Skip to Content

Sausage Balls: Easy appetizer for parties

Sharing is caring!

Sausage balls are a delicious and easy appetizer for parties! Serve with your favorite mustard for dipping.

 

An easy-to-make appetizer, sausage balls are delicious served with your favorite mustard for dipping

 

My father in law was a great cook. It was a fun hobby for him, and if you ask anyone who knew him, they will tell you, it was a treat to have a meal prepared by Ed.

I’m slowly working my way through his notebooks, re-creating and photographing his recipes for a family cookbook. Family recipes are a treasure, and I feel like his recipes are part of his legacy to us.

I was making one of his recipes this morning when I got a call from my husband’s sister. She was planning on making a batch of grape leaves and asked me how mine came out using the swiss chard instead. For the record, they were delicious, and you can find the recipe for my stuffed swiss chard here.

I mentioned to her that I was making her dad’s sausage balls, and she said she remembered cleaning up grease all over the wall one time when he made them for a family gathering. We laughed for a minute about that. My father in law was known for making a big mess when he cooked. Not so much grease on the wall, but a lot of pots and pans. He was not a one pot meal kind of guy. But everything he cooked was good…really good!

My father in law loved to entertain, and he was big on family. Most of our time together revolved around food in one way or another…he loved to cook for us.

I wish I had some pictures of him in the kitchen, but this is one of my favorite pictures of my daughter and her Jiddu. It’s an older picture…she’s in high school now…but some of her fondest memories of her grandfather include the time he spent with her cooking and sharing his recipes.

 

Family gathering1

Now for the recipe!

 

Sausage Balls

Sausage Balls

Yield: 32-36
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb sausage patties (sweet or hot)
  • 2/3 cup cooked rice
  • 4 tablespoons chopped chives
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Canola oil

Instructions

  1. Combine sausage with next 5 ingredients.
  2. Form into balls and refrigerate overnight. If you skip this step, the balls will fall apart.
  3. In a pan, preheat canola oil to high temperature.
  4. Fry sausage balls until browned .
  5. Skewer sausage balls with toothpicks and serve with mustard.
Sausage Balls

Sausage Balls collage

I’m participating in a Holiday Cocktail Party Blog Hop, and this recipe is part of it. At the bottom of my post, you’ll find the others participating as well. Feel free to stop by their blogs and see what they are sharing. Pretty soon though, we’ll be posting the blog hop with a complete listing of recipes!


2014 Holiday Cocktail Party Blog Hop

 

Please take a look at the blogs participating in this Holiday Cocktail Party!

Appetizers

Domestic SuperheroJust Us FourThe Blue Eyed DoveSweet PeaGlued To My CraftsPatricia Eales NutritionLemons and LaughsCupcakes&Crowbars – Sowdering AboutVegetarian GourmetYesterday on TuesdayMom Home GuideMy Craftily Ever AfterThe Love NerdsOne Krieger ChickKenarry: Ideas for the HomeA Dish of Daily Life

Cocktails & Mocktails

One Artsy MamaThe Blue Eyed DoveSparkleAlbion GouldSouthern State of MindEat Drink EatA Labour of LifeMy Creative DaysShelstringI’m Bored Lets GoBlue Crab Martini

Desserts & Sweet Treats

Major Hoff Takes A WifeThis Is The Life I Have ChosenCrazy for CrustSypsie DesignsDIYfaerieLittle Blog on the HomesteadLiving Better TogetherLaura’s INKlingsLife Made SweeterTried & TrueFrugElegancePlay. Party. Pin.

 

 

Sausage Balls...this old family favorite is a fun appetizer recipe for tailgate season!

thebetterbaker11

Friday 9th of October 2015

What a fantastic idea to add the rice! Wanted to be sure you knew this recipe is being featured at this week's Weekend Potluck party. YAY You! =) Keep 'em comin - please! http://www.thebetterbaker.blogspot.com/2015/10/pumpkin-pie-baked-oatmeal-weekend.html

Kelly

Wednesday 6th of May 2015

Holidays or not, there's nothing like a sausage ball on an appetizer plate, and these certainly look like they'd be the first items to go!

Tammy smith

Thursday 27th of November 2014

Perhaps this is a stupid question...but what are sausage patties?

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Sunday 23rd of November 2014

I'm just catching up on some blog reading, Michelle, and these are right up my alley. Love the story about your father-in-law, and the picture with your daughter is wonderful.

Carrie

Tuesday 18th of November 2014

Wow, Michelle! These sausage balls look INCREDIBLE! What a sweet story about your father-in-law. I love that you're creating a cookbook from his recipes to share with your family. That will be such a special heirloom full of memories, I'm sure.

Skip to Recipe