Cody Casey
Air fryer sausage balls are a quick, easy, and delicious snack that can be made in just a few minutes. They are crispy, juicy and tender, with a chewy yet fluffy coating. The pork is richly flavourful, and they can be served as an appetizer or snack, or even as a special breakfast. You can use any kind of sausage and cheese you like, and they can be frozen and reheated for later.
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your ingredients
When choosing your ingredients, you have a lot of flexibility, and you can adapt the ingredients to your taste preferences.
Firstly, you will need to select your sausage. Most recipes suggest using a breakfast sausage, but you can also use hot Italian sausage, chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or even ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey. If you want to use a sausage in a casing, like an Italian sausage or bratwurst, you will need to remove the casing before mixing the ingredients. If you like spicy food, you can opt for a spicy sausage or add red pepper flakes to your mixture.
Next, you will need to select your cheese. Most recipes suggest using cheddar cheese, but you can also use white cheddar, pepper jack, Colby jack, mozzarella, or Monterey jack.
You will also need to use a baking mix, such as Bisquick, to help hold the sausage balls together. If you want to make your sausage balls gluten-free, you can use a gluten-free baking mix.
Some recipes also suggest adding milk to the mixture to help bind the ingredients and prevent the sausage balls from drying out. However, you can substitute water for milk if preferred.
Finally, you may want to add some fresh herbs or seasonings to your sausage balls. For example, parsley will add a hint of freshness, while seasoned salt, thyme, sage, or rosemary will add extra flavour.
Remember, you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.
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Preparing the sausage mixture
Once you've chosen your sausage, open the package and crumble it into a large bowl. You can also add shredded cheese to the mixture—cheddar is a popular choice, but you can use any type of cheese you like. If you want to add some extra flavour, throw in some chopped parsley.
Next, you'll need to add a binding agent to help hold the sausage balls together. You can use milk or water for this, and simply pour it into the bowl with the sausage and cheese. You can also add some seasoned salt to taste.
Now it's time to get your hands dirty! Use your hands to mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined. You can also use a hand mixer or a stand mixer if you prefer. Just be sure not to overmix the mixture, as this can make the sausage balls tough.
Once your sausage mixture is ready, you can start forming it into balls. Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop out individual portions, then roll them gently between your palms to round them out. Place the sausage balls on a baking sheet or tray, and they're ready to be cooked!
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Shaping the sausage balls
Once you have a well-combined sausage mixture, it's time to shape it into balls. Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out individual sausage balls. This will ensure that your sausage balls are evenly sized, which is important for even cooking. Roll the scooped-out portions gently between your palms to round them out and shape them into neat balls. You can also make the sausage balls ahead of time and freeze them for later use. Simply place the shaped sausage balls on a baking sheet and freeze them for about 30-45 minutes before transferring them to an airtight container or Ziplock bag for storage.
When shaping the sausage balls, you can make them as big or as small as you like, but keep in mind that the size will affect the cooking time. Larger sausage balls will take longer to cook, and you may need to lower the heat to prevent the outside from burning before the inside is cooked through. For most air fryers, a size of roughly two inches in diameter is recommended, and you can fit about 9-10 balls of this size in a single layer in the basket. If you're using a Ninja Foodi XL Indoor Grill, you can fit up to 18-20 balls of the same size.
It's important to note that you should not overmix the sausage mixture when shaping the balls. Overmixing can make the sausage balls tough and affect their texture. Use a light touch when mixing and shaping the sausage balls to ensure they turn out juicy and tender. Additionally, leave some space between the sausage balls in the air fryer basket to allow for proper air circulation during cooking. This will help ensure that they cook evenly and don't become soggy.
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Cooking the sausage balls
Firstly, prepare your sausage mixture. Open your breakfast sausage and crumble it into a large bowl. Add your shredded cheese, pancake mix, seasoning salt, and milk or water to the bowl. Use your hands to incorporate all the ingredients well. You can use any type of breakfast sausage, like Jimmy Dean or Tennessee Pride ground sausage. You can also use sausage in a casing, like Italian sausage or bratwurst, but make sure to remove the casing before mixing. If you like spicy food, use a spicy sausage, or add red pepper flakes. You can also use ground pork, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground beef, but remember to add your own seasonings.
Next, roll your mixture into balls. Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop out individual sausage balls. Roll them gently to round them out, then place them in your prepared air fryer basket. You can make your sausage balls as big or as little as you like, but remember that the larger the sausage ball, the longer it will take to cook. It's also important not to overcrowd your air fryer, so you may need to cook in batches.
Now, it's time to cook your sausage balls. Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil spray or spritz with oil to prevent sticking. Place the sausage balls in a single layer in the basket, making sure they are not stacked on top of each other. Set your air fryer to 350°F/175°C and cook for 5-10 minutes. If you are using a Ninja Foodi PC & AC or a basket-style air fryer, you can fit about 9-10 two-inch balls. Flip the sausage balls halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
Finally, check that your sausage balls are cooked through. The sausage balls should be golden brown and have an internal temperature of at least 160°F/88°C to ensure they are safe to eat. Use a thermometer to check the temperature or cut one open to verify that the meat is cooked. Once cooked, remove the sausage balls from the air fryer and let them cool on a cooling rack. They can be served hot or at room temperature, but should not be left out for longer than 2 hours for food safety reasons.
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Storing and reheating the sausage balls
Sausage balls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. They can also be frozen for up to one to two months. To freeze, place the cooled sausage balls in a freezer bag. To defrost, transfer them to the refrigerator overnight until they are completely thawed.
When reheating, you can use a microwave, an air fryer, or an oven. If using an air fryer, set it to 350°F and place the sausage balls in the basket for about 10 minutes. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. If you are reheating frozen sausage balls, wrap them in aluminum foil and place them in a 350°F oven for 20-30 minutes. You can also use a crockpot for reheating. Place a damp paper towel at the bottom of the crockpot to prevent the sausage balls from drying out. Turn the crockpot to low heat and heat the sausage balls until they are heated through.
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Frequently asked questions
The cooking time depends on the number of sausage balls you are cooking and their size. On average, they take 10 minutes to cook at 350°F. However, some recipes suggest cooking for 5-6 minutes at 350°F, while others suggest 6 minutes at 370°F.
You will need ground sausage, shredded cheese, Bisquick, seasoned salt, and milk or water. You can use any type of ground sausage, such as breakfast sausage, Italian sausage, or chicken sausage. You can also use any type of shredded cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack.
Yes, you can make the sausage balls ahead of time and freeze them raw or cooked. To freeze raw sausage balls, form the mixture into balls and freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag. They will keep for up to 3 months. To cook, air fry directly from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.
