Description
These Rotel Cream Cheese Sausage Balls are soft‑on‑the‑inside, slightly crisp‑on‑the‑outside savory bites made from sausage, cream cheese and zesty Rotel tomatoes with green chiles—perfect for parties, breakfasts, or a quick snack.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground sausage (mild, hot, or breakfast style)
- 1 can (10 oz) RO*TEL diced tomatoes & green chiles, **drained**
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese blend)
- 1 ½ cups baking mix (such as Bisquick baking mix)
Instructions
- Pre‑heat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground sausage, softened cream cheese, and well‑drained Rotel tomatoes and green chiles until evenly mixed. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Add the baking mix and shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until just combined—avoid over‑mixing. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Roll the mixture into approximately 1‑inch balls and place them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked through (internal temperature should reach about 160 °F / 71 °C). :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Let them cool slightly before serving warm. They’re great with a dipping sauce (e.g., ranch, honey mustard, salsa). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Notes
- For a spicier version, use hot sausage or the “hot” variety of RO*TEL. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- You can use turkey or chicken sausage for a lighter version.
- Cheese alternatives: use pepper jack or Monterey jack instead of cheddar.
- If mixture is too sticky to roll, lightly oil your hands or use a cookie scoop—resist adding extra baking mix which can make the balls dry. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- To make gluten‑free, swap the baking mix with a gluten‑free biscuit/ baking mix. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- These freeze well: flash‑freeze shaped balls, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2–3 months; bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to cooking time. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18–20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Breakfast Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Tex‑Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sausage ball
- Calories: ≈55 kcal
- Sugar: ≈1 g
- Sodium: ≈128 mg
- Fat: ≈3 g
- Saturated Fat: ≈2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ≈1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: ≈4 g
- Fiber: ≈0.1 g
- Protein: ≈2 g
- Cholesterol: ≈8 mg
