Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls

October 28, 2021
Spice up those classic sausage balls with Pepper Jack and pickled jalapeno! Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls bring the heat to everyone's favorite little party nibble.

Bowl of Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls Image

As kind of a joke at our house, whenever I ask my husband how dinner is, he replies, "Needs more jalapeno." And I do say "kind of a joke" because, well, he truly does love jalapenos and would probably legit add them to most anything.

So when it came to making some sausage balls to snack on, I decided to oblige his jalapeno request.

Spice up those classic sausage balls with Pepper Jack and pickled jalapeno!

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls definitely spice up this beloved classic. They're made with chopped pickled jalapeno and Pepper Jack cheese that bring just the right amount of heat. 

In fact, my husband lovingly refers to this jalapeno version as the Goldilocks of sausage balls -- Because they're not too hot, not too mild, they're just right. Hmmm, not sure if that description is clever -- or just plain corny. (I'm leaning towards corny.)

Now if you'd like to bring down the heat of the sausage balls a tad, substitute a can of chopped green chilies instead of the pickled jalapeno. -- Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls are a little spicier with the pickled jalapeno, which is just the way we love them! But both ingredients work great to bring on the flavor.

Baked Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls Image

What's to Love About This Recipe?
  • A tasty twist on a classic - Pickled jalapeno and Pepper Jack cheese bring the tasty heat to everyone's favorite little party nibble.
  • Just 5 ingredients - No long list of fancy ingredients here. Just 5 pretty basic ingredients is all this recipe takes.
  • Pretty easy to make - With just a little chopping, stirring, and rolling, these little bites are pretty easy to make. Admittedly, it's a bit tedious rolling them into balls, but it's not at all difficult.
  • Can be made ahead - Make a batch ahead of time and pop them in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, just reheat in a 350℉ oven for about 5 minutes.
  • Freezer-friendly - Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls freeze beautifully. Just pop the baked bites in a ziploc bag or airtight container and freeze away. Thaw and reheat when ready to serve.

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls with Pickled Jalapeno Image

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Ball Ingredients:

It only takes 5 pretty basic ingredients to make these tasty little Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls. To whip up a batch, you'll need:

  • Mild sausage - A 1-pound package of mild bulk sausage is the cornerstone ingredient of this recipe. Using mild sausage, rather than hot, lets the spiciness of the jalapenos and Pepper Jack shine through.

  • Cream cheese - Lends moistness to the sausage ball dough and helps them bake up tender.

  • Bisquick baking mix - Bisquick mix serves as the binder in the dough.

  • Pepper Jack cheese - Replaces the cheddar cheese of the classic sausage balls recipe, and brings on the spice!

  • Pickled jalapeno - The spicy jalapeno element of the recipe. Pickled jalapeno brings on the spice better than fresh in this application. Substitute a can of chopped green chilies instead, if you'd like. -- They're a little spicier with the pickled jalapeno, just the way we love them!

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls Ingredients Image

How to Make Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls:

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls are pretty easy to make. Albeit, it's a little bit tedious rolling them into balls, but it's not at all difficult.

To whip up a batch, start by mixing all the ingredients together to form a dough. You mix the sausage in raw just as it is. -- It cooks in the oven as the sausage balls bake.

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls Unbaked Sausage Mixture Image

Then form the dough into small balls about 1-inch in size. I use a small 1-tablespoon cookie scoop to help with this step. With the cookie scoop, the sausage mixture is pretty much already formed into a ball when it's scooped, taking just a tiny bit of by-hand shaping. The cookie scoop also helps keep the sausage balls all about the same size.

Place the dough balls on foil-lined baking sheet. You can pack them in pretty close, leaving just a little space between them to puff a bit as they bake.  

Unbaked Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls on Baking Sheet Image

Pop the pan in the oven and bake them up until the sausage balls are cooked through and lightly browned, which will take about 20 minutes.

Serve the baked bites up immediately, or pop them in the fridge or freezer to reheat for later. They're delicious either way!

Baking Sheet of Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls Image

So if you're looking to spice up those classic sausage balls, give Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls a try. They sure bring the tasty heat to everyone's favorite little party nibble!

jalapeno sausage balls, pepper jack sausage balls, spicy sausage balls, how to make jalapeno sausage balls, sausage balls with jalapeno
Appetizers & Snacks
Tex-Mex
Yield: 55-60
Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls

Spice up those classic sausage balls with Pepper Jack and pickled jalapeno! Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls bring the heat to everyone's favorite little party nibble.
Prep time: 35 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 55 Min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined.
  2. Form into small balls, about 1-inch in size. (I use a small 1-tablespoon cookie scoop for easing forming.)
  3. Place on a foil-lined baking pan lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 400℉ until cooked through and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls may be made ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen. When ready to serve, thaw (if frozen) and reheat in a 350℉ oven for about 5 minutes.
  2. These are wonderful made with either chopped pickled jalapeno or canned chopped green chilies, however we do love them best with the pickled jalapeno. They're a little bit spicier with the jalapeno, just the way we like them!
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @kitchenplaygrnd on instagram and hashtag it #thekitchenismyplaygroundblog


Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls ~ Spice up those classic sausage balls with Pepper Jack and pickled jalapeno! Jalapeno Pepper Jack Sausage Balls bring the heat to everyone's favorite little party nibble. They're perfect for game day, snacking, or any party.  www.thekitchenismyplayground.com


Affiliate links are included in this post. As an Amazon.com associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

This post is linked with Weekend Potluck.

3 comments

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yum!!! Pinned! Thanks for sharing at the Lazy Gastronome's What's for Dinner party! Have great week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments ~ I read and appreciate each and every one. When you choose to leave a comment, we collect and display your name, as provided by you. Clicking "publish" to submit your comment indicates your explicit consent for name collection. If you click the "notify me" checkbox {which is optional}, your e-mail is also collected. Clicking the "notify me" checkbox indicates your explicit consent for e-mail collection. Thank you so much for visiting The Kitchen is My Playground!

Blog Design: Tracimichele.com. Powered by Blogger.