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Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It NowWith spring almost over and summer creeping up in a hurry, I find myself making easy low carb snacks and other keto recipes that I can make quickly and are convenient to grab-and-go. That is where these delicious low carb keto sausage balls with cream cheese fit in perfectly! They require minimal effort, and this easy sausage ball recipe is simply irresistible.
Years ago, I would hear people talk about sausage cheese balls, but I didn’t understand what was so great about them. Then one day I tasted these little balls of food heaven, and it all made sense.
Why You Need My Keto Sausage Balls Recipe
- Cheesy, rich, and smoky flavor
- Super easy to make
- Ready in less than 30 minutes
- Just 1 net carb each
- Naturally low carb, keto, and gluten-free
- Simple snack you can heat up from the fridge or freezer
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my keto sausage ball recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Almond Flour – This is our Bisquick substitute for keto sausage balls. I highly recommend using Wholesome Yum Almond Flour here, because it’s blanched and super fine, which creates the best texture. Other brands can vary in coarseness. If you want to use coconut flour instead, you can try replacing the 2 cups almond flour with 1/2 cup coconut flour (yes, 1/4 the amount, because coconut flour is very drying!) if you want to try this swap for a nut-free option.
- Shredded Cheese – Makes the recipe for sausage balls cheesy and also helps them stay together. I love the flavor of using sharp cheddar cheese, but you could also use a mild cheddar, or really any other keto cheese you like. I recommend medium-hardness cheeses (like cheddar) over very hard ones (like parmesan cheese).
- Italian Seasoning – Adds flavor. You can use store-bought or make my 5-minute homemade Italian seasoning. If you like some heat in your seasoning, add 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes.
- Baking Powder – Makes the keto sausage balls fluffy, so they aren’t so dense. I like this brand, which is non-GMO.
- Ground Sausage – Use any kind of sausage you like — ground pork sausage, mild or hot Italian sausage, breakfast sausage, or even ground chicken or turkey sausage.
- Cream Cheese – I say the best sausage balls are with cream cheese! I recommend plain, full-fat cream cheese. However, savory flavored varieties, such as garlic and herb, would also work nicely.
- Garlic – Optional, but recommended. I prefer to use (two) fresh minced garlic cloves, but you can sustitute 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder if you like. You can also add 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder.
How To Make Keto Sausage Balls
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Prep. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with foil. Grease well, so the keto sausage balls don’t stick.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, cheddar cheese, Italian seasoning, and baking powder.
- Add wet ingredients. Fold in sausage, cream cheese, and garlic.
- Form. Use a cookie scoop to make uniform sausage cheese balls and place them onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake. Place keto sausage cheese balls for 8 minutes.
- Rotate. Twist (rotate) the balls on the baking sheet, which helps prevent sticking.
- Bake again. Continue baking until the keto sausage balls with cream cheese are just barely cooked through. Not too much, because you’ll broil them next!
- Broil. Place the baking sheet under the broiler for a couple of minutes, until the low carb sausage balls are golden brown.
My Recipe Tips
- Foil works best for browning, but you can use parchment paper if you prefer. These keto sausage balls with cream cheese will bake just fine on parchment —it just depends on if you want that extra golden color!
- Don’t overwork the meat! Mixing too much can make the sausage balls dense and rubbery instead of tender and juicy.
- Use a Cookie Scoop. Rolling by hand works, but a cookie scoop keeps the sausage balls more tender by minimizing contact with warm hands.
- Grab a Good Baking Sheet. This is my go-to pan for everything! It has a non-stick silicone surface, so I sometimes skip the liner altogether.
Dipping Sauce Ideas
- Keto Honey Mustard – The most popular sausage ball dipping sauce is honey mustard. Since this is a low carb sausage ball recipe, we can make that with a slight modification. You can use Wholesome Yum Keto Honey to make a sugar-free honey mustard that tastes just like the real thing, or just use a powdered sweetener with the recipe in my Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook.
- Ranch dressing
- Sugar-free BBQ sauce
- Chimichurri sauce
More Low Carb Appetizer Recipes
Looking for more ideas for low carb appetizers? Try these crowd pleasers:
Keto Sausage Balls
Make keto sausage balls with cream cheese using just 6 ingredients + 25 minutes! This easy sausage ball recipe makes an irresistible low carb appetizer or snack.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil and grease well.
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In a large bowl, stir together the almond flour, shredded cheddar, Italian seasoning, and baking powder.
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Add the sausage, cream cheese, and minced garlic, if using. Mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.
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Use a small cookie scoop to form 1 inch balls (2.5 cm) and place onto the baking sheet.
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Bake for 8 minutes, then twist the balls in place to reduce sticking. Bake for another 7-8 minutes, until just barely cooked through.
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Place the pan under the broiler for another 2 minutes to brown more.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 4 sausage balls
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get perfectly browned sausage balls, keep them tender instead of rubbery, and make prep and baking easier!
- Store: Keep sausage cheese balls in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Reheat: You can reheat sausage balls in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave, until warm.
- Freeze: Just lay them on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then toss them in a bag. They’ll keep for at least 4 months!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Low Carb Keto Sausage Balls Recipe With Cream Cheese
157 Comments
Ivana
0Such a clever and easy recipe. I love having things like this close by for a quick snack.
Raia Todd
0Ooooh my goodness. These sound dangerous! My family is going to love them!
Renee D Kohley
0Oh YES! I am making these on my dinner menu this week – so busy and my super hungry active kids will love this!
Megan
0I live in Australia and we call ‘sausage’ a mix of ground meat/fat with filler added (often cereal based). Plain ground meat/fat is called ‘mince’. So I’m wondering if your reference to pork sausage means pork mince (ground meat/fat) or something else?
Natasha B
0I’ve always made sausage balls for NYE but my keto lifestyle had me seeking something new! I had to get in with my hands to do the mixing like I did with prior version. I only used 4oz of cream cheese and maybe 3/4 block of extra sharp cheddar. Delicious and def a keeper!
Wholesome Yum D
0I love that you adapted your New Year’s tradition to fit your lifestyle, Natasha! Getting hands-on with the mixing always makes it feel more nostalgic, too. So glad this version hit the spot, definitely sounds like a keeper!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Megan, Yes, this would be what you call mince. No cereal/filler added. But, typically salt and spices are added to sausage here, so that is what I used. You may want to add some salt and more seasoning if your mince is plain.
Kathy
0Do you brown the sausage first, or mix it raw and cook in oven after mixing?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kathy, You mix it raw as shown in the photos in the post. It cooks in the oven.
Michelle
0Can you freeze them , and how would you reheat them.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Michelle, Yes, you can! This info is in the post above.