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
  • Recipes
  • Video
  • Vivian Howard
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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 (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.

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.

Can you freeze sausage balls after they are cooked? ›

Yes, you can freeze uncooked or cooked sausage 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.

How long can you keep uncooked sausage balls in the refrigerator? ›

All sausages- except dry sausage - are perishable and therefore must be kept refrigerated or frozen. Uncooked fresh sausage can be stored in the refrigerator one to two days; after cooking, keep for three to four days refrigerated (40 °F or less).

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.

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 are the little white balls in summer sausage? ›

Encapsulated citric acid is a product in which citric acid has been encapsulated with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. It looks like little tiny white balls about the size of the head of a small pin. It is added during the mixing of the product in manufacture.

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)

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.

Do sausage balls reheat well? ›

I've found that they are okay if reheated, but tend to be a little rubbery if you microwave them. If you reheat in oven, I've always been told to wet them with a wet towel before putting them in. I think you should be able to make them up the night before, put in fridge, and then pop in oven in the morning.

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.

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.

How do you store sausage without a refrigerator? ›

Here are some tips you can do to preserve meat from spoiling!
  1. Curing. Curing is a classic method of preserving food. ...
  2. Smoking. Smoking is the oldest form of food preservation which many commonly used in areas where the weather is too humid for drying the meat. ...
  3. Dehydration. ...
  4. Confit. ...
  5. Brining. ...
  6. Pressure Canning. ...
  7. Freeze Drying.
Dec 15, 2022

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