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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  • 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

How to keep sausage balls from burning on the bottom? ›

Spacing is Key: Give your sausage balls room to breathe on the baking sheet. Think of it as social distancing for food; it helps them bake evenly. The Oven Dance: Keep an eye on them while they're in the oven.

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 are sausage balls made of? ›

Sausage: This sausage balls recipe starts with a pound of ground pork sausage. Use hot ground sausage for a spicy kick. Baking mix: Use a store-bought mix, such as Bisquick, or make your own at home with pantry staples. Cheese: These sausage balls wouldn't be complete without shredded Cheddar.

What 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 ...

How do you keep sausage moist and cooked? ›

To determine whether it's done, you can measure the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Sausages should reach 155–165°F (68–74°C). Alternatively, boiling them before cooking in a pan or on a grill can ensure that they're thoroughly cooked and remain moist.

How do you keep sausage from drying out? ›

Cook gently and only to a max 145-150ºF over a low to moderate heat or with the simmer then brown method. The main benefit from either of the methods we recommend is that you will lose only about half of the moisture when compared to a fast high cook approach and this means immeasurably better results, every time.

Can you eat sausage balls that were left out overnight? ›

Can sausage balls sit out? After you have formed the sausage balls, you can leave them on the counter for a short period of time, but since it is raw meat, you should store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake. After they have cooked, you can leave them at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Can cooked sausage be left out overnight? ›

How long can cooked sausage be left out of the refrigerator? According to the USDA to keep food out of the danger zone after cooking, hot food must be kept hot at 140 degrees F. If perishable food has been left out for more than 2 hours, throw it out to avoid harmful bacteria.

Can I freeze sausage? ›

Freezing keeps food safe indefinitely. Keep sausages in the freezer (0 °F or less) for one to two months for best quality.

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 is the white liquid around sausage? ›

The white stuff is, in fact, mold. A very specific mold, used in the fermenting of sausages. By innoculating the sausages with a specific and beneficial mold, the good mold kills any bad molds and keeps them from spoiling the product... It may have been “killed” after the sausage was made and just left on for flavor.

What is the white stuff in sausage? ›

Just like cheese (camembert, brie or Roquefort), there's no need to add anything, as this is nature's work. 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.

Can sausage balls be reheated? ›

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.

How do you keep sausage patties from burning? ›

I started out by heating a 12-inch nonstick pan over medium high heat then added the sausage and cooked for five minutes. I found that the heat was a little too high and the sausage was burning quickly, so I turned it down to medium and added in a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil to prevent scorching.

How do you keep sausage from burning? ›

Add oil or butter: To further prevent sticking and burning, add a small amount of oil or butter to the preheated pan [3]. Cook on medium heat: Cooking sausage on medium heat allows it to cook through without burning the outside [3].

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