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.

How do you keep sausage balls from burning on the bottom? ›

If you have burnt bottoms, the oven temperature may be set too high, or the pan may be too close to the heating element. Grab a sharp paring knife and cut off the burnt bottoms. It isn't going to look the best, but you won't be wasting an entire batch!

What are sausage balls made of? ›

Combine sausage, Cheddar cheese, flour, baking powder, salt, onion powder, seasoned salt, and dry mustard in a large bowl. Form into walnut-size balls and place on rimmed nonstick baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and no longer pink in the centers, about 20 minutes.

Can you freeze cooked sausage balls? ›

To freeze cooked sausage balls: Bake the sausage balls and allow them to cool completely. Flash freeze them overnight, then transfer them to zip-top freezer bags. Wrap in foil and freeze flat for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven or in the microwave.

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 ...

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.

How do you keep sausage moist and cooked? ›

By steaming the sausages before grilling in a pan, you can preserve as much moisture resulting in juicier sausages. Use a steamer pot, fill up the bottom with about 2cm of water, turn on the heat, then cover. Once the water boils, you can start steaming. Steam the sausage for about 15 mins.

How long will uncooked sausage balls keep in 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 do you store sausage balls for the next day? ›

How to store leftovers. 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.

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.

What is the Mcdonalds sausage made out of? ›

Ingredients: Pork, Water, Salt, Spices, Dextrose, Sugar, Rosemary Extract, Natural Flavors.

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.

Is it better to freeze sausage cooked or uncooked? ›

Raw and cooked sausages can be frozen. Separate into portion sizes before freezing so that you can defrost exactly what you need.

Can you freeze sausage indefinitely? ›

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

How to make sausage at home? ›

So, I put everything in one step here.
  1. Collect equipment and non-spoilable materials (meat grinder, sausage stuffer, fruit, herbs, spices, salt, natural hog casings, etc...)
  2. Get meat. ...
  3. Carve the meat into 1-2 inch chucks suitable for grinding.
  4. Prepare flavorings.
  5. Partially freeze meat and flavorings.

How long can cooked sausage sit out? ›

The Two-Hour Rule. 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.

How long will sausage last unrefrigerated? ›

Raw sausage will stay fresh in the refrigerator for one or two days and in the freezer for one or two months. At room temperature, they will last a maximum of two hours. You can prolong the life of your fresh sausage by cooking it and storing it.

Does dry cured sausage need to be refrigerated? ›

In good conditions – in a wrap in the fridge – dry cured meats will remain in good quality for about a month.

What sausage does not need to be refrigerated? ›

All sausage — except dry sausage — is perishable and therefore must be kept refrigerated. The following storage times should be followed for maximum quality.

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