Description
These savory Italian Sausage Bites combine flavorful ground sausage with three kinds of cheese, coated in a crispy panko crust and fried to golden perfection. Perfect as an appetizer or game day snack!
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Sausage Bites
- 2 pounds ground Italian sausage
- 1 white onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground basil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup gouda cheese, diced small
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, diced small
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- ⅓ cup marinara sauce
- For the Crispy Coating
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs, crushed
- 2 teaspoons slap ya mama seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil, for frying
- Marinara sauce, for dipping
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage Mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, add Italian sausage, onions, and the seasonings (oregano, basil, and black pepper). Cook until the sausage is no longer pink and the onions are tender, about 7-8 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another two minutes, allowing the garlic to become fragrant without burning. Drain the excess fat from the mixture.
- Mix in the Cheeses: Add the Italian sausage mixture to a large bowl. Once the mixture has cooled slightly (enough to handle), add cream cheese, marinara sauce, diced gouda, and mozzarella cheese. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and cheeses are evenly distributed.
- Form the Bites: Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure they’re evenly sized for consistent cooking.
- Flash Freeze: Place the baking sheet with the formed bites in the freezer for one hour. This helps the bites maintain their shape during the coating and frying process.
- Prepare the Dredging Station: While the Italian sausage bites are in the freezer, set up a dredging station with 3 shallow containers. In the first container, add flour. In the second container, whisk together the buttermilk and egg until well combined. In the third container, mix panko breadcrumbs with all the coating seasonings (slap ya mama seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes).
- Heat the Oil: In a deep skillet or pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches approximately 350°F (175°C).
- Bread the Bites: Take the partially frozen bites from the freezer. Dredge each bite first in the flour (shaking off excess), then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat thoroughly in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure the coating adheres.
- Fry in Batches: Carefully place 6-8 breaded bites into the hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan, which would lower the oil temperature and result in soggy bites.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the fried bites with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Continue working in batches until all bites are fried. Serve hot with marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- The bites can be made ahead and frozen before frying. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- If you don’t have slap ya mama seasoning, you can substitute with a blend of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.
- For a lighter version, these can be baked at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes or air-fried at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes.
- Ensure the oil stays at a consistent temperature for the crispiest results.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 bites
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 95mg