Happy hump day everyone! I hope you’re having a good week so far. M has TWO days off of kindergarten this week. Teacher work day and Veterans Day. Fortunately, my mom is around and taking her to do some fun things during the day so she doesn’t have to sit and watch me work on my deadlines for my day job as a health and nutrition editor. Nanna to the rescue! I’m also hoping my mom and I can finalize our Thanksgiving menu (I’ll be consulting my round-up of 45 Thanksgiving sides for sure) and I’m trying to find some extra time this week to do some last bits of yard work before the winter weather arrives. Just need a few more hours in the day 😉 I’m sure you feel me on that one! Now let’s talk about these healthy sausage balls.
They are pretty much the ultimate breakfast and brunch party bite, especially at the holidays. You’ve got a cheddar cheese-loaded biscuit that’s studded with chunks of turkey sausage for a meaty, cheesy, biscuit ball that is seriously addictive. You won’t need to call everyone over when these babies come out of the oven, either. They smell so good that your friends and family will be hovering nearby, eagerly awaiting the chance to scoop one up. Though somehow, when we have people over, everyone always ends up hanging out in the kitchen anyway. Closer to the food maybe. And the drinks!
But gathering loved ones together and sharing some of our favorite eats while we get to chat and catch up? That’s what the holidays are all about for me. It doesn’t get better than that! ❤️
Notes on how to make healthy sausage balls:
You can substitute regular all-purpose flour in place of the white wheat flour if that’s what you have. I prefer hot Italian turkey sausage, but mild is great for a group setting if you’re not sure everyone wants it spicy. You can also substitute regular pork sausage. Just be sure to drain any extra fat after it’s cooked. The sausage for these balls needs to be cooked. To do that, add your raw sausage to a large skillet over medium heat and cook for about 8 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks so it’s in small crumbles. These are best warm from the oven, but they’re still delicious as they cool down, so it’s perfect for leaving out at a party or taking to a neighbor’s house.
How to make healthy sausage balls ahead of time:
If you want to make these ahead of time, I suggest baking them for just 12 minutes and then pack them up. You can either keep them in your refrigerator for a day or two or put them in a container to take to a friend’s house. (If you are refrigerating them, be sure to pull them out about 20 minutes before you’re going to rewarm them.) When you’re ready to finish them, place them on a baking sheet lined with foil and cover the tops with foil, so they’re all wrapped up. Rewarm the sausage balls in the oven on low – about 250 degrees – for 10 minutes or so. Now they are warm and delicious and ready to go! Finally, if you have any leftovers, these healthy sausage balls freeze great! Just defrost in the refrigerator and warm up in the microwave when you want to enjoy them again!
Cheers to the holiday season and to making new memories and new traditions with friends and family. Enjoy! XO, Kathryn P.S. Be sure to check out my VIDEO to see how easy these are to make!
You can substitute regular all-purpose flour if you like or use a mixture of all-purpose and whole wheat flours. I prefer hot Italian turkey sausage, but mild is great for a group setting. You can also substitute regular sausage, just be sure to drain any extra fat after it’s cooked. The sausage for these balls needs to be cooked. To do that, add your raw sausage to a large skillet over medium heat and cook for about 8 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks so it’s in small crumbles. If you have any leftovers, they freeze great! Just defrost in the refrigerator and warm up in the microwave.
