Air Fryer Sausage Balls offer a convenient make-ahead breakfast solution that can be cooked in just a few minutes using the Air Fryer. Made with Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage, Velveeta, and Bisquick baking mix, they are super simple and take only minutes to make. Prepare the Sausage Balls, freeze them, and simply cook them when you’re ready.
Table of contents
- 🔑 Key to Success #1 – Use a Food Processor
- 🔑 Key to Success #2 – Mix Until Just Combined
- 🔑 Key to Success #3 – Roll Into Walnut-sized balls
- 🔑 Key to Success #4 – Discover Your Perfect Dipping Sauce!
- ❓ FAQ
- 📌 Get the Printable Recipe for Air Fryer Sausage Balls
- 😋 Don’t miss these other great Air Fryer recipes:
Allow me to share with you a heartwarming story about Noah, an 8-year-old enthusiast of Sausage Balls.
On Christmas Eve, I prepared a double batch and baked a pan-full on Christmas morning.
I stored the remaining in the freezer, savoring them on cold mornings.
To my surprise, all the Sausage Balls were devoured by the 10th day of January.
Occasionally, I would bake a batch on Saturday mornings, and Noah enjoyed them throughout the week – a quick and delightful breakfast before school.
Inspired by this, I experimented with a recipe for Air Fryer Sausage Balls.
The goal was to create a batch that could be frozen and effortlessly cooked in the Air Fryer for Noah’s breakfast.
The outcome was nothing short of remarkable – these Air Fryer Sausage Balls might even surpass the original recipe in taste and quality.
The best part was how easy it was to cook. This delicious appetizer is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Try this easy air fryer recipe today!
Disclosure – I may get a small commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.
🔑 Key to Success #1 – Use a Food Processor
Save time when preparing Sausage Balls with this handy trick: use a food processor.
But if you prefer, a stand mixer with a large mixing bowl works just as well.
Though my exact model is no longer available, you can easily find a similar Ninja food processor.
It makes it much simpler to blend half of the ingredients at a time.
For example, blend 1/2 pound of sausage and 1/2 pound of Velveeta until just combined.
These ingredients blend easier when at room temperature.
Then, add in 3/4 cup of Bisquick biscuit mix and pulse a few times to ensure everything is well mixed.
The best part is that you can make these Sausage Balls ahead of time and freeze them until you’re ready to bake.
Perfect for Christmas morning!
Try out these tips and enjoy your own delicious Sausage Balls.
🔑 Key to Success #2 – Mix Until Just Combined
When it comes to making the dough, you don’t want to go overboard with the mixing.
We’re not looking for a perfectly smooth and uniform texture here.
We actually want it to be just barely combined.
The magic happens when you can still see those delightful patches of cheese and sausage peeking through.
Now, here’s the thing: if you mix the dough too much, you might end up with sausage balls that are tough and rubbery.
Not exactly what we’re going for, right?
But don’t worry if you don’t have a fancy food processor.
You can still whip up this deliciousness by hand.
Just grab a large bowl and get ready to mix sausage with Velveeta and Bisquick.
Here’s a pro tip: start by combining the sausage with the cheese, and then add in the Bisquick at the end.
Trust me, this little trick will guarantee a mouth-watering outcome.
So let’s get mixing and create some sausage balls that’ll have everyone begging for more.
🔑 Key to Success #3 – Roll Into Walnut-sized balls
Get ready to roll!
Once you’ve mixed up the dough, it’s time to start shaping your sausage balls.
Aim for walnut-sized or approximately one-inch balls – they don’t have to be perfectly smooth or uniform.
I personally like making them this size because you can savor 2 or even 3 delicious bites from each sausage ball.
But feel free to make them smaller if that’s your preference.
And here’s a pro tip to ensure your sausage balls stay moist and flavorful: reduce the cooking time by a few minutes to prevent them from drying out.
Now let’s talk about the star of the show – the ingredients.
This classic recipe for sausage cheese balls calls for simple basics like Bisquick mix (or any biscuit mix you prefer), your choice of ground sausage (Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, spicy sausage, hot, turkey – take your pick!), and a cheesy addition like Velveeta or sharp cheddar cheese.
