These Italian sausage bites take sausage appetizers to the next level. A mixture of Italian sausage, onions, garlic, spices, marinara sauce, and a blend of gouda, mozzarella, and cream cheese are rolled into balls and then coated in a seasoned panko breading before being deep-fried to golden, crispy perfection. They’re so full of flavor and easier to make than you might think!
I love making any kind of fried appetizer. Between their meaty, cheesy fillings and their crispy coatings, recipes like shrimp poppers, toasted ravioli, and air fryer mini corn dogs are always a big hit at parties and potlucks. I even love to serve them for movie nights are a fun, finger food dinner. These are classic comfort food recipes, and my new addition, these Italian sausage bites, are just the same. Everyone loves their flavor, and I love how easy they are to make.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: All the ingredients used for these bites are basic staples found in any kitchen or grocery store.
- Easy: All you have to do is mix, chill, coat, and fry. It really is just that easy.
- Tons of Flavor: With Italian sausage, three cheeses, seasonings, sauce, and a crispy, seasoned coating, every bite of these fried balls explodes with flavor.
- Versatile: These are the perfect snacks for movie night, a fun dinner, and, of course, any party.
Ingredients
Sausage Mixture
- Italian Sausage: Italian sausage is loaded with savory flavor and just a touch of sweetness.
- Aromatics: Diced onions and garlic add a classic aromatic note with a hint of bite.
- Cheese: A blend of gouda, mozzarella, and cream cheese adds richness and cheesy flavor to the bites.
- Marinara Sauce: Marinara sauce keeps the meatballs moist and adds deep, class Italian flavor.
- Spices: A blend of oregano and basil adds more flavor to the bites.
Coating
- Flour: Flour is the base for the coating and helps the other layers adhere to the meatballs.
- Egg and Buttermilk: Whisked egg and buttermilk helps the seasoned panko breading stick to the meatballs.
- Seasoned Panko: Crushed panko seasoned with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and red pepper flakes adds a kick of flavor and heat.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact measurements.
Flavor Variations
- Meat: You can use ground beef, a mix of ground beef and sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or even chorizo.
- Extra Spicy: For an extra kick of heat, use spicy Italian sausage for the meatballs.
- Cheese: I used gouda and mozzarella, but any white, melty cheese will work well.
- Mild: Omit the red pepper flakes for a mild version of these Italian sausage bites.
Instructions
Sausage Mixture
1: Cook the Italian sausage, onions, and seasonings in a large skillet over medium heat until the sausage is no longer pink and the onions are tender. Then, add the minced garlic and cook until softened and aromatic. Drain and add to a large bowl.
2: Let the sausage cool for a few minutes, then mix in the cheeses and marinara sauce.
3: Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Flash freeze until solid.
Coating
1: Add flour to a small container. Then, add whisked buttermilk and egg to a second container. Then, combine the panko and coating seasonings in a third container.
2: Roll each ball into the flour, then the buttermilk mixture, and finally, the panko mixture.
3: Deep fry 6 to 8 balls in a deep pan over medium-high heat until golden on all sides. Then, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat until all the balls are fried and enjoy!
Hint
A slotted spoon is the easiest way to transfer your Italian sausage bites from the oil to a plate.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze them for up to a month in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
Pairing Suggestions
These golden little balls are perfect with all your favorite dips and sauces like BBQ sauce, ranch, marinara, queso, avocado dip, and even cranberry sauce!
Tips
- Fully soften your cream cheese so it mixes and melts easily in the sausage mixture.
- Flash freeze your sausage balls for at leas an hour. They should be frozen so they don’t fall apart while the coating cooks.
- Preheat your oil and work in small batches to ensure the oil stays hot and crisps the breading.
- Use a slotted spoon to move your sausage balls to a plate. Tongs can crush the balls if you add too much pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
In cooking terms, flash freezing is also called open air freezing. Foods are placed on a baking sheet and frozen without a container. The freezes them more quickly and can be advantageous when you need something to firm up quickly.
They key to a crispy fried coating is temperature. The oil should be preheated to medium-high. At this temperature, the bread immediately begins to crisp, creating a physical barrier against the oil and keeping it from seeping into the breading.
Because the sausage balls are already cooked, it’s easy to tell when they’re done. When the coating is golden brown and crispy on all sides, they’re ready to go!
Try These Italian Sausage Bites
With flavorful Italian sausage, three melty cheeses, and a seasoned panko coating, these delicious Italian sausage bites are moist on the inside, crispy on the outside, and so full of flavor. They’re also relatively easy to make, which is a big bonus! Give them a try, and I know they’ll be your new go-to appetizer for any occasion.
More Delicious Appetizers You’ll Enjoy
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Italian Sausage Bites
Ingredients
Sausage Bites
- 2 pounds ground Italian sausage
- 1 white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground basil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup gouda cheese, diced small
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, diced small
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- ⅓ cup marinara sauce
Crispy Coating
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs, crushed
- 2 teaspoons slap ya mama seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cups vegetable oil, for frying
- Marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add Italian sausage, onions, and the seasonings for the bites, and cook until the sausage is no longer pink and the onions are tender. Add minced garlic and cook for another two minutes. Drain.
- Add the Italian sausage mixture to a large bowl. Once the mixture has cooled a bit, add cream cheese, marinara sauce, gouda, and mozzarella cheese.
- Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet.
- Flash freeze for an hour.
- While the Italian sausage bites are in the freezer, set up a dredging station with 3 shallow containers.
- In the first container, add flour.
- The second container, whisk together the buttermilk and egg.
- In the third container add breadcrumbs and all the seasonings for the coating.
- Heat oil over medium-high heat.
- Add each bite into the flour, then into the egg mixture, and then into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place about 6-8 bites into the hot oil and deep fry until golden on all sides.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Make sure to work in batches so the oil keeps the perfect temperature.
- Serve with marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Fully soften your cream cheese so it mixes and melts easily in the sausage mixture.
- Flash freeze your sausage balls for at leas an hour. They should be frozen so they don’t fall apart while the coating cooks.
- Preheat your oil and work in small batches to ensure the oil stays hot and crisps the breading.
- Use a slotted spoon to move your sausage balls to a plate. Tongs can crush the balls if you add too much pressure.
Nutrition
These are making it to the Christmas appetizer tray! They’re so delicious and the perfect bite!
This is the definition of a satisfying weeknight meal! Hearty, cheesy, and packed with savory Italian sausage flavor. I love simple, family-friendly pasta recipes that come together this quickly. Pinning this for a busy evening!
Simple to make and full of flavor. I’ll add these to my appetizer list.
I made these over the weekend for a birthday party, and they were a big hit!
These are so good! We were going to have pizza night last night, but I made these instead. Yummo!
SO good. I made them last night with garlic bread and marinara sauce. I turned these into a meal. LOL.