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Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls

Calling all bacon lovers! If you’re a bacon or sausage fanatic, this recipe is for you! You’ll get the best of both in this recipe for Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls with Peach and Dijon dipping sauce!

Bacon wrapped sausage balls and dipping sauce on a wooden board.

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You’ll never believe what I did! I made a spicy, herby, cheesy sausage ball and wrapped that deliciousness up in a piece of bacon. Uh-huh – Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls! Then I made you a Peach and Dijon Dipping Sauce. Just because.

The winter holiday season is the time to bring out all the best appetizer recipes. Everybody loves finger foods, don’t they? Just a little nibble before the main event. These perfect little porky packages go well with everything from before dinner drinks to a brunch buffet. 

You’re probably familiar with the popular recipe for sausage balls that uses cheddar cheese and biscuit mix, right? Well, these are not those.

These bacon wrapped sausage balls use an herbed stuffing mix combined with lots of spices and Parmesan cheese. Oh my goodness, are they good!

The day I was testing these, I left a whole bunch of them out on the kitchen counter, and I think every time BeeBop or I walked by them, we took a bite. You just can’t resist. Really.

🛒 Ingredient Notes


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  • Herb Seasoned Stuffing (The stuffing mix in this recipe acts as both a binder and extender. It also adds a great herby flavor to the sausage balls. I recommend Pepperidge Farm brand.)
  • Pan Sausage (Pan sausage is fresh pork sausage that is not in a casing. I typically use Jimmy Dean brand mild pan sausage.)
  • Parmesan Cheese (Use the inexpensive finely ground Kraft brand for this recipe.)
  • Bacon (Thinly sliced bacon works best here. Smithfield is my preferred brand.)

You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.

🔪 How to Make Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls


Make the Sausage Mixture

Photo collage illustrating the making of the sausage and stuffing mixture.

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter in the water. Combine the melted butter and water with the herb-seasoned stuffing in a large bowl.

Add the egg, sausage, red pepper, oregano, parsley, onion powder, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until thoroughly and evenly combined.

👉 PRO TIP: About the Parmesan cheese – please do not use your expensive block of Parmesan cheese for these sausage balls! The powdery stuff in the green can is just fine and actually works best to bind the ingredients.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to 8 hours.

👉 PRO TIP: Allowing the mixture to rest gives time for the stuffing mix to absorb moisture and rehydrate making the sausage balls much more tender.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Shape the Sausage Balls

Sausage-stuffing mixture being divided evenly into 30 balls.

Shape the sausage-stuffing mixture into 30 small balls.

👉 PRO TIP: My trick for dividing this mixture or any meatball mixture, is to form the whole mass into a squarish shape and then cut it into the number of portions I need. Otherwise, I end up with balls of all different sizes. For these, I made a 6 by 5 grid giving me 30 pieces. Easy!

Wrap with Bacon

Top: Bacon cut into thirds; Bottom: Individual sausage balls being wrapped in bacon.

Cut the bacon slices crosswise into thirds, creating 30 pieces. Wrap each sausage ball with a piece of bacon.

Bake the Sausage Balls

Prepped sausage balls on a baking sheet ready for the oven.

Place the prepared sausage balls on a rack set in a baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes turning once halfway through the baking time.

👉 PRO TIP: Lining the baking sheet with foil makes cleanup much easier!

Remove from the oven and let stand while making the dipping sauce.

Make the Dipping Sauce

Small skillet containing peach preserves and Dijon mustard for dipping sauce.

Combine the peach preserves and Dijon mustard in a small saucepan or skillet. Cook over low heat just until the preserves are melted and warmed through. Serve alongside the warm sausage balls.

👉 PRO TIP: You can substitute apricot or pineapple preserves for the peach preserves in the sauce.

Bacon wrapped sausage balls and dipping sauce on a wooden board.