These easy recipe Bisquick sausage balls are the perfect easy appetizer for your next party – game day, holiday parties, wedding showers, or just your next get-together where finger foods are a must.
🔑 Key to Success #4 – Discover Your Perfect Dipping Sauce!
Discover the perfect dip for Sausage Balls!
While I personally love the sweet touch of honey, there are plenty of other delicious options to explore.
From tangy yellow mustard to indulgent maple syrup, pancake syrup, or even the unexpected grape jelly – the choice is yours!
So, tell me, what’s your ultimate dip for Sausage Balls? Let’s dive into flavor together.
❓ FAQ
Can you freeze unbaked Sausage Balls?
Yes, you can streamline your morning routine by freezing these delicious sausage balls, perfect for appetizers, family gatherings, and holiday celebrations.
Simply place the uncooked sausage balls on a freezer-safe tray lined with wax paper or a parchment-lined baking sheet, and let them firm up in the freezer for 1-2 hours.
No need to worry if your sheet pans don’t fit in the freezer – get creative and use any flat and freezer-safe surface that’s the right size.
Once the sausage balls are firm, transfer them to an airtight container like a ziploc bag, freezer bag, or vacuum seal bag for long-term freezer storage.
With the pre-freeze tray method, you won’t have to deal with them sticking together.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen sausage bals, there’s no need to thaw them out.
Simply take out as many as you need and follow the baking instructions, adjusting the time if necessary.
For best results, it may be necessary to add an extra 2-3 minutes to the bake time.
Now you can savor these tasty, easy sausage balls anytime with this convenient freezing method. Enjoy!
How do you cook frozen sausage balls?
Sausage Balls can be effortlessly cooked from frozen in the Air Fryer.
Through my testing, I have found that the cook time remains relatively unchanged when preparing the Sausage Balls from fresh or frozen.
For my cooking endeavors, I personally use the Cozyna XL 5.8 QT Air Fryer, along with the Cozyna Air Fryer Deluxe Accessory Pack, which includes handy little pans and racks.
(Today, you can find a $10 off coupon for this Cozyna Air Fryer on Amazon! It’s a fantastic deal!)
Although the Air Fryer Accessory Pack comes with a round baking pan that works wonders for cooking the Sausage Balls, they can be cooked directly in the Air Fryer basket with equal ease.
Regardless of whether they are fresh or frozen, these Sausage Balls should be cooked in a single layer at a temperature of 320 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes in total.
Simply set the timer for 5 minutes, then use tongs to flip over the Sausage Balls and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
The end result is a batch of Sausage Balls with a delightful golden brown exterior and a soft, tender interior.
Absolutely scrumptious!
📌 Get the Printable Recipe for Air Fryer Sausage Balls
Save this Air Fryer Sausage Balls recipe to your favorite Breakfast board or your Snack Recipes board.
Air Fryer Sausage Balls
Ingredients
- 1 lb Jimmy Dean pork sausage
- 1 lb Velveeta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups Bisquick baking mix
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 320 degrees F.
- In food processor, combine sausage and Velveeta cheese. (Mixture will not be completely smooth.)
- Add Bisquick and pulse a few times until ingredients are just combined.
- Roll into walnut-sized balls and place 10-12 Sausage Balls at a time into Air Fryer basket or shallow baking dish.
- Cook for 5 minutes. Turn balls over then bake another 5 minutes until Sausage Balls are golden brown.
Equipment
Nutrition
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Natalie Watson
Tuesday 23rd of January 2024
Never thought to make sausage balls in the air fryer. I will have to try it.
Jennifer
Wednesday 24th of January 2024
We'd love to hear what you think about this recipe.
Elizabeth
Tuesday 22nd of December 2020
Great recipe! I’ve been making these for 20 plus years and this was the quickest yummiest way. Thank you!
Elizabeth
Tuesday 22nd of December 2020
Cathy
Saturday 21st of November 2020
Made these this morning. Awesome!