Can You Really Freeze Sausage Balls? The Surprisingly Simple Answer

Simple Make Ahead Sausage Balls are easy to make, freeze, and cook from frozen. They will become your new favorite appetizer recipe.

I don’t remember eating sausage balls. Ever. I’ve had Australian sausage rolls and I’ve had bacon wrapped sausages, but never sausage balls like these. But I had this roll of sausage in the freezer and needed make a make ahead recipe. So, I made sausage balls. I also had some herb cheese in the fridge to make some fall appetizers with.

You’ll love these Easy Make Ahead Sausage Balls because they’re quick and easy to make, freeze, and cook from frozen. They’ll become your new favorite appetizer recipe.

These can be frozen for up to one month when stored in a zip top freezer bag. There is no need to thaw them before baking. Cook them 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

Sausage balls are a southern staple that have become popular appetizers across America. These bite-sized morsels of sausage, cheese, and biscuit dough are easy to pop in your mouth and so tasty. Their portability makes them ideal for potlucks, parties, and tailgates. But what if you make too many? Or want to make a big batch in advance? Can you freeze sausage balls?

The short answer is yes! Freezing uncooked sausage balls is easy and convenient. In fact, I recommend freezing them so you always have a stash ready to bake up on short notice I’ll explain exactly how to freeze sausage balls properly so they keep their texture and flavor

Why Freeze Sausage Balls?

I love having a bag of frozen sausage balls in my freezer for several reasons

Make ahead ease: I can scoop and form a big batch of uncooked sausage balls whenever I have time without having to commit to baking them all right then.
** Perfect for unexpected guests or parties:** With frozen sausage balls I can be ready to serve an appetizer at the drop of a hat. They bake up just as tasty from frozen.
Avoid waste: Sausage balls really don’t keep long after they are baked, usually only 2-3 days. Freezing ensures I don’t end up throwing any out.
SAVE money: Buying sausage and cheese in bulk is cheaper. I save money by making a big batch at once rather than several small batches.
Tailgate ready: We love bringing frozen sausage balls to tailgates. We just bake what we need straight from the cooler.

How to Freeze Uncooked Sausage Balls

Freezing sausage balls is so easy. Here are simple steps for proper freezing:

Make sausage ball dough: Mix up your favorite sausage ball recipe, being sure not to bake them yet.
Scoop into balls: Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to shape mixture into bite size balls.
Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet: Place each ball with space between on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Freeze at least 1 hour: Until balls are completely hard. This flash freezing prevents them from sticking together.
Transfer to a freezer bag: Place frozen balls in a ziplock freezer bag, removing as much air as possible.
Label bag: Be sure to label with name and date frozen. Sausage balls will keep 3-6 months in the freezer.
Remove from freezer as needed: Take out however many balls needed and bake while still frozen. Easy peasy!

![Sausage balls arranged in a single layer on a baking sheet ready for freezing][]

Tips for Freezing Sausage Balls

Follow these tips for best frozen sausage ball results:

Use pork breakfast sausage. It has a higher fat content than chicken or turkey sausage which makes for more moist balls after freezing.
Add a little extra cheese or milk to your dough. This adds moisture and ensures the frozen balls don’t dry out.
Underbake frozen sausage balls slightly. They may need 5 minutes extra baking time from frozen.
Let sausage balls cool before freezing. Freezing warm balls can make them mushy.
Use freezer bags, not plastic wrap. Wrapping traps moisture and can cause freezer burn.
Squish air out of bags before sealing to prevent frost.
Label bags not just with name but also date frozen.
Stack bags flat in your freezer to save space.
Smash down bags once you remove some to keep remaining balls from sticking.

How to Bake Frozen Sausage Balls

Baking frozen sausage balls couldn’t be simpler. Here’s how:

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Place desired number of frozen sausage balls on a parchment lined baking sheet evenly spaced.
Bake for 25-35 minutes, until balls are browned on the outside and heated through.
Let cool at least 5 minutes before serving.
Enjoy right away or let cool completely before storing leftovers in the fridge up to 3 days.

And that’s it! No need to thaw, just pop frozen balls straight into the oven. Cook time may be 5-10 minutes longer than fresh but not by much. ![Sausage balls fresh from the oven][]

Pro Tip: For tailgates I put the frozen sausage balls into disposable tin pans or directly on my grill grates over indirect heat.

Do Sausage Balls Change Texture After Freezing?

A common concern with freezing sausage balls is whether they will dry out or become crumbly after thawing. I’m happy to report if frozen properly, texture and moisture is not compromised at all.

As long as you start with a moist, well-mixed dough and don’t overbake from frozen, sausage balls remain tender and flavorful after freezing for several months. The sausage fat and cheese keep them from drying out.

One exception is sausage balls made with lean turkey or chicken sausage may become a bit dry after freezing. To prevent this, I recommend adding extra cheese, milk, or even sour cream to the dough before freezing for insurance.

Sausage Ball Freezing Troubleshooting

While sausage balls freeze beautifully 99% of the time, occasional freezer mishaps can happen. Here are some common issues and how to avoid them:

Problem: Sausage balls stick together in a big clump

Solution: Be sure to flash freeze sausage balls in a single layer before bagging. This keeps them separated so you can remove just what you need from the bag.

