Healthy{er} Sausage Balls Recipe (that taste good!)
Sausage balls are one of my all time favorite grab and go breakfasts! They freeze beautifully which means you can make a big batch, freeze them, and then take out a few to reheat on a busy morning for a tasty, quick breakfast.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.
A Tasty Classic
Sausage balls are such a tasty, classic recipe! They’re great for a quick breakfast. I love making a big batch to freeze and pulling out a few to reheat in the morning. Freezer breakfasts make mornings so much easier around here! Especially now that I’ve got a sweet {read: demanding} one year old to wrangle in the mornings as well.
Sausage balls also make a great snack or party food. They’ll be quickly devoured and all you’ll have left is crumbs. They’re kind of like Pringles, you can’t have just one!
Have It Your Way
This recipe is so easy to tweak for your individual tastes and preferences. I really like the plain, classic recipe but you can spice up these sausage balls any way you like! Add in some herbs or chives. Sprinkle in some cayenne or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. You could use a maple pork sausage then add red pepper flakes for a sweet and spicy flavor. The possibilities are endless!
A Few Thoughts On Ingredients
I just simply love the taste of Jimmy Dean and it’s my favorite breakfast sausage to use for sausage balls. That being said, any breakfast sausage will work including your own homemade sausage if you have it!
My favorite cheese to use is extra sharp cheddar to get that good cheddar flavor and I love how it makes little crispy bits on the outside when it bakes. If strong cheese isn’t your thing, feel free to use mild cheddar which will still be delicious.
The original sausage balls recipe that I grew up eating as a kid called for Bisquick Baking Mix. I’ve recently started the Trim Healthy Mama Plan in an effort to lose my last few pounds of baby weight that I gained with sweet baby girl.
Unfortunately, Sausage Balls made with Bisquick are not Trim Healthy Mama friendly. But a simple switch out for a homemade biscuit mix with sprouted flour means that I can now enjoy sausage balls as a part of the THM lifestyle! They are a crossover since you’re eating fats and carbs at the same time but I’m so excited to have a Trim Healthy mama approved version that tastes just like the original! I buy my sprouted flour from Azure, a food co-op that makes monthly deliveries.
If you’re wondering what the heck Trim Healthy Mama is or if you’re looking for a sustainable and healthy way to lose weight and keep it off, you can read the basics about the plan from Gretchen at fitmomjourney.com.
{Healthier} Sausage Balls Ingredients
- 3 cups homemade biscuit mix made with sprouted flour {recipe below}
- 1 lb Jimmy Dean pork breakfast sausage
- 1/2 lb {3 cups} grated cheddar cheese, room temperature is easier to mix in
*Note: if you’re following Trim Healthy Mama, these are a healthy crossover.
{Healthier} Sausage Balls Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- Cook breakfast sausage. Drain only if there’s excessive grease. A small amount of grease helps them hold together better when you’re shaping them into balls.
- Combine sausage, cheese, and biscuit mix and mix together well using your hands.
- Form into 1- 1 1/2″ balls and bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Homemade Biscuit Mix Recipe With Sprouted Flour
Ingredients:
- 3 cups sprouted flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1 stick { 1/2 cup} butter
Directions:
- Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Using a pastry cutter, cut in butter until it is as incorporated as possible with the goal of resembling coarse cornmeal.
*Note: This is half of the complete biscuit mix recipe since it was the perfect amount for the sausage balls recipe. I made the sprouted flour biscuit mix with these measurements and used the whole amount for the sausage balls.
{Healthier} Sausage Balls
Ingredients
Sausage Ball Ingredients:
- 3 cups sprouted flour biscuit mix
- 1 lb Jimmy Dean pork breakfast sausage
- 1/2 lb grated cheddar cheese {3 cups}
Sprouted Flour Biscuit Mix Ingredients:
- 3 cups sprouted flour
- 1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1 stick butter, {1/2 cup}
Instructions
Sausage Ball Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375° Cook breakfast sausage. Drain only if there's excessive grease. A small amount of grease helps them hold together better when you're shaping them into balls. Combine sausage, cheese, and biscuit mix and mix together well using your hands. Form into 1- 1 1/2" balls and bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.
For homemade biscuit mix:
- Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl.Using a pastry cutter, cut in butter until it is as incorporated as possible with the goal of resembling coarse cornmeal.*Note: This is half of the complete biscuit mix recipe since it was the perfect amount for the sausage balls recipe. I made the sprouted flour biscuit mix with these measurements and used the whole amount for the sausage balls.
Tips:
- I find that a little grease helps hold the ingredients together better when you’re forming them into balls and helps them not crumble as bad before they’re baked.
- Room temperature cheese seems to mix in and sticks together with the other ingredients much better than cold cheese.
- Instead of using a pastry cutter, make your biscuit mix easily in a food processor.
- Freeze for a quick grab and go, no baking required breakfast.
- For crispy sausage balls after freezing, reheat in the oven or toaster oven.
Want To Save This Recipe For Later? Save It To Your Favorite Recipe Board On Pinterest!
