Delicious Gluten Free Sausage Balls

By Nicole Hunn | Published: December 10, 2021 | Posted In: Appetizers

7 gluten free sausage balls on white platter with torn fresh parsley

5 from 36 votes

Prep Time : 10

Cook Time : 25

Rich, smoky gluten free sausage balls, packed with sharp cheddar and just enough gf pancake mix to hold them together, are the appetizer that everyone loves!

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Made with our homemade GF pancake blend, good quality sausage and mild grated shallots, these gluten free sausage balls will bring back memories!

Pile of baked sausage balls on white oval platter

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Why is this the best gluten free sausage balls recipe?

It's not like these gluten free sausage balls are going to replace your Thanksgiving turkey or anything, but they sure would dress up a holiday table. Or make a perfect nibble for brunch, or the big game.

You'll need just a few basic gluten free pantry-style ingredients, and are ready in about half an hour. This gluten free appetizer recipe is also super adaptable, so you can really make it your own with your favorite flavors.

Why choose shallots over yellow onions?

I like to make these with grated shallots since they're so mild, but still packed with flavor.

When I have a choice in the onion family, shallots are the one I pick more often than not. But you can use a small yellow (or even red) onion, too, if that's what you have on hand. These really aren't very fussy.

Overhead image of white oval platter with sausage balls and dipping sauce

Top tips for making perfect gf sausage balls

The recipe really says it all, but since I want to make sure you're in love with your very first batch of these gf sausage balls, here are a few things to keep in mind as you whip up these delicious bites.

What's the best sausage to use for this simple gluten free appetizer?

Above all else, make sure the sausage you use for this recipe is reliably gluten free. Most sausages sold in the U.S. are safely gluten free, but you must be careful to read labels and otherwise ensure there aren't any gluten-containing fillers in your meat.

Once you're sure that your sausage is gluten free, you can concentrate on flavors. I like mild, mellow sweet Italian pork sausage best here, but if you love spice, then use the hot stuff!

Bulk sausage meat, which has no casing, is somewhat easier to work with, since you don't need to squeeze the meat out. But of course it's not a big deal to remove the sausage meat from the casing.

You can also make this recipe with homemade gluten free sausage, which is the easiest way to control the flavor of your gf sausage balls. One of my children hates fennel, which is commonly in sausage, but if you make your own you can leave that out!

What's the best cheese to use in this sausage ball recipe?

The best cheese to use in this recipe is a sharp cheddar. I usually prefer a white cheddar, so the sausage balls are less orange, but of course the color doesn't matter.

You can also use any other semi-hard cheese that melts properly in the oven. Avoid a hard cheese like any form of Parmesan, which won't melt into the appetizer enough during baking.

Can I make almond flour sausage balls instead of using the gf pancake mix?

You can try replacing the gluten free pancake mix in this recipe with the dry ingredients from our recipe for almond flour pancakes (it's a combination of almond flour and tapioca starch). It's a bit of a risky swap, though, because almond flour is a high-fat ingredient.

The almond flour will be much less effective than the rice flour blend pancake mix at absorbing oil from the sausage and cheese as the sausage balls bake in the oven. You may want to use a bit less almond flour and a bit more tapioca starch/flour to compensate. It will take some experimentation!

Overhead image of raw sausage balls on white paper on gold baking tray

Can I freeze gluten free sausage balls?

Yes! You can freeze these sausage balls raw, or after baking. But I much prefer them frozen raw, after which you can let them defrost in the refrigerator before baking.

How to store gf sausage cheese balls

These gluten free sausage balls are delightfully crispy on the edges when they come out of the oven, so it's best to serve them right away. But if you'd like to make them ahead of time, I recommend baking them for 18 minutes and then keeping them in a 250°F oven (or even lower) until you're ready to serve them.

If you need to store any leftovers, I'd freeze them, then sprinkle with water before defrosting and reheating them. It will give them a chance to crisp back up.

Roll 'em tight

Be sure you roll the balls really tight between your palms. Otherwise, they tend to separate during baking. They still taste great, though.

Moisten your hands

Sausage meat is very sticky, especially as it begins to warm. I suggest rinsing your hands as necessary, and working with the mixture with moistened hands so you get a smooth finish as you roll the sausage balls into, well, balls!

Light orange dipping sauce with fresh parsley in small green bowl with sausage balls on platter

How to make the perfect dip for sausage balls

These sausage balls have so much rich, satisfying flavor, which is why we love them. If you find that sausage is a bit heavy, try brightening up the dish by serving it with a creamy dip.

I love to add Sriracha to pretty much anything creamy, from mayonnaise to sour cream to Greek yogurt. Here, I've used sour cream with plenty of spicy Sriracha and a bit of Smoked Spanish paprika for color and depth of flavor.

FAQs

Can I make gluten free sausage balls without Bisquick?

Yes! This recipe is written to be made with 3/4 of a recipe of our homemade gluten free pancake mix, or your favorite packaged gluten free pancake mix.

But if you'd prefer to make just the right amount of our homemade gf pancake mix, whisk together the following, and then proceed with the recipe as written:

1 1/8 cups (158 g) basic gum-free gluten free flour blend (105 grams superfine white rice flour + 34 grams potato starch + 19 grams tapioca starch/flour)
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
Scant 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Scant 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons (18 g) granulated sugar (optional)

Why won't my sausage balls stick together?