Problem: Sausage balls are dry and crumbly after baking from frozen

Solution: Add extra cheese or milk to dough before freezing for added moisture. Also, don’t overbake frozen balls; check a few minutes before recommended time.

Problem: Sausage balls get freezer burned

Solution: Use freezer bags instead of plastic wrap which can cause freezer burn. Squeeze out all excess air before sealing bags.

Problem: Uncooked sausage balls turn brown in the freezer

Solution: Make sure balls are completely cooled before freezing. Freezing warm sausage causes oxidation which turns them brown.

My Favorite Sausage Ball Recipes

While you can freeze any basic sausage ball recipe, I recommend trying one of my favorites:

Classic Cheddar Sausage Balls

The traditional tangy cheddar and sage breakfast sausage combo. So easy with just 4 ingredients.

Cheesy Ranch Sausage Balls

Hidden valley ranch mix and cheese turns these into a cool, creamy twist on classic sausage balls.

Blue Cheese and Bacon Sausage Balls

The bold flavors of blue cheese, bacon, and onion take these appetizers over the top.

Sriracha & Cheddar Sausage Balls

For spice lovers! The heat of sriracha paired with sharp cheddar is insanely good.

Everything Bagel Sausage Balls

All the flavors of an everything bagel in bite size sausage cheese form. So clever and addictive.

No matter which recipe you choose, sausage balls are a Southern treat everyone loves. Now that you know freezing sausage balls is simple and keeps them fresh for months, you can enjoy them anytime!

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What kinds of dip to serve with sausage balls?

I served mine with our family beer cheese recipe. It makes a delicious dip for these make ahead sausage balls. Many serve them with honey mustard or a spicy ketchup dipping sauce. You could make a fruit based sauce like apricots or peaches. If you made your sausage balls with chorizo or andouille then a remoulade would be in order.

For me, since it’s like biscuits and gravy, I’m thinking sausage gravy would be perfect. Especially if you’re serving these for a breakfast or brunch. Also, I think these would be fun as a breakfast hoagie shaped like a meatball, with sausage gravy and extra cheese on top. In fact, I might have to try that and see what it tastes like. Or, at the very least, make a sausage and gravy hoagie. Who knows?.

can you freeze sausage balls

You’ll love these Easy Make Ahead Sausage Balls because they’re quick and easy to make, freeze, and cook from frozen. They’ll become your new favorite appetizer recipe.

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 pound sausage
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 clove garlic
1/8 cup onion
1/2 cup Mexican blend cheese
6 ounces shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons beer

Preheat oven to 400.
Combine the flour with the baking powder, and salt.
Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Add the sausage and mix well until combined.
Stir in the butter.
Form into 1″ balls and place on a baking sheet.
For 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked all the way through, bake at 400 degrees.
Put the onion and garlic in the food processor and pulse it a few times to make small pieces.
Add cheese and process until smooth.
Add the beer slowly and keep processing until the mixture is smooth.
Chill before serving.

These can be frozen for up to one month when stored in a zip top freezer bag. There is no need to thaw them before baking. Cook them 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.

Where did sausage balls come from?

Of course, I had to try to find the history of this recipe. Which has not really been easy to be honest. I thought for sure Betty Crocker would make the claim to fame on these. It makes the most sense because their Bisquick mix is synonymous with these little sausage gems. But I can’t find anything on their site about where the recipe came from. Which leads me to believe they did not create it as a ploy to sell their product.

Part of me feels like it’s the frugal version of puff pastry sausage rolls. But I didn’t find any mention of this when I search Google. However, I found one site mentions a recipe from a Maine publication from the 1830s. An anonymous cook, annoyed with the time it takes to stuff the sausage in casing, suggested rolling it in flour and cooking it up. The heading was “sausage balls” so maybe it was the first inclination of this recipe?

Another website says that the recipe was made by Bisquick in the 1930s, when they made their famous biscuit mix. However, this claim cannot be proven. Even by those in the archives of Better Crocker. So, I highly doubt that they created the recipes entirely. I’m sure they adapted the suggested older version to include their product. And to demonstrate how their product makes more than just biscuits and pancakes or waffles.

Healthy Breakfast Sausage Balls || FREEZER MEAL

FAQ

Should you freeze sausage balls cooked or uncooked?

Freeze some unbaked for later! Roll them up and pop them in the freezer on baking sheets until firm, then place them in resealable plastic freezer bags. These yummy Sausage-Cheese Balls will last in the freezer for up to 1 month. Take out a few as needed (no defrosting required) and bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes.

How do you reheat frozen cooked sausage balls?

Reheating frozen sausage balls When you’re ready to reheat your frozen sausage balls (already cooked) – Remove the desired amount from the freezer, put them on a baking sheet and reheat them at 350° for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through.

What’s the best way to store sausage balls?

They should be tightly covered and refrigerated.

Can you freeze leftover cooked sausages?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to freeze cooked meats, this includes meats and meals cooked from previously cooked and frozen meat (i.e. your roast chicken leftovers, cooked turkey, cooked pork, cooked beef, cooked sausages).