🔀 Tips and Variations


  • I’ve used mild sausage and a small amount of red pepper flakes in this recipe. If you want to up the spiciness, use medium or hot sausage or increase the red pepper flakes.
  • Make an “Italian” version by substituting Italian sausage and plain stuffing mix. Wrap with a strip of prosciutto. Offer warm marinara sauce for dipping.
  • Make a healthier version by substituting turkey pan sausage.

🍚 Storage and Freezing


  • If serving for a party, this appetizer should be safe at room temperature for at least three hours. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to four days. Seal and freeze for up to three months.
  • To make in advance — you can either (1) cook the recipe, cool it completely and store or freeze, or (2) prepare the recipe up to the point of baking, freeze, and thaw when ready to cook.
Lana Stuart.

More Questions? I’m happy to help!

If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

📖 Recipe

Bacon wrapped sausage balls and dipping sauce on a wooden board.

Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls

If you're a bacon or sausage fanatic, this recipe is for you! You'll get the best of both in this recipe for Bacon Wrapped Sausage Balls with Peach and Dijon dipping sauce!
5 from 3 votes
Print It Rate It Save Text It
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 15 servings
Calories: 140kcal
Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup butter
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 ½ cups herb-seasoned stuffing Pepperidge Farms recommended
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • pound mild pan sausage
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 10 slices bacon
  • cup peach preserves
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter in the water. Combine the melted butter and water with the herb-seasoned stuffing in a large bowl.
  • Add the egg, sausage, red pepper, oregano, parsley, onion powder, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until thoroughly and evenly combined.
  • Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to 8 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Shape the sausage-stuffing mixture into 30 small balls. Cut the bacon slices crosswise into thirds, creating 30 pieces. Wrap each sausage ball with a piece of bacon.
  • Place the prepared sausage balls on a rack set in a baking sheet. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes turning once halfway through the baking time.
  • Remove from the oven and let stand while making the dipping sauce.
  • Combine the peach preserves and Dijon mustard in a small saucepan or skillet. Cook over low heat just until the preserves are melted and warmed through. Serve alongside the warm sausage balls.

Notes

  • You can substitute apricot or pineapple preserves for the peach preserves in the sauce.
  • I’ve used mild sausage and a small amount of red pepper flakes in this recipe. If you want to up the spiciness, use medium or hot sausage or increase the red pepper flakes.
Storage and Freezing
  • If serving for a party, the sausage balls should be safe at room temperature for at least three hours. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to four days. Seal and freeze for up to three months.
  • To make in advance — you can either (1) cook the sausage balls, cool them completely, and store or freeze, or (2) prepare the sausage balls up to the point of baking, freeze, and thaw when ready to cook.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 | Calories 140kcal | Carbohydrates 7g | Protein 6g | Fat 10g | Saturated Fat 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat 5g | Cholesterol 36mg | Sodium 307mg | Fiber 1g | Sugar 4g

Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

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11 Comments

  1. Nicole Sheffield says:

    How long do these stay fresh and how would you store them?

    1. Those questions are answered in the post and in the recipe card. Did you need more information about something?

  2. Thanks Lana…we’re having a tailgating party event here at work and that’s what I’ll be making! Sure to win a prize!!!

  3. I will be making these..they look delicious…thanks!…when you state “pan sausage” do you mean the mild breakfast sausage in the roll like Jones Farm or Jimmy Dean…but “mild”? Thanks Lana..you’re a great cook!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Hi Trixy – yes, that’s right. Pan sausage is also called “loose” or “roll” sausage. It’s sausage that’s not in a casing.

      1. Thanks Lana…we’re having a tailgating party event here at work and that’s what I’ll be making! Sure to win a prize!!!

  4. Sounds like a party!!

    Miss P

  5. This looks really good, Lana, and the peach dipping sauce would be perfect! :)

  6. Ashley Wilson says:

    Cannot wait to try these. After reading the ingredient list, my mind followed it up with “these are a few of my favorite things.”

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Love that, Ashley! They are definitely a few of our favorite things, too.