A Chef's Life: Recipe for Sausage Balls (2024)

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Food & Drink

Chef Vivian Howard shares her recipe for this holiday classic

December 11, 2014



Sausage Balls
from Vivian Howard, The Chef and the Farmer
Yields 40 1-oz. balls

Ingredients:
1 cup cornmeal
1 tbsp. brown sugar
½ tsp. salt
1½tsp. baking powder
8 oz. block sharp cheddar cheese, grated on the medium holes of a box grater
1 lb. sausage*
1 small yellow onion, grated
2 oz. cream cheese

*Note: Nearly any flavorful sausage will do here, but we traditionally use a slightly hot, “country style” sage sausage.

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Coat parchment with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, stir together the cornmeal, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add cheddar cheese and toss to evenly coat. In another, slightly smaller bowl, use your hands to combine the sausage, onion, and cream cheese.

Add sausage mixture to the cheddar-cornmeal mixture, again using your hands to combine the two. (You’re looking for a slightly dry “dough.”) Pinch off 1-ounce pieces and roll them into balls. Place them 1 inch apart on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.

Serve warm or at room temperature. For an easy sauce, try mixing ¾ cup apple butter with ¼ cup Dijon mustard.

tags:

  • Holiday Recipes
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A Chef's Life: Recipe for Sausage Balls (22)

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A Chef's Life: Recipe for Sausage Balls (24)

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A Chef's Life: Recipe for Sausage Balls (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to refrigerate sausage balls after you make them? ›

Sausage balls can sit out while serving for up to two hours. Past that point, they should be refrigerated and reheated. Do sausage balls need a dipping sauce? Sausage balls are delicious all on their own, but you can pair with ranch, honey mustard, or any other dipping sauce you love.

Can you freeze sausage balls after they're cooked? ›

To freeze cooked sausage balls: Bake the sausage balls and allow them to cool completely. Flash freeze them overnight, then transfer them to zip-top freezer bags. Wrap in foil and freeze flat for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

What is good to eat with sausage balls? ›

The best side dishes to serve with sausage balls are sauteed mushrooms, mashed sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, cheese dip, Brussels sprouts with bacon, scrambled eggs, wedge salad, yellow rice, grilled asparagus, biscuits and gravy, roasted red peppers, tomato and mozzarella salad, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and ...

What are sausage balls made of? ›

They're made with pork sausage, two kinds of cheese and plenty of seasoning. Make your mixture, scoop out similarly-sized balls, bake until brown and you've got the perfect party app. Baking gluten-free? We've got you covered with a recipe for Gluten-Free Sausage-Cheese Balls.

How do you keep sausage balls from turning brown on the bottom? ›

Whether you're cooking these sausage balls indoors or outdoors, be sure to place them on a sheet of parchment paper to keep them from getting too brown on the bottom.

Are sausage balls good the next day? ›

Uncooked fresh sausage can be stored in the refrigerator 1 to 2 days; after cooking, keep for 3 to 4 days refrigerated (40 ° F / 4.4 °C or less).

How do you reheat sausage balls without drying them out? ›

Crock pot: Place a damp paper towel in the bottom of crock pot (this well keep them from drying out as they reheat) Place sausage balls in crock pot and heat on low until heated through (a crock pot full may take 2-3 hours)

Can you reheat sausage balls in microwave? ›

Store cooked sausage balls in an airtight container in your fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can reheat these in the microwave or pop them back in the oven until heated through.

Is it better to freeze sausage raw or cooked? ›

Raw and cooked sausages can be frozen. Separate into portion sizes before freezing so that you can defrost exactly what you need.

How long can you eat sausage balls? ›

Of course, when you purchase properly packed sausage balls they will be safe in the refrigerator for a few days and up to a month in the freezer. It is a good idea to cook them while they are still fresh for optimum freshness and flavor. Cooked sausage balls can be kept for up to 3 to 4 days.

What sauces are good on sausage? ›

3 Easy grilled sausage dipping sauces – honey dijon, creamy horseradish, and spicy ketchup!

Can you use a stand mixer for sausage balls? ›

Best Sausage Balls

Add all ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on low speed until combined. Scoop equal portions using a small cookie scoop onto a non-stick baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet and place on paper toweling to drain.

What is the white liquid around sausage? ›

The white powder that sits on the casing of a dry sausage isn't flour, or bacteria, or saltpeter! It is a fungus, but not any fungus! We're talking about penicillium. Bacteria and fungi are often feared, but most of today's antibiotics come from bacteria and fungi like penicillium.

What is the pink stuff in sausage? ›

It isn't "some preservatives" which keep meat pink, it is nitrite salt. Buying in an organic store doesn't mean that the food doesn't contain nitrite salt or other additives. I am sure your sausage contains nitrites, else it would have turned gray long before you started cooking it.

How long can cooked sausage sit out at room temperature? ›

Cooked food can only stay in the temperature danger zone for so long before it becomes unsafe to eat. Havern explains: "The maximum amount of time perishable foods can [spend] in the danger zone is two hours. At two hours, the food must be consumed, stored correctly, or thrown away.

Will sausage spoil if not refrigerated? ›

Fresh sausages are sold raw, meaning you should treat them the same as any other perishable item. Raw sausage will stay fresh in the refrigerator for one or two days and in the freezer for one or two months. At room temperature, they will last a maximum of two hours.

What sausage does not need to be refrigerated? ›

Summer sausage is a type of cured meat that was developed in Europe prior to refrigeration technology. Using several types of preservation methods at once allowed people to make a sausage that would keep from spoiling without refrigeration “in the summer months.” Hence the name, summer sausage.

How do you keep sausage fresh without a refrigerator? ›

Sausage products.

Salt and a towel are also best for this product. To begin with, dilute the salt in water, wet a towel, wrap these products and transfer them to a cool place.

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