Rotel sausage balls are an appetizer that hits that sweet spot where cheesy meets spicy. You get bite-sized pockets of melted cheese, seasoned sausage, and just enough kick from the tomatoes and green chiles to keep things interesting. All this in a simple 5-ingredient recipe that is cheesy, spicy (but not too spicy), and absolutely addictive.
These sausage balls deliver flavor without making you work for it. The Rotel gives you tomato and chile flavor already mixed in, so you skip the chopping and measuring. The sausage brings the savory. The cheese holds it all together. There’s nothing complicated, and nothing that’ll leave you second-guessing whether it’ll turn out.
I started making these in the air fryer last year when I needed some quick Thanksgiving appetizers, and they’ve become my go-to whenever I need food ready without the stress. No mixing bowls full of complicated ingredients. No waiting around while the oven preheats. Just mix, shape, and let the air fryer do its thing.
The air fryer changes the game here because it gets them golden and crispy on the outside in about 10 minutes. Of course, you can also bake these in the oven if you prefer. I especially like that I can make a batch, freeze them, and pull out however many I need when people show up hungry.
Keep reading for the simple steps to make this delicious appetizer, along with a few notes on what works if you want to switch things up. Whether you’re feeding people for the holidays or just need something on the table that isn’t another casserole, these are ideal.
Looking for more appetizer ideas? Try my recipes for baked buffalo chicken dip, air fryer stuffed meatballs, or chili dog sliders.
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Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Hot sausage: If spicy isn’t your thing, mild Italian sausage is a perfect substitute. Just make sure to use raw sausage, not pre-cooked.
- Cream cheese
- Rotel tomatoes: These canned diced tomatoes with green chilies are the secret weapon here! Original Rotel is my go-to, but the mild version works great if you’re serving kids.
- Bisquick
- Shredded cheddar cheese
How to Make Rotel Sausage Balls
- Start by draining your Rotel tomatoes thoroughly in a fine-mesh strainer.
- In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients: the sausage, well-drained tomatoes, Bisquick, softened cream cheese, and shredded cheddar. I like to use my hands to mix everything thoroughly (though it’s a bit messy!).
- Use a cookie scoop to portion out the mixture into 1-inch balls. This keeps them uniform in size, so they’ll cook evenly. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, a tablespoon measure works just as well.
- To air fry these, arrange the sausage balls in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd them – they need space to cook properly! You’ll need to work in batches.
- Air fry at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes until they’re golden brown and cooked through. They should be nicely crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy inside.
- Alternatively, bake them in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 18-20 minutes.
Serving Ideas
These Rotel sausage balls are the ultimate party food! I love serving them at game day gatherings. The spicy kick from the Rotel and hot sausage makes them perfect for dipping alongside cool ranch dip or blue cheese dressing.
Of course, they are also perfect for the holidays, especially Christmas or New Year’s Eve. Just add some toothpicks and let everyone enjoy some spicy sausage.
How to Store
While these sausage balls are best served fresh and hot from the air fryer, they do store surprisingly well. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes, or until hot.
I’ve found that these reheat much better in the air fryer than in the microwave – they stay crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside.
Tips & Tricks
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Start with cream cheese that’s at room temperature. It makes mixing so much easier!
- Make sure to drain the tomatoes thoroughly. Too much liquid will make your mixture too wet and harder to form into balls.
- I use a 1-inch scoop to make sure all the balls are the same size. This ensures they’ll cook evenly in the air fryer. No cookie scoop? A tablespoon measure works too.
- Leave some space between the balls in your air fryer basket. They need room for that hot air to circulate!
- The sausage balls should be golden brown on the outside and cooked through on the inside. If you’re unsure, cut one open to check – the sausage should be completely cooked with no pink remaining.
Reader Questions
You can mix up the ingredients the night before and store them in the fridge. Form into balls just before cooking. You can also freeze the cooked sausage balls for up to 3 months.
Any brand of diced tomatoes with green chilies will work just fine. I’ve even used regular diced tomatoes with a small can of diced green chilies when that’s what I had on hand.
Absolutely! While I prefer the flavor of pork sausage, turkey sausage works well, too. Just remember it might be a bit leaner, so the texture could be slightly different.
If your mixture isn’t holding together well, it might be too dry. Try adding a bit more cream cheese, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together better. Also, make sure that you mix the ingredients thoroughly.
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Rotel Sausage Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound hot sausage
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 10 ounce Rotel tomatoes or other tomatoes with chiles
- 1 ½ cup Bisquick baking mix
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Drain the tomatoes to get remove liquid.
- In a medium bowl, mix the sausage, drained tomatoes, Bisquick, cream cheese, and shredded cheddar cheese.1 pound hot sausage, 8 ounces cream cheese, 10 ounce Rotel tomatoes, 1 ½ cup Bisquick baking mix, 4 ounces cheddar cheese
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil or cooking spray.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop up balls of the sausage mixture, about 1 inch in size.
- Put the balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes.
Notes
- Start with cream cheese that’s at room temperature. It makes mixing so much easier.
- Make sure to drain the tomatoes thoroughly. Too much liquid will make your mixture too wet and harder to form into balls.
- I use a 1-inch scoop to make sure all the balls are the same size. This ensures they’ll cook evenly in the air fryer. No cookie scoop? A tablespoon measure works too.
- Leave some space between the balls in your air fryer basket. They need room for that hot air to circulate.
- The sausage balls should be golden brown on the outside and cooked through on the inside. If you’re unsure, cut one open to check – the sausage should be completely cooked with no pink remaining.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
