I’m going to share with you one of my family’s most beloved Christmas morning recipes: Sausage Balls. When I was a kid my mom made these every Christmas morning and at the time it was my brother in particular who loved them so much. As I got older and moved away I realized how much I missed them, so I started making them too, 800 miles away, and have been for about 10 years now. Now my brother is married and he and his wife still make them at their home too! It never gets old.
Sausage Balls Recipe
makes about six dozen
1 lb bulk sausage, hot variety (Jimmy Dean!)
12 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
2 cups Bisquick
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients by hand. There is simply no other way to do it. Get in there with both hands and squeeze, smash, knead, and stir with everything you got. At first it will look hopeless, like oh my GOD this is all wrong; this stuff is never going to combine. But be patient. It will. You just have to keep mixing and squeezing. Eventually, it will all come together.
Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a lightly sprayed baking sheet. Do not make the balls too big. Contrary to instinct, a bigger sausage ball is not better. They’re better when they’re smaller.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350 on the center rack. Raise or lower the rack depending on how dark the top or bottom is getting. Personally, the melted crispy cheese at the bottom is very delicious but you can always raise it up in the oven a bit if it’s a problem…
Do not overcook. Once baked, removed from baking sheet and place on a plate or platter with paper towels. Serve warm.
