Keto Sausage Balls

This is a recipe for Keto Sausage Balls. They taste just like the traditional ones that are made with Bisquick, but instead are made with all low carb ingredients, a perfect match for your keto way of eating. They are so easy to make and also so delicious to eat, along with a yummy sauce to dip them into.

When we tried to make these keto sausage balls the first time, I wasn’t exactly sure how they would come out, but I was worried for nothing. They are made from common ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen and are easy to put together. 

These sausage balls are so good and you won’t know whether they are a better breakfast food or an appetizer. Try them for both to see which you prefer.

If you are anything like one of our friends, when we asked him to sample them he could not stop eating them and was sorry when they were gone. His wife will be so happy when I tell her that I wrote the recipe and put it on our site!!

If you are a fan of sausage, then you will also love our Cheesy Keto Stuffed Mushrooms and our delicious Keto Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats!

What are Sausage Balls?

Sausage balls are a simple recipe that has all tasty ingredients such as sausage, and cheeses which are seasoned with garlic and onion flavors. They also use egg and almond flour to hold them together.

Then they are baked and served as an appetizer, a meal or even for breakfast. These sausage balls can be served, hot right out of the oven, or even cold right out of the refrigerator.

Is Sausage Ok to Eat on Keto?

Sausage is one of the things that you can easily eat on keto because it has protein and fat, so when measured out it will fit into the macros nicely.

It’s also one of the very best-tasting meats and can be added to sauces, and soups, served with your favorite veggies, or just eaten by itself.

How Many Carbs are in Keto Sausage Meatballs?

Keto sausage balls are very low in carbs because they are made with all low carb ingredients, like sausage, cheeses, almond flour, and an egg.  They are only 1.5 Nets Carb per ball. 

What Can I Use Instead of Bisquick in Sausage Balls?

Bisquick is an essential ingredient in many traditional non-low carb sausage ball recipes.  Unfortunately, Bisquick has way too many carbs for keto or low-carb diets.

⅓ cup of Bisquick has 28 carbs and only 1 gram of fiber, so it still has 27 net carbs. Needless to say, we need to find a substitute ingredient, but one that can still achieve the same great taste as the traditional recipe.

Almond flour is a great substitute for Bisquick in a low carb sausage ball recipe. It’s one of the key ingredients that we use in low-carb cooking and baking in order to be able to enjoy many foods that we would otherwise not be able to eat.

Almond flour is made from 100% finely ground almonds. For ¼ cup, it has only 2 net carbs, so when added to these sausage balls it does not jack up the carb count like Bisquick does.

What Ingredients are in Sausage Balls with Almond Flour?

For the Sausage Balls:

• Sausage – Both sweet and spicy sausages are good, even though I always prefer spicy.
• Cream Cheese – Philadelphia block cheese is the best.
• Cheddar Cheese – Shredded, either pre-shredded or shred yourself.
• Egg – Large eggs.
• Almond Flour – Kirkland’s has the best. It’s finely ground and one of the ones with the least carbs.
• Minced Onion – Dried.
• Garlic Powder – A flavorful spice. 
• Salt – Any type will do but sea salt is most common.
• Baking Powder – Just a little adds stability to hold the balls together.

For the Dip:

• Mayonnaise – Hellman’s full fat is the best flavor.
• Sour Cream – Either light or full fat but full fat is the best.
• Mustard – Brown or Stone Ground, not yellow.
• Dill – Fresh or dried, chopped fine.

The Best Sausage for Sausage Balls

You can use any type of sausage that you like whether it be hot or sweet. The goal is to end up with ground sausage so you can buy it already ground up or if you buy it in links you just need to take it out of the casings and grind it up yourself.

Breakfast sausage would work ok too but it’s not usually sold in a ground form so you would have to take the patties or links and grind them up yourself to be able to use them. Sometimes you can find it in a bulk package in the freezer section, which is already ground before freezing and can be thawed out and used to make the sausage balls.

It depends on where you live as to the type of sausage that may be available in your supermarket. Where we live we have a lot of choices, and a lot of them will do just fine. 

My favorite one is Perri Sausage, which comes in both hot and sweet links. When I buy it I take the meat out of the casings and use it that way.

TIP: Do not use maple-flavored sausage because it may have more net carbs.

Substitutions & Different Variations

• If you are not crazy about pork sausage or are looking for a lower fat version then try ground chicken or turkey and make them the same way.
• If you have a nut allergy, you can use coconut flour instead of almond flour but cut the portion in ¼ portion and add another egg because coconut flour is drier.
• Make your sausage balls with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, then serve with marinara sauce instead. 
• You can use sour cream instead of cream cheese, which is thinner and moister, and would be good with coconut flour which needs more moisture added.
• By adding chopped jalapeno peppers you will have a hot and spicy sausage ball.

