Easy Pancake Sausage Bites

a plate of sausage bites topped with chopped parsley

A delicious and easy recipe for sausage balls made with protein pancake mix, turkey sausage (or pork), spices, and sharp cheddar cheese. Ready in under 30 minutes.

Course Appetizer, Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings balls

Calories 71kcal

Author Amee

Equipment

Mixing bowl
Baking sheet
Parchment paper

Ingredients

16 oz turkey sausage or pork (I use turkey for leaner balls)
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese shredded from block
1 cup Kodiak Cakes protein pancake mix or regular pancake mix-Kodiak Cakes has a gluten-free version to make this recipe GF
½ cup 2% Fairlife milk or milk of choice- Fairlife adds a protein boost
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, either using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or your hands with food-safe gloves. Mix thoroughly until combined.
Scoop the mixture into golf ball size balls and place them on the baking sheet.
Bake for 20-25 minutes (mine were perfect around 22 minutes), or until golden and cooked completely. The internal temp should be at least 165 degrees. F.
Serve warm and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

*This recipe (made with turkey sausage) has 10 servings of 3 balls each. The macros for 3 sausage bites are 213 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 18 grams of protein, and 12 grams of fat. Much healthier than traditional sausage balls!

Tips:

Make your own sausage. Instead of store-bought sausage, consider seasoning 1 pound of your preferred ground meat with sausage seasonings, like the delicious blend of herbs and spices I use in this sausage recipe.

Don't overmix the batter. You’re basically making meatballs, so the same rules apply: gently fold the ingredients together to avoid overmixing, which can lead to a dry, dense texture.

Consistency is key. Maintain uniform sizes when rolling the batter to ensure even cooking and balanced flavors and textures. Employ a cookie or ice cream scoop if you have one.

Determining doneness. Keep an eye on the cooking time to prevent overcooking. The balls are finished when golden brown on the outside and the internal temperature reaches 165℉. Mine were perfect at the 22-minute mark.

Nutrition