Cheesy Keto Sausage Balls Recipe
Get ready to whip up a batch of irresistible Keto Sausage Balls that are as delicious as they are easy to make. These savory bites are packed with flavorful sausage and cheese, perfect for a low-carb breakfast, keto-friendly appetizer, or snack. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a batch of delicious low-carb sausage balls in no time.
Keto Sausage Balls
Sausage Balls make a fantastic appetizer or breakfast, but the ones I used to make were full of carbs. So, I started working on creating the perfect keto Sausage Ball Recipe. Most of the ones I tried were extremely dry; like, give me a gallon of water right now before I can take another bite dry. So, I started experimenting from scratch to see if I could create a moist and flavorful recipe.
My first attempt was a thumbs-down. Then, I remembered my delicious keto biscuit recipe. I could tweak that recipe to make it keto friendly. I was right! They turned out perfectly! Due to the added moisture content when using keto-friendly flours, they are more like sausage puffs than perfectly round balls, but the taste is spot on!
If you don’t love sausage or want to try a variety, check out my Low Carb Cheesy Bacon Bites.
Are Sausage Balls Keto Friendly?
Traditional Sausage Balls are not keto-friendly due to the high-carb ingredients, but this low-carb version is perfect for a ketogenic or low-carb diet.
Kitchen Supplies You’ll Need
Cookie Sheet
Large Bowl
Parchment Paper
Small Cookie Scooper
Measuring Cups & Spoons
Cheese Grater
Ingredients You’ll Need
Breakfast sausage – provides protein and flavor to the recipe. You can use milk or hot.
Butter – adds richness and moisture to the sausage balls.
Coconut flour – a low-carb alternative to regular flour.
Full-fat sour cream – full-fat sour cream adds creaminess and tang to the recipe.
Eggs – provide structure and binding to the sausage balls.
Salt: Salt is used in this recipe to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.
Baking powder – a leavening agent that helps the sausage balls rise and become light and fluffy.
Sharp shredded cheddar cheese – adds a savory taste and gooey texture to the sausage balls.
How to Make Low-Carb Sausage Balls
Step 1: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 365°F degrees. Brown and drain 1 lb of breakfast sausage. Melt 4 1/2 tablespoons of butter and allow it to cool.
Step 2: Add coconut flour and baking powder to the butter. You will notice it thickens very quickly. Coconut flour is very absorbent. The longer it sits, the thicker it will get.
Step 3: Add your browned breakfast sausage to the batter and stir until just combined.
Tip: You don’t have to brown your sausage beforehand. I’ve always preferred sausage balls cooked this way. I haven’t tested making them any other way than the recipe is written, so I can’t give exact baking times.
Step 4: Incorporate the freshly shredded cheese and stir until just combined. Scoop them on a baking sheet and bake until they start to brown.
Tip: If you want a rounder shape, you’ll want to chill your batter before baking. They tend to be more of a Keto Sausage Ball Puff if the butter and sausage are still hot when added to the batter. Chilling the batter will help them not to flatten. They won’t be as round as traditional sausage balls, even with chilling the dough.
Since you aren’t rolling these out like more traditional sausage balls, I recommend using a cookie scoop. It is super fast and works perfectly for this recipe. Plus, cleanup is much easier than using your hands to roll them into balls.
Tips & Tricks
- Prevent Overmixing: Mix the ingredients just enough to combine, as overmixing can make the sausage balls to be tough.
- Chill the Mixture: Let the mixture chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before shaping into balls. This makes it easier to handle and shape.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: Using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop makes portioning the mixture evenly and shaping the balls much easier.
- Don’t Overbake: Bake the sausage balls until they are golden brown and cooked through. Overbaking can result in dryness.
Variations to Keto Low Carb Sausage Balls:
- This recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you could swap it for another variety like Colby, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or a combination of cheeses.
- You can substitute cream cheese for the sour cream in this recipe. Both add a bit more moisture to the Keto Sausage Balls recipe.
- Add veggies like chopped spinach, grated zucchini, or finely diced bell peppers.
- Consider adding spices like garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs like thyme or oregano, or even a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Don’t be afraid to experiment and adjust the flavors to your liking.
- Instead of using a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, you could use a mini muffin pan instead.
- Use hot sausage instead of milk to add a little kick.
