Description
Savory rotel cream cheese sausage balls bring Southern comfort to party appetizers with irresistible cheesy goodness. Packed with zesty flavors and simple ingredients, these bite-sized treats will disappear quickly from any gathering table you bring them to.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Cheese:
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 can (10 ounces/283 grams) Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing the surface.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the sausage, cream cheese, baking mix, and Rotel tomatoes, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly blended.
- Use your hands to knead the mixture until it forms a consistent and compact texture, breaking down any large chunks.
- Roll the mixture into uniform golf ball-sized portions, placing them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Gently press down on each ball to slightly flatten, which helps create a more even cooking surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through to ensure uniform browning.
- Remove from the oven when the sausage balls develop a golden-brown exterior and appear crispy around the edges.
- Allow the sausage balls to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, which helps them set and makes them easier to transfer.
- Serve warm as an appetizer or game day snack, optionally accompanied by a dipping sauce of your choice.
Notes
- Adjust the sausage ball consistency by using leaner or fattier sausage, which impacts moisture and density.
- Experiment with different cream cheese varieties like reduced-fat or flavored options to suit dietary preferences.
- Mix ingredients thoroughly but gently to prevent overworking the mixture, ensuring tender and moist sausage balls.
- Prepare and freeze uncooked sausage balls up to one month in advance for convenient entertaining or quick snacks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg