Description

These savory Rotel cream cheese sausage balls combine spicy diced tomatoes and green chilies with creamy cheese and hearty sausage for a crowd-pleasing, bite-sized snack perfect for game day or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground breakfast sausage (spicy pork or mild)
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
10 ounces Rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups Bisquick baking mix
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and ground sausage using a hand mixer or sturdy spoon until smooth and no lumps remain, about 2-3 minutes.
Drain the Rotel tomatoes using a fine mesh strainer to remove excess liquid. Fold the tomatoes and green chilies into the sausage mixture gently.
Add shredded cheddar cheese, Bisquick baking mix, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir just until combined, being careful not to overmix.
Form the mixture into 1-inch balls using a cookie scoop or your hands. Place them about 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, checking at 20 minutes. The sausage balls should be golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 160°F/71°C if using a meat thermometer).
Let the sausage balls cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Soften cream cheese fully before mixing to avoid lumps. Drain Rotel well to prevent soggy sausage balls. Avoid overmixing to keep sausage balls tender. Rest sausage balls after baking to firm up. Freeze raw sausage balls on a baking sheet before storing in a bag for up to one month; bake from frozen adding a few extra minutes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 sausage ball
Calories: 110
Sugar: 1
Sodium: 280
Fat: 9
Saturated Fat: 3.5
Carbohydrates: 4
Fiber: 0.2
Protein: 5

Keywords: sausage balls, Rotel, cream cheese, game day recipe, appetizer, party snack, easy recipe, cheesy sausage balls