Can I use a different meat instead of sausage?
Absolutely! While sausage is traditional, you can try using ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey for a different twist on the recipe. Just keep in mind that the flavor and texture may vary slightly, but the low-carb aspect will remain intact.
Can I make mini-sized sausage balls instead of regular ones?
Of course! If you prefer bite-sized snacks, you can easily make mini sausage balls. Shape smaller portions of the mixture into bite-sized balls and adjust the baking time accordingly or use a mini muffin pan. Keep an eye on them to ensure they’re cooked through without becoming too dry.
How can I make the sausage balls stay moist?
To keep your sausage balls moist, make sure you don’t overcook them. Be mindful of the baking time, and remove them from the oven as soon as they’re cooked through.
Why is it necessary to melt and cool the butter before adding it to the mixture?
Melting the butter allows it to mix evenly with the other ingredients. Cooling it ensures that it won’t cook the eggs when combined. This step helps to maintain the right texture and consistency of the sausage balls.
What dipping sauces pair well with keto sausage balls?
Keto-friendly dipping sauces like ranch dressing, sugar-free ketchup, or mustard can complement the flavors of sausage balls.
Can I use pre-shredded cheese instead of shredding it?
You can, but pre-shredded cheese often has additional ingredients added to keep it from caking that adds carbs. For me, that number isn’t a big deal It adds convenience and saves time. However, I prefer using freshly shredded cheese as I think it adds more flavor.
How many sausage balls does this recipe make?
The recipe should make around 33-36 sausage balls, depending on the size of each ball. The nutritional info that I’ve included in the recipe card is per sausage ball, so each can determine their own serving size. Each one is about .3 net carbs based on making 36 sausage balls.
How to Store Them
To store easy and delicious low-carb recipes like keto sausage balls, one can place them in an airtight container or ziplock bag and store them in the refrigerator for up to five days.
You can also freeze them! They’ll stay yummy for about three months. What I usually do is scoop the batter onto a baking pan and pop it in the freezer for a quick freeze. Then, I put the sausage balls in a safe container safe for the freezer.
This makes it super easy for me to take out just how many I want whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I want a bunch for my whole family, and other times I just want a few for myself. So no matter what, I can always enjoy freshly baked sausage balls.
Try these Keto Breakfast Recipes:
- Mouthwatering Keto Blueberry Bread
- Easy Keto French Toast
- Keto Breakfast Bake with Ham, Eggs, and Cheese
- Ham & Egg Cups Breakfast Recipe
More Keto Appetizers:
If you want to try more great recipes like this one, check out my Keto Recipe Index. I also post a weekly keto meal plan for inspiration. Some of our favorite recipes are listed below! These make perfect appetizers for your next party. The best part? Nobody will realize they are keto-friendly!
- Low Carb Sausage and Cheese Dip
- Bacon-Wrapped Cheese Sticks
- Keto Chicken Wings
- Yummy Keto Cheesy Bacon Bites
- Keto BBQ Bacon Onion Rings
Keto Sausage Balls Recipe {Low Carb}
Ingredients
- 1 lb breakfast sausage browned and drained (can use mild or hot)
- 4 1/2 tablespoons of butter melted and cooled
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons full fat sour cream
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 365°F degrees and either line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it.
- Take the melted butter (if it's hot, cool it down by sticking the bowl in the fridge for about 10 minutes), your eggs, and sprinkle in a pinch of salt. Add the sour cream too. Give it all a good mix using a whisk or a fork until it's all nice and blended.
- Next, grab the coconut flour and baking powder. Stir them into the mixture until it's just combined.
- Now, it's time to add the sausage that you cooked earlier. Stir it into the mixture.
- Sprinkle in the shredded cheese and give it a good stir. Pop your batter in the fridge for about 10 minutes. This will help them not to be too flat. The longer you refrigerate them, the puffier they will be. They don't bake the same as traditional sausage balls. Instead, they are more like "puffs" than round.
- Drop batter by tightly packed spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. I used a cookie scooper to keep them all uniform in shape.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the tops are slightly brown.
Video
Notes
Chill the Mixture: Let the mixture chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before shaping into balls. This makes it easier to handle and shape.
Use a Cookie Scoop: Using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop makes portioning the mixture evenly and shaping the balls much easier.
