These Rotel Cream Cheese Sausage Balls are cheesy, flavorful, and completely irresistible. Made with savory breakfast sausage, creamy cheese, and zesty Rotel tomatoes, they bake up golden on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. Perfect for parties, game day, brunch, or easy snacking, they’re guaranteed to disappear fast.
Ingredients
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1 lb breakfast sausage (mild or hot, uncooked)
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1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
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1 (10 oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, very well drained
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1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
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1½ cups Bisquick or baking mix
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½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
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½ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
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Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
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Drain the Rotel extremely well using a strainer and paper towels to remove excess moisture.
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In a large bowl, combine the sausage, cream cheese, drained Rotel, shredded cheddar cheese, baking mix, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
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Mix until a thick, slightly sticky dough forms. You can use clean hands or a stand mixer.
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Scoop about 1–1½ tablespoons of the mixture and roll into balls. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
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Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Perfect for holidays, parties, and potlucks
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Freezer-friendly
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Made with simple pantry ingredients
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Easily adjusted for mild or spicy tastes
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Great for doubling or tripling
Flavor Variations
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Spicy Jalapeño: Add finely diced jalapeños
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Mexican Style: Use pepper jack cheese
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Breakfast Version: Add cooked scrambled eggs
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Low-Carb: Substitute almond flour baking mix
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Ranch Style: Add 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
Serving Ideas
Serve warm with:
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Ranch dressing
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Honey mustard
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Spicy mayo
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Salsa
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Cheese dip
Great for brunch spreads, football parties, baby showers, and holiday gatherings.
Storage & Freezing
Refrigerate:
Store cooked sausage balls in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze (Uncooked):
Roll into balls and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
Freeze (Cooked):
Cool completely and freeze for quick reheating.
Reheat:
Oven at 350°F for 10 minutes or microwave until warmed through.
Helpful Tips
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Drain Rotel very thoroughly to avoid soggy balls
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Softened cream cheese blends more easily
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Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizing
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Don’t overbake or they may dry out
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Chill the dough briefly if it’s too sticky
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Serve warm for best flavor