Try moistening your hands when working with the raw mixture, and squeeze the portion tightly in one palm. Then, roll more gently into a round.

Why are my sausage balls flat?

If you used a very melty cheese, like mozzarella, your sausage balls won't hold their shape as well. Try a semi-hard cheese like cheddar, Gruyère, or Asiago.

Closeup image of raw sausage ball on white paper on tray

What goes with gf sausage balls?

Try serving your sausage balls with other gluten free appetizers. With a simple dinner salad, they make a nice meal. You can also serve them alongside a simple warm gluten free pasta salad.

Make a dinner or brunch out of them by serving them on some gluten free French bread as sausage meatball sandwich. Spread the dipping sauce on both sides of the bread.

Can you refrigerate sausage balls before cooking?

Yes! You can make the whole mixture and wrap it securely and refrigerate it for as long as the sausage meat stays fresh (check the date on the package before you discard it).

You can also shape the mixture into sausage balls and refrigerate them shaped. Place them in a sealed container in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake them.

Sausage ball in light orange dipping sauce in small green bowl

Substitutions for gluten free sausage balls ingredients

If you have additional dietary restrictions, I'd like to try to help you make this recipe work for you. Here are my best educated guesses for what ingredients can be substituted and how, if they can.

Can you make these gluten free sausage balls dairy free, too?

Since one of the main ingredients in these gluten free sausage balls is grated cheese, making this recipe dairy free would not be easy. In place of the melted butter, you can easily use your favorite vegan butter or even Earth Balance buttery sticks.

In place of the grated cheddar cheese, you can try using Daiya or Violife brands dairy free cheese alternatives. I recommend buying a block and shredding it yourself, since that seems to produce a better result.

In place of the sour cream in the dipping sauce, try your favorite vegan sour cream replacement. Or strain some plain nondairy yogurt until it's the consistency of sour cream, and use that.

Gluten free egg free sausage balls

There's only 1 egg in this recipe, so I think you should be able to replace it with a “chia egg.” Just combine 1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds with 1 to 2 tablespoons lukewarm water in a small bowl, and allow it to gel.

Can you make gluten free sausage balls without meat?

I actually think it might be worth a try to make this recipe without actual meat. I like Impossible Burger ground beef alternative best, if you can find it!

Fingers holding sausage ball dipped in light orange sauce

How to make gluten free sausage balls, step by step

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Gluten Free Sausage Balls

Rich, smoky gluten free sausage balls, packed with sharp cheddar and just enough gf pancake mix to hold them together, are the appetizer that everyone loves!

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 25

Yield: 24 pieces

Author: Nicole Hunn

Ingredients

For the sausage balls

¾ recipe (190 g) gluten free pancake mix (See Recipe Notes)
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika optional
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese yellow or white, grated
2 medium-size shallots peeled and finely grated
4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled
1 (50 g (weighed out of shell)) egg at room temperature, beaten
1 pound gluten-free bulk sweet Italian pork sausage or regular sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

For the (optional) dipping sauce

½ cup (128 g) sour cream
2 tablespoons Sriracha
½ teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes

For serving (optional)

Chopped or torn fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper, and set it aside.
In a large bowl, place the pancake mix, pepper and optional paprika, and whisk to combine well.
Add the grated cheddar cheese, and toss to coat the cheese in the dry ingredients.
Add the grated shallots, melted butter, and beaten egg, and mix to combine well. Add the sausage, and tear it into rough chunks with moistened fingers.
Using a large spoon, mix the sausage into the grated cheese and dry ingredient mixture until everything is evenly distributed. Press down on the mixture with the bowl of the spoon to break up the sausage properly.
Using two teaspoons or your clean, moistened hands, scoop or pull off pieces of the mixture that are each about 1 1/2 tablespoons in volume. Place the pieces about 1 1/2-inches from one another on the prepared baking sheet.
Again, using your clean, moistened hands, roll each portion very tightly into rounds about 1-inch in diameter. Return them to the baking sheet.
Be sure to roll the balls tight, pressing them together all the way to the center. Otherwise, they tend to separate during baking.
Place the sausage balls in the center of the preheated oven. Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the sausage balls to set briefly before serving.
While the sausage balls are cooling, place all the (optional) dipping sauce ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Whisk vigorously until well-combined.
Sprinkle the sausage balls with the (optional) chopped parsley, and serve warm with the dipping sauce.

Notes

For the gluten free pancake mix.
This forgiving recipe can be made with 3/4 of a recipe of our homemade Bisquick-style gluten free pancake mix, or your favorite packaged gluten free pancake mix.

To make just the right amount of our homemade gf pancake mix, whisk together:

1 1/8 cups (158 g) basic gum-free gluten free flour blend (105 grams superfine white rice flour + 34 grams potato starch + 19 grams tapioca starch/flour)
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
Scant 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Scant 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons (18 g) granulated sugar (optional)

Originally published in 2013. Photos, text, video new; recipe updated to use gluten free pancake mix and include dipping sauce.