!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Easy to Make: Just three ingredients make it simple and quick to prepare.
• Great Flavor: The mix of sausage, stuffing, and cheese tastes delicious together.
• Quick Cooking: Cooks fast, perfect for busy nights or last-minute meals or party prep.
• Customizable: You can easily add your favorite herbs, spices, or veggies.
• Popular with Everyone: These sausage stuffing balls are a hit at parties and with both kids and adults.

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

• Box of Turkey or Chicken Stove Top Stuffing Mix: The key to these stuffing balls, it has so much flavor and great texture.
• Breakfast Sausage: The best ingredient of them all, you want to make sure to buy fresh, loose breakfast sausage. Do not purchase the precooked links.
• Freshly Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Adds that gooey cheesy component to the stuffing balls with sausage.

Laura Ashley's Tip: You can use leftover stuffing from your holiday meal to make these delicious stuffing balls as well! Make sure your stuffing is moist enough to bind nicely into a ball shape.

Tools You'll Need

• Mixing Bowl
• Scoop
• Spatula
• Sheet Pan

How to Make Sausage Stuffing Balls

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick aluminum foil.
2. Bring 1 cup water to a boil in the microwave or on the stovetop. In a medium bowl, combine the boiling water and box of stuffing. Stir and fluff with a fork until the water is fully absorbed into the stuffing.

3. To a large mixing bowl, add the prepared stuffing mix, uncooked sausage, and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix by hand or with an electric mixer until well-combined.

4. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form the mixture into 1-inch balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

5. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
6. Once the sausage stuffing balls are done, remove them from the oven and cool slightly. Serve by themselves or with a dipping sauce on the side.
7. Optional Homemade Cranberry Dipping Sauce: In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup homemade or store-bought cranberry sauce with 1 tablespoon orange juice and a pinch of cinnamon. Adjust the flavors to your liking.

Expert Tips

• Buy fresh and uncooked breakfast sausage. Be sure it's the loose breakfast sausage in links or the large roll in the meat section of the grocery store.
• Use an electric hand mixer for easy mixing. This is a great tip, rather than stir by hand, it's even quicker and faster to mix the stuffing with an electric hand mixer.
• Scoop the sausage mixture into even-sized balls using a cookie scoop. This ensures that all of the balls are the same size to allow them to bake evenly.
• Lean Sausage Tip. If using a sausage lower in fat, consider adding ¼ cup additional cheese, 2 ounces cream cheese or ½ cup milk to avoid a dry sausage ball result.
• Customize the flavors. You can use your favorite kind of cheese in this mixture and add different fresh herbs or spices. Parsley, thyme, rosemary, paprika, dry mustard powder, and even a tiny hint of cayenne would all be delicious.
• Homemade Stove Top Stuffing Alternative: If you prefer to make your stuffing mixture from scratch, you can combine these ingredients:
  • 6 cups toasted bread cubes, 1 tablespoon parsley flakes, 3 chicken bouillon cubes or 1 tablespoon salt free chicken bouillon powder, ¼ cup dried onion flakes, ¼ cup dried celery flakes, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon sage, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon salt

What to Serve with Stuffing Balls with Sausage

Adding a dip can elevate sausage balls flavors even further! My personal favorite is a cranberry dipping sauce such as this convenient Cran Razz Sauce or my homemade dipping sauce that is 1 cup homemade or store-bought cranberry sauce with 1 tablespoon orange juice and a pinch of cinnamon.

A zesty honey mustard sauce, creamy ranch dressing, hot sauce, warm cheese dip or a smoky barbecue sauce can also be excellent dipping options.

Troubleshooting this Sausage Stuffing Ball Recipe

1. Sausage balls are too dry:
   • Problem: Over-mixing the dough or using a lean sausage can result in dry sausage balls.
   • Solution: Mix the ingredients until just combined. Consider using a sausage with a slightly higher fat content or adding a bit of cream cheese or extra cheese to the mixture.
2. Sausage balls are too greasy:
   • Problem: Using a sausage with a high-fat content can lead to greasy sausage balls.
   • Solution: Choose a sausage with a moderate fat content.
3. Sausage balls are unevenly cooked:
   • Problem: Placing sausage cheese balls too closely together on the baking sheet or not rolling equally sized balls can result in uneven cooking.
   • Solution: Ensure that there is enough space between each ball on the baking sheet to allow for even airflow. Use a cookie scoop to ensure consistent size.
4. Sausage balls are not holding their shape:
   • Problem: The mixture may be too wet or not well-chilled before baking.
   • Solution: Add baking mix or flour to the mixture if it's too wet. Additionally, refrigerate the formed balls for at least 30 minutes before baking to help them hold their shape.
5. Sausage balls are too salty:
   • Problem: The sausage or cheese used may be high in salt content, or additional salt was added to the mixture.
   • Solution: Choose a sausage and cheese with lower salt content. 
6. Sausage balls are undercooked or overcooked:
   • Problem: Baking times can vary depending on the size of the sausage balls and the oven temperature.
   • Solution: Follow the recommended baking time in the recipe, but keep an eye on the sausage balls and adjust the time as needed. They should be golden brown and cooked through.
7. Sausage balls are too dense:
   • Problem: Overmixing the dough can result in dense sausage balls.
   • Solution: Mix the ingredients until just combined to avoid overworking the dough. This helps maintain a lighter texture in the finished product.

Storage and Freezing

Store any leftover stuffing balls with sausage in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven until warmed through and a little toasted on top.

You can freeze leftover sausage balls too for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a few hours. Reheat as mentioned above.

Sausage Stuffing Balls are also perfect to make ahead of time too! You can make the stuffing mixture the day before, roll, and place the balls in an airtight container. Right before guests arrive, transfer them to a prepared sheet pan, and bake as directed.

You can even freeze raw stuffing balls as well! Layer them in between pieces of parchment and freeze for up to 2 months. You can bake them directly from frozen, the cook time will be a little longer to guarantee they are cooked through and toasted on top!

FAQs

More Easy Appetizer Recipes

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• Chipped Beef Cheese Ball
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