I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #PumpkinWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Pumpkin Sausage Cheese Balls are a baked  flavor bomb of cheese, sausage, pumpkin and savory spices.  They’re the perfect appetizer to serve for all your gatherings this season!

Looking for more savory pumpkin recipes?  Try this Pumpkin Cheddar Ale Soup

Years ago we use to make this sausage, tomato and cream cheese dip that was a favorite amongst our friends.

It made an appearance at every football game, New Years Eve party and get together for years.  Then suddenly no one made it anymore.

I recently thought of it again and decided to throw in some pumpkin puree, seasonings, extra cheese and turn that dip into these Pumpkin Sausage Cheese Ball Bites

AND I am so glad I brought them back and gave them new life.

I’m a huge fan of pumpkin and not just for sweet recipes.

Pumpkin puree has the ability to take on anything it’s mixed with to create something that is creamy and delicious.

Such as this savory cheese ball recipe that’s packed with great flavors that work beautifully together.

INGREDIENTS FOR PUMPKIN SAUSAGE CHEESE BALL BITES: 

• Sage country sausage
• diced tomatoes with chiles
• pumpkin puree
• Cabot Monterey Jack Cheese
• pepper
• smoked sweet paprika
• cream cheese
• panko breadcrumbs
• pretzel sticks

HOW TO MAKE SAUSAGE CHEESE BALLS FROM SCRATCH

• In a medium saucepan, cook and crumble sausage.  Add in drained tomatoes and pumpkin puree, turn off heat and allow to cool completely
• Into a large bowl add cream cheese and shredded cheese.  Stir in sausage mixture and combine well.

• Roll balls into panko breadcrumbs and place onto aluminum foiled, spray with cooking spray, on a baking sheet
• Bake in oven, at 350 degrees, for 12-15 minutes minutes or until golden brown
• Place 1 pretzel stick into the middle of each ball and garnish with 1 parsley leaf.

CAN I FRY THESE CHEESE SAUSAGE BALLS?

Yes, instead of baking these cheese balls you can created fried cheese sausage balls.

Once the balls are rolled into the panko, add some oil to a medium sauce pan, over medium high heat and bring temperature up to 350 degrees F.  Place cheese balls into the oil and fry until golden brown on all sides, anout 1-2 minutes.

WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF PANKO BREADCRUMBS?

If you don’t have panko breacrumbs, you can roll these sausage balls in regular or Italian breadcrumbs, crushed crackers or crushed chips.

WHAT TYPE OF SAUSAGE CAN I USE FOR CREAM CHEESE SAUSAGE BALLS

I used country sausage with sage.  Sage pairs beautifully with pumpkin.

However, you can use regular sausage, hot sausage or turkey sausage for these cheese balls.

WHAT TYPE OF CHEESE CAN I USE FOR CREAM CHEESE SAUSAGE BALLS?

Cabot.  It’s my hands down favorite cheese.  I use Monterey jack cheese for this recipe but feel free to use pepperjack, cheddar cheese or Italian cheese for these Pumpkin Sausage Cheese Balls.

CAN CHEESY SAUSAGE BALLS BE MADE IN AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes, you can make these Pumpkin Sausage Cheese Ball Bites up until Step 2.

I recommend rolling the balls and placing them into the refrigerator until shortly before you serve them.

Then roll in panko and baked according to directions.

I do not recommend rolling them in the breadcrumbs and then placing them into the refrigerator as the breadcrumbs can become soggy.

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Pumpkin Sausage Cheese Balls

Yield: 30 servings

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Pumpkin Sausage Cheese Balls are a baked  flavor bomb of cheese, sausage, pumpkin and savory spices.  They're the perfect appetizer to serve for all your gatherings this season!

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Ingredients

• 1 (16oz ) package Sage country sausage
• 1 can (15oz) diced tomatoes with chiles
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup Cabot Monterey Jack Cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 brick (8oz) cream cheese
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 30 pretzel sticks

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium saucepan, cook and crumble sausage.  Add in drained tomatoes and pumpkin puree, turn off heat and allow to cool completely
3. Into a large bowl add cream cheese and shredded cheese.  Stir in sausage mixture and combine well.
4. Roll balls into panko breadcrumbs and place onto aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray on a sheet pan.
5. Bake in over for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown
6. Place 1 pretzel stick into the middle of each ball and garnish with 1 parsley leaf.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 446mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 5g

All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on strawberryblondiekitchen.com should only be used as a general guideline.