Sausage balls cause a lot of confusion regarding their cooking time. You may ruin your meal if you don’t know the exact answer.
So, how long do you cook sausage balls? The answer differs based on how you prepare your food. For a detailed guide, let’s join us!
How Long Do You Cook Sausage Balls?
The cooking time may be 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the cooking method and whether you cook frozen sausage balls.
If you want a quick meal, use an air fryer as it takes the least time to get your food done.
In the oven
If you wish to bake sausage balls, cook them in the oven for around 26 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
Then, you can serve them at room temperature with your favorite dipping sauce.
Before baking, let the meat sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or more. This tip can make it easy to knead and absorb the spices.
Measuring is also an essential part of cooking sausage balls.
You need to utilize a dry measuring cup to measure biscuit mix and other dry ingredients. Also, prepare a level to wipe the excess ingredients.
Another tip is to scoop the biscuit mix from its bag into the mixing bowl. Then, your sausage balls will be dry as necessary.
In the air fryer
If you want to cook sausage balls in an air fryer, wait for 12 minutes. Remember to set the temperature to 400°F.
Start by placing the meat in the frying basket and cook for the first six minutes.
Then, carefully flip the balls using tongs and cook for another six minutes. You need to wait until the crust turns brown.
The cooking time may vary depending on the model. You can check the instructions coming with the machine to identify how long you need to cook your food.
Frozen sausage balls
Some people freeze sausage balls for long-term uses. This method helps you store your food and makes it edible after months.
Place the balls on a baking sheet first. Then, let them flash freeze and turn firm for an hour.
This method prevents the balls from sticking to each other. After that, you can put them in a freezer bag.
You can prepare the frozen balls the same way as the fresh ones but allow more time for the frozen meat to cook. So there are two methods to choose from:
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Then, bake your meat on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper for about 30 minutes.
- Air fryer: Cook the sausage balls for six to eight minutes at 390°F, and turn them over to thoroughly cook. You can apply olive oil or cooking spray to lend them a crunchy flavor and texture.
How To Cook Sausage Balls?
There are several ways to cook sausage balls. Since baking in the oven yields the most flavorful outcome, we will give you a complete guide to baking the meat.
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients.
Make sure that you don’t miss anything in this checklist:
- 1 pound of ground pork
- 2 cups of biscuit mix
- 4 cups of cheddar
- 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Olive oil (for brushing)
Step 2: Mix the ingredients
Put pork, biscuit mix, parsley, paprika, cheddar, pepper, and salt in the mixing and stir the mixture thoroughly.
Then, use a cookie scoop to form the ball shape and place the balls on a baking sheet.
Step 3: Bake the sausage balls
Preheat your oven to 350°F first. Then, brush the top of the sausage balls with olive oil.
Bake the meat for 26 minutes or until it becomes golden brown. Finally, you can serve your food with some parsley.
How Do You Tell If a Sausage Ball Is Done?
The ideal sausage balls have a golden brown and crunchy surface and an interior that is soft and moist.
Nevertheless, achieving such results can be challenging if you’re a beginner. But if you follow the recipes, you can gain the best possible outcome.
Use a meat thermometer to determine the internal temperature of the meat.
To be sufficiently cooked without shedding the fat and getting too dry, the food must reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
Tips For Making Sausage Balls
The following tips are optional, but they will help yield impressive results.
- You can use cooked sausage to make sausage balls.
The crisscrossed margins that develop as a result of pre-cooked meat are also advantageous, and the meat within remains moist.
- To prevent the sausage balls from drying, knead the dough until it has an even texture before forming the balls.
- Don’t use too much baking mix, and strictly obey the instructions.
- Use your hands only to knead the mixture for the most satisfactory results. Keep some water close by so you can constantly wash your hands.
- Avoid using pre-shredded cheese. Although it’s convenient, it also contains a lot of preservatives.
- If the oven is too hot, your food will get burned on the bottom. In this case, lower the temperature to see if it affects the heat distribution.
- When you serve them to your guests, offer multiple kinds of dips.
Try using a mayo or yogurt dressing with a generous amount of barbecue sauce, garlic salt, or chili sauce.
FAQs
1. How long should I cook sausage?
The answer differs as you may choose different tools to prepare your food. The general rules are as follows:
- Oven: 30 minutes
- Air fryer: 10 to 15 minutes
- Stove: 15 to 20 minutes
2. How can I get sausage balls to stick together?
Adding milk to the recipe helps the sausage balls keep together properly when baking and prevents them from drying out effectively.
3. Why are my sausage balls so dry?
If there is too much baking mix compared to the amount of meat, your sausage balls will dry up very soon. You can try increasing milk or cutting back on the amount of biscuit mix to solve this problem.
Ingredients also affect the result. So, choose vendors and brands that provide high-quality, fresh products.
Final Thoughts
You may need about 20 to 25 minutes to cook your sausage balls thoroughly.
If you want a quick breakfast, use an air fryer. Otherwise, bake the meat in an oven for the best outcome.
Do you find this post helpful? If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We will be glad to help with your cooking time.