Add-Ins

If you are looking to increase or change the flavor of the sausage balls feel free to add some other ingredients…after all there are not too many things that they don’t go good with:

• Add some melted butter to the sausage balls, especially with coconut flour for more moisture.
• Scallions go well in the mixture.
• Bacon bits are a good addition, after all, who doesn’t love bacon!!!!

Cheese Options

• You can add some grated or shredded parmesan or romano to the mix.
• Add mozzarella instead of cheddar to turn them into Italian sausage balls and dip them in marinara.
• If you want Mexican food then just change the cheese to pepper jack or any other Mexican cheese.

TIP: If possible, shred your own cheddar cheese, because it is a little less in carbs than the pre-shredded type and also cheaper to shred it yourself.

Herbs and Spices

• Parsley will add a bit of flavor and some added color.
• Oregano can be a good flavor with Italian sausage balls.
• Crushed red pepper adds a good hot spicy flavor.
• Chili powder is a good addition to Mexican sausage balls.

Can I Make Sausage Balls Nut-Free?

Using coconut flour instead of almond flour will make your sausage balls a nut-free recipe option, however, you will need to add an extra egg or sour cream because the coconut flour will make them dry and crumble if you do not add enough moisture.

Can I Make Sausage Balls Egg-Free?

Eggs are used in the sausage balls to help bind the mixture together so that when you roll them or cook them they won’t fall apart. So if you are allergic to eggs then use a vegan egg which would do the job of binding everything together.

Here are the best vegan egg options:

• A Flaxseed meal mixed with water will give you an egg consistency.
• Chia seeds are another good alternative, when mixed with water and have no flavor.
• Baking powder and oil mixed with some water will give you an egg replacement.

Dairy-Free Sausage Balls

If you can’t eat dairy and want to make these sausage balls dairy-free there are a couple of options to use. Along with your sausage, almond flour, egg, etc add:

• Nutritional Yeast: This is a powder and has a cheesy flavor that will replace the cheddar cheese.
• Vegan Cheese: Another great product if you need to be dairy-free.

The Secret to the Best Sausage Balls

In my opinion, the secret to making the best sausage balls ever is to:

• Use good sausage, my preference is hot Perri sausage.
• Use the best cheddar cheese. Full fat is best.
• Cream cheese should be the block Philadelphia, not whipped.
• Do not overcook them.

Cooking Methods for Sausage Balls

You can either bake the sausage balls in the oven or fry them on top of the stove. We have made them both ways but in my opinion, the best way to cook the sausage balls is in the oven.

Here is why:

• You can make them all at once in one pan.
• They come out more tender in the oven.
• They are less fatty if you don’t have to cook them in more fat in order to fry them.

An air fryer is also a possible cooking method to use. Set it to 375 degrees and put them in a single layer and cook for about 8 minutes.

In case you are wondering if you can make the sausage balls in the microwave, that is not the best option because they will cook unevenly, fast on the outside, and become rubbery. Totally the opposite of the way that they come out in the oven. 

The microwave though is a quick way to heat up your leftover sausage balls after storing them.

How to Make Keto Sausage Balls 

Now we will give you step-by-step instructions to make these keto sausage balls.

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, line a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper.

STEP 2: Next, put all of the dry ingredients, the almond flour, and the seasonings, in a mixing bowl one at a time and blend together until combined. Set it aside.

STEP 3: Get a larger bowl and add the sausage and egg. Now add the dry ingredients and cream cheese and blend them all together.

The last ingredient to add is the cheddar cheese. Mix together but do not overmix it.

Chill the sausage mixture for about 15-20 minutes in the refrigerator.

STEP 4: Using a medium-sized scoop, drop the balls onto the paper and be sure to get them as close to the same size as possible.

Now take each one and slightly roll them into loose balls.

STEP 5: Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. If they do not look golden brown then bake them for an extra 5 minutes.

STEP 6: While they are baking, make the sauce by getting a small bowl and blending together the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, and dill. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

STEP 7: Take the sausage balls out of the oven when they are done cooking and serve with the dipping sauce. Enjoy!

How Long to Cook Sausage Balls

The key to any recipe is learning how long to cook something so that you do not under or overcook it. Otherwise, your food will be too runny or too dry. 

They are pretty easy to cook if you bake them for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees, depending on how hot your oven is. Until you get the hang of it by making them a few times, just check them at about 20 minutes.

FAQs and Best Tips

Right now, especially if you have never made sausage balls before, you may have questions running through your head. We will attempt to answer them for you and also share with you any tips and hints that we have learned along the way that will help you.

• Chill the batter to achieve a rounder shape.
• Use a scoop to get more uniform in size balls.
• Do not overmix the balls or they will be tough.
• If you do not have parchment paper feel free to make the sausage balls in a mini muffin pan.
• You could also use a silicone mat on your cookie sheet.