Don't Overbake: Bake the sausage balls until they are golden brown and cooked through. Overbaking can result in dryness. Variations to Keto Low Carb Sausage Balls:
- This recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you could swap it for another variety like Colby, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or a combination of cheeses.
- You can substitute cream cheese for the sour cream in this recipe. Both add a bit more moisture to the Keto Sausage Balls recipe.
- Add veggies like chopped spinach, grated zucchini, or finely diced bell peppers.
- Consider adding spices like garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs like thyme or oregano, or even a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat. Don't be afraid to experiment and adjust the flavors to your liking.
Instead of using a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, you could use a mini muffin pan instead. - Use hot sausage instead of milk to add a little kick.
Nutrition
This is my first attempt at your recipes. I save them to my phone constantly. These are delicious! I used leftover sausage from yesterday’s breakfast. I grated the sausage patties into crumbles. I would definitely make this again! No carb lover will be able to tell that it’s low carb/keto!
I can’t wait to try your other recipes!
I’m so happy you liked my recipe and are anxious to try others!
Hello, your recipes look amazing. I am new to Keto and trying to concentrate on my net carbs. I’m trying to figure out how to calculate my net carbs to your recipes. Is there any easy way for me to do that? Thank you so much for your sharing your recipes.
You’re so welcome, Linda. I always list the nutritional information (including carbs) at the bottom of the my recipe cards. You may want to take a look at this: https://kaseytrenum.com/best-keto-apps.
So glad you include nutritional info with your recipes! My 11 year old granddaughter was just diagnosed with Type I diabetes & your recipes are going to make this journey easier for her. Thank you and I’ll be searching for more!
I’m so sorry about your granddaughter. My husband and one of my daughter’s are both Type 1. Eating keto has really helped them. Trust it will help your granddaughter, also.
Looks like just what I’m looking for as a bacon and eggs alternative! How many are a serving size? TIA
How many are a serving?
That is up to you. The nutritional information is listed per sausage ball so that each person can determine their own serving size based on hunger level.
So the recipe does not show the same ingredients as the video. The video shows 4 eggs and “baking agents” can you please update, which is correct?
I’m a little confused. When I checked the video, it did show 4 eggs and “baking agents” and when I checked the recipe, it also showed 4 eggs.
I believe that would be the 1/4 tsp of baking powder, as that’s when you add that in written directions.
I made these last night I’m some for breakfast with my keto french toast chaffles. I used to make the non keto sausage balls with my Gma during the holidays. I honestly couldn’t tell a huge difference. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
You’re so welcome, Latonia. My Grandmother taught me to cook. Lots of great memories!
Yummy! And easy to make!
I’m really glad you enjoyed them!
These are so good and easy to make. I can’t tell you how many times I have made them!!
I love dishes that taste great plus are easy to make! Glad you liked them!
I was slightly skeptical to use coconut flour. Even though I like coconut, didn’t want to taste it in my sausage balls. They turned out great and are delicious! Definitely a keeper!
Glad you liked them and they are a keeper!
Hey, I really want to try this recipe however I never buy sour cream. Can I replace it with something else or even just not add it?
I’ve only fixed the recipe as is. You could try replacing the sour cream with cream cheese.
I tried this recipe but when I made the balls, they flattened out when baked. Any Ideas?
Your butter was still prob too hot. Next time, leave the batter in the fridge until it cools. They turn into puffs when they bake not exactly round balls.
Mine flattened too and I did cool the butter and chill the entire mixture for over an hour. I ended up scooping it off the baking sheet and placed them in muffin tins. It’s baking now. Hope it turns out.
I don’t really know why this happened. You may have not used enough coconut flour or too much cheese. Without being there, I can’t troubleshoot. Sorry.
The “Muffin tin” worked out great and these taste very good. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Do you know if these freeze well?
The sausage ball recipe is great. For dinner, I put 3 of them in a micro safe bowl, cover with Low carb spaghetti sauce Topped with Mozzarella & parm cheese and cooked for 50 sec. yummy😊
I make these when 1 cup almond flour and 2 eggs everything else the same!
Great!
How do you store these, serve them? I’m planning to make them tonight for a brunch meeting tomorrow. Thoughts?
Thanks!
I would just store them in a air-tight container in the fridge. You can serve them however you like.