If you are looking for a simple appetizer or snack that works well with a keto diet, these cream cheese sausage balls might be exactly what you need.
They combine pork sausage with cream cheese and cheddar cheese to create small bites that are full of flavor.
These sausage balls are practical for meal prep because you can make a large batch and store them in the refrigerator for several days.
They work well as a quick breakfast option, a snack between meals, or even as part of a main course with some vegetables on the side.
One of the good things about this recipe is that it uses pork rind crumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs or flour. This keeps the carbohydrate count low, which is important if you follow a keto diet.
The pork rinds also add a bit of crunch to the texture and help bind everything together. Some people might not be familiar with using pork rinds in cooking, but they work really well in recipes like this one. They do not make the sausage balls taste too porky or
👍 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Only Six Simple Ingredients: This recipe does not have a long shopping list that will cost you a lot of money or take forever to gather. You only need six ingredients, and one of them is even optional.
Ground pork or pork sausage, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, pork rind crumbs, gelatin powder, and egg white powder if you want to add it. That’s all.
Packed with Protein to Keep You Full: Each sausage ball contains a good amount of protein from the pork sausage, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and optional egg white powder.
Protein is important for a keto diet because it helps you feel full and satisfied after eating.
Cream Cheese Makes Them Extra Moist: One problem with many keto meatball or sausage recipes is that they turn out dry and tough. This recipe avoids that problem by including cream cheese in the mixture.
The cream cheese melts as the sausage balls bake, and it creates a moist, creamy texture throughout.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
- 1lb Pork Sausage / Ground Pork
- 8oz Cream Cheese (softened)
- 1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
- 3oz Pork Rind Crumbs (use these pork rinds– amazon link)
- 1 tablespoon Gelatin Powder
- 1.5oz Egg White Powder (optional)
👨🍳 How To Make
Follow this easy recipe:
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and mix until well combined.
Step 3
Roll the mixture into 2-inch meatballs.
Step 4
Place the sausage balls on the prepared baking sheet, and leave enough space between each one.
Step 5
Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Then, remove from the oven and let them cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
💡Tips
1. Soften Your Cream Cheese First
The cream cheese needs to be soft before you start mixing everything together. If you try to mix cold, hard cream cheese with the other ingredients, you will end up with lumps throughout the mixture.
These lumps will not blend in properly, and your sausage balls will have uneven texture with chunks of cream cheese in some spots and none in others.
The best way to soften cream cheese is to take it out of the refrigerator about an hour before you plan to start cooking. Leave it on the counter at room temperature, and it will soften naturally.
If you forget to take it out early or you are in a hurry, you can soften it in the microwave. Take the cream cheese out of the wrapper and put it in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave it for about 15 to 20 seconds, then check it. If it is still too firm, microwave it for another 10 seconds. Be careful not to melt it completely or make it too hot.
2. Let Them Cool
This might seem like an unnecessary step when you are hungry and the sausage balls smell really good coming out of the oven, but letting them cool for 10 to 15 minutes actually matters.
When the sausage balls first come out of the oven, they are very hot inside and the texture is still soft and loose. The cheese is completely melted and almost liquid.
If you try to eat them right away, you will burn your mouth on the hot cheese and meat. More importantly, the sausage balls might fall apart because they have not had time to firm up yet.
As they cool, the cheese solidifies slightly and everything sets together, which makes them sturdier and easier to handle. They also taste better after cooling a bit because the flavors have time to settle and blend together.
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FAQ
Can I use ground beef instead of pork sausage?
You can use ground beef if you need to, but the flavor and texture will be different from the original recipe. Pork sausage has more fat content than ground beef, which helps keep the sausage balls moist and flavorful.
Pork also has a richer, more savory taste that works really well with the cream cheese and cheddar.
Keto Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
Print RecipeIngredients
- 1 lb Pork Sausage / Ground Pork
- 8 oz Cream Cheese softened
- 1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 3 oz Pork Rind Crumbs (use these pork rinds– amazon link)
- 1 tablespoon Gelatin Powder
- 1.5 oz Egg White Powder optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and mix until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into 2-inch meatballs.
- Place the sausage balls on the prepared baking sheet, and leave enough space between each one.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Then, remove from the oven and let them cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.