These cranberry cheddar sausage bites are perfect as a holiday appetizer or even a game day snack. Serve them with some cranberry sauce for dipping!
Let’s talk about Halloween for a hot second because after last night’s onslaught of trick or treaters I’m either getting super curmudgeonly (quite possible) or the future of the general American population is a scary thing.

When did it become ok to ring a door bell, not even say “trick-or-treat” and then ask the person handing you FREE candy if they have more Crunch bars because you like those better than Butterfingers?
Because that just happened at my parents house last night as I sat in their kitchen overhearing the whole thing.
The best part?
The parents were standing a few feet behind the kids and said NOTHING.
I would be mortified of my child’s manners. Or maybe more accurately, of my lack of parenting skills that allowed such a thing to come from their ungracious little mouths.
Let’s flash back to 1990 and 8 year old me walking through our neighborhood trick-or-treating. It went some thing like this:
Ring the doorbell/door opens/”TRICK-OR TREAT!” (at the top of our lungs)/quick discussion of what everyone was dressed up as/hold out plastic pumpkin and secretly hope for something good to be thrown our way praying there were no nasty yellow wrapper Mary Jane’s in that bowl but keeping those thoughts IN OUR HEADS/say “thank you!” no matter what was given to us and be on our way to the next house.
Apparently, “trick-or-treat” is now optional and not only is candy assumed to be given no matter what but it better be the “good kind” too or you’re going to hear audible complaints or requests for something else.
I guess I’m just in shock. No one ever “taught” us how to trick or treat when we were kids, it was just implied you were to be polite.
So is all this just an indication of a lack of general manners?
I don’t know, maybe I’m reading too much into a handful of bratty kids on a doorstep and I should just go back to isolating myself in the kitchen all day.
Because cranberry cheddar stuffed sausage bites are a heck of a better time than obnoxious elementary schoolers.
They’re an appetizer versatile enough to go from holiday dinner party appetizer spread to Game Day eats in front of the TV.
No matter the crowd, they’ll be gone in minutes with their cheesy sausage deliciousness!
And don’t skip the cranberry sauce for dipping. The tart brightness is a welcome pairing with the savory, salty sausage. It’s a combination we love in this cheddar polenta and sausage skillet too.
This boozy bourbon cranberry sauce recipe is a good one!
Find more appetizer ideas great for holiday parties with these baked maple sweet potato tots, butternut squash goat cheese dip or these spicy cinnamon roasted chickpeas.
If you need a gluten-free version of this recipe, try these gluten-free sausage balls.
Want something like this that’s breakfast worthy? Try our sausage muffin recipe.
Cranberry Cheddar Sausage Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
- 1/3 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
- 1 cup grated sharp white cheddar
- 2 tablespoons minced shallots
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup whole wheat white flour
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix together with a spatula or your hands until the ingredients fully incorporated.
- Roll the mixture into balls and place on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Serve with cranberry sauce for dipping.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Have you ever made it with Craisins??
No, but I’m sure that would work.
Last year we had ONE focus, but it lead to us working about 5 different jobs. I know you can probably relate to this too. One focus to WORK WORK WORK and SAVE SAVE SAVE. Well, sometimes that one HYPER focus can make you lose ALL focus on what is truly important. And it can suck your energy dry too. I personally felt that way!
What size are the meatballs supposed to be for a 25 minute cook time? And how many does this recipe make? I’m unable to find the video…but they sound great!
How many meatballs does this recipe make?
It depends how large you make the bites. With a pound of meat, you could do about 1 ounce each and make about 16 bites. Up to you!
Could you substitute dried cranberries for the fresh cranberries!
Yes, I’m sure that would work. They’d just be a bit sweeter.
Luckily, I do believe your recipe will quickly remedy that. :)
What recipe would you use for the cranberry sauce. I certainly would not want to buy the canned cranberry sauce!! lol Thanks!
I just throw some frozen cranberries in a sauce pot with a splash of water and a little of whatever sweetener you want (sugar, maple syrup, honey, etc.). boil it down until thickened. You can add spices or orange zest if you want too.
Oh thank gosh, I thought it was just me. I’ve had kids throw back a Kit Kat, saying if they couldn’t have 2 they didn’t want any…….
Going to make the sausage balls this weekend. Looks like a perfect appetizer to add to our Family Christmas Party. Thanks!
Oh how I agree with you about manners, parenting and families. One thing I made sure my boys know how to do is look someone in the eye, shake their hand when they are introduced to somoene and say please, and thank you. Things that should be the cornestone of polite manners. But anywho, those meatballs are gorgeous and lookd delicious!
I am 54, and parents and kids are very different than when I was a kid. A while back, my supervisor’s 18 year old son was very rude to me and she did nothing. It seems that kids are no longer taught manners, and their parents do not see the need to teach them. Respect your elders is a thing of the past. So sad. It seems to me that politeness is a basic characteristic necessary for a proper life.
Anyway, the sausage bites sound intriguing. Will have to try them. Thanks.