Three Ingredient Party Balls (Sausage Balls)
These little party balls are the appetizer that shows up once, and then suddenly everyone starts asking for them every single holiday… like, is it even Thanksgiving or Christmas without a big tray of sausage balls on the table? And if you love easy holiday appetizers, make sure you also check out my Honey Fig Dip, Birdie Sandwiches, Four Ingredient Artichoke Dip, and Hot Christmas Dip — all total crowd-pleasers and perfect for your party spread. They’re cozy, they’re crave-able, and the best part is they’re literally made with just THREE ingredients. You stir, you roll, you bake — that’s it.
And yes… Pioneer Original Baking Mix is the real MVP here. That pantry staple that never lets you down. Fluffy biscuits, quick breads, pancakes, cobblers, casseroles — Pioneer just makes home cooking easy. And in this case? It makes these party balls perfect every single time.
But this time around, I wanted to make them a little extra special… so I added a sweet-and-spicy Cranberry Hot Honey dipping sauce that takes two seconds and tastes like holiday magic. Your guests will dunk everything in it.
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Why You’ll Love These Three Ingredient Party Balls
- Only THREE ingredients — Pioneer Baking Mix, breakfast sausage, and cheddar
- No fuss… no fancy steps… you mix it, scoop it, bake it
- The perfect holiday appetizer
- Golden, cheesy, savory little bites everyone grabs by the handful
- Pair beautifully with the Cranberry Hot Honey dip (SO good)
More Holiday Appetizers
🤔 Common Questions
Yes! You can roll them out, place them on a baking sheet, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze them raw and bake straight from frozen—just add a few extra minutes.
You can, but freshly shredded melts way better and helps the party balls hold together without getting dry or crumbly. Pre-shredded works in a pinch, though!
Three Ingredient Party Balls (Sausage Balls)
Ingredients
For the Party Balls:
- 2 cups Pioneer Original Baking Mix
- 1 pound breakfast sausage uncooked
- 12 ounces cheddar cheese freshly shredded
For the Cranberry Hot Honey Dip:
- About ¼ can jellied cranberry sauce
- Hot honey to taste (I used about 3 tablespoons)
- Add hot honey until the heat level is right for you — taste as you go!
Instructions
Mix the Party Balls
- In a large bowl, combine the Pioneer Baking Mix, sausage, and freshly shredded cheddar. Mix with your hands until it forms a thick dough.
Roll Into Balls
- Scoop and roll into balls, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake
- Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Make the Cranberry Hot Honey Dip
- Warm the cranberry sauce, then stir in hot honey until it’s the perfect sweet heat. I used around 3 tablespoons.
Serve
- Serve warm with the cranberry–hot-honey dipping sauce.