How to Keep Sausage Balls Tender

When you make sausage balls they have ingredients in them which will help them to be tender….that’s why they are so yummy. Between the sausage, cheeses, egg, etc they will not be dry. The best way to keep the sausage balls tender is not to overcook them, otherwise, they will be rubbery and dry, and you can’t go backward.

Do not overmix the meat because the more you mix it the tougher it will be. Just blend the ingredients together, that’s enough.

TIP: Make the sausage balls all one size so that some of them do not undercook and the rest overcook.

Can I Serve Sausage Balls at Room Temperature?

Sausage balls do not need to be served piping hot right out of the oven, in fact, they are best served warm. However, you don’t want them to sit out more than 2 hours because of the meat and cheese. 

Tip: FYI they are very good cold right out of the refrigerator too. Our friend John could not stop eating them cold.

How to Keep Almond Flour Sausage Balls from Falling Apart

When you are cooking with almond flour as one of your low-carb ingredients, it’s a little different from than traditional flour that you normally use in recipes. One of the downfalls is that the sausage balls fall apart more easily.

Using the recommended amount of almond flour in the sausage balls, and the right amount of eggs will help to keep them bound together. If you do this they will not fall apart at all.

Should I Pre-Cook the Sausage?

That is a good question, but there is no need at all to pre-cook the sausage. When you make the mixture into balls, all the ingredients will cook evenly together.

How Many Sausage Balls Does this Recipe Make?

I never seem to get the same exact amount of sausage balls every time I make them but figure around 24-26, depending on how uniform in size they are.

Is it Better to Bake them on a Wire Rack or Parchment Paper?

In our opinion and experience, we have found that it is better to bake the sausage balls on parchment paper rather than a wire rack because they will stay more tender when they are done cooking. 

Parchment paper is our best friend in so many recipes, so we try to always keep it in both of our kitchens. I hate to run out of it and the best one to buy is the Kirkland brand at Costco. 

However, I do want to offer a couple of other suggestions if you do not have any parchment paper in your kitchen:

• Mini muffin pan sprayed lightly with a cooking spray.
• A silicone baking sheet laid out on a baking tray. 

What to Serve with Keto Sausage Balls?

These sausage balls are so yummy all by themselves but also delicious with so many other things. There are not too many things that they do not go with.

• You can make them flat instead of round and fry them, along with an egg and serve them on your favorite low carb roll as a breakfast sandwich.
• Mix them with your favorite eggs along with cauliflower hash browns.
• Use the mixture inside mushroom caps to make an all-time favorite appetizer.
• A green salad is always a good combo with many foods, including these.
• Make the sausage balls with mozzarella cheese instead and pour homemade tomato sauce over them, along with some low carb noodles.
• Make them with Mexican cheese and serve them inside our low carb tortillas or over zero-carb rice.

Sauce Options

Depending on the type of sausage balls that you make will also depend on the type of sauce that you dip them in. Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Tomato Sauce
• Quesadilla Sauce
• Dill Sauce
• Ranch
• Mustard
• BBQ Sauce (Low Carb)

Make-Ahead & How to Store

This is one of those recipes that is easy to make ahead of time which will make meal prep easy.

Make-Ahead – It is an easy thing to prepare and form the sausage balls ahead of time, a few hours ahead, or even the night before. Just store them in an airtight container and refrigerate them. 

Storing – If you have any leftover cooked sausage balls just store them in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. If you have not finished them, then you can store them in the freezer.

How to Reheat Sausage Balls?

For quick heating, use the microwave, for 1-2 minutes loosely covered to avoid them drying out.

You can also use a baking dish in the oven or toaster oven, on 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, covered with foil.

Can You Freeze Keto Sausage Balls?

So many foods freeze well, and these keto sausage balls are no exception to that. The most important thing when freezing anything is to make sure that they are wrapped properly to keep the air out as much as possible. 

Put the unused portion of sausage balls in an airtight plastic container and then double protect them by putting the plastic container into a Ziploc freezer bag.

Or you could also do it the opposite way by putting individual portions in plastic baggies and then put the baggies into an airtight container. That way you can take them out of the freezer a little at a time or all at once.

TIP: You can freeze them raw or baked.

Tools to Use

• Bowl – To blend up the sausage ball mix.
• Cookie Sheet – To bake the sausage balls on.
• Parchment Paper – To line the cookie sheet.
• Scoop – To make uniform-sized balls.

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Keto/Low Carb – This recipe is so good that it’s hard to believe that it’s an approved diet food. Very low net carbs so you can have several at one time.
• Gluten-free – Another great winner recipe for our readers that can’t have any gluten!
• Paleo – This fits right into the Paleo diet.
• Sugar-free – There is no need for any sugar in these yummy sausage balls.

Other Similar Recipes

Looking for some other great dinner recipes, check out these: 

• Keto Meatballs
• Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
• Juiciest Hamburger Recipe
• Keto Meatloaf
• Keto Chili
• Keto Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage
• Keto Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats

They all are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will be a hit with your family and friends!

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