Taco Balls provide a Tex-Mex twist to your average sausage balls - simply replace the sausage with ground beef and add taco seasoning!
You’ve probably encountered this appetizer before, as sausage balls. These Taco “Sausage” Balls add a Tex-Mex spin to the OG recipe, swapping taco-seasoned ground beef in place of sausage.
This is one of those appetizers that (IMHO) can either be enjoyed piping hot straight from the oven or at room temperature*.
*Provided of course, you follow USDA food safety guidelines and don’t let them sit at room temperature any longer than 2 hours. Safety first!
Taco Balls are fantastic enjoyed on their own, but you can also easily pair them with a variety of dipping sauces, from sour cream (or crema) to your favorite salsa or hot sauce.
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Ingredients for Taco “Sausage” Balls
To make this Taco Ball recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- ground beef (lean)*
- packaged taco seasoning or homemade taco seasoning (this is a low-sodium taco seasoning!)
- cheddar or pepper jack cheese, shredded
- biscuit mix
- dipping sauce of your choice (optional)
See recipe card for quantities.
Note: Use a lean ground beef. Since the beef isn't cooked beforehand, all the juices are baked into the final product.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet (for easy cleanup!).
Add the ground beef, taco seasoning, shredded cheese, and Biscuit Mix to a food processor.
Mix for 30-45 seconds, until combined. The mix should be slightly moist.
Use a tablespoon, overfilling it slightly, as a guide to help you achieve uniform balls.
Roll the mixture between your hands to form round balls.
Arrange taco sausage balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 22-24 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool.
Serve the Taco Balls on their own or with a dipping sauce of your choice.
Note: Using a tablespoon will result in good-sized Taco Sausage Balls - I usually get 20 from this recipe. If you prefer a smaller size, go for it! But make sure you check them around 18-20 minutes of baking so they don't overcook.
Ingredient Substitution Suggestions
You can easily make a few substitutions here if you’d like! Here are a few suggestions.
- Ground beef - Why not swap in ground pork or ground chicken instead?
- Taco seasoning - Store-purchased taco seasoning is convenient, but if you want better control over the flavor and sodium, try this homemade taco seasoning (it’s a low-sodium taco seasoning!).
- Cheddar cheese - Go ahead and use pepper jack, Oaxaca, Colby jack, or any other good melting cheese.
- Biscuit mix - If you really want to push the flavor envelope, use Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix. You’re welcome!
Spicy Taco “Sausage” Balls Variation
If you want your Taco Balls to bring the heat, here are a few spicy ideas.
- Add a few dashes of cayenne pepper
- Add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce
- Add ¼ cup of sliced pickled jalapenos
- Pair with a spicy dipping sauce - pictured is a mix of crema and hot sauce. I just added several dashes of hot sauce to the crema until I was satisfied with the heat level.
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Food processor
Storage
If there are any leftover Taco Balls, store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
FAQ
More appetizers, of course! Try pairing these Cheddar Bay Chorizo Balls with Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms or Taco Cucumber Bites.
Soup! Sausage balls make a perfect pair with 4-Ingredient Potato Soup, Pinto Bean Soup, or Creamy Baked Sweet Potato Soup.
Salad! Taco Balls are a little naughty, so try a lighter accompaniment like
Cruciferous Crunch Salad or a Corn and Quinoa Salad.
Taco Balls can be enjoyed solo or with any number of dipping sauces. Here are some of my favorite dips to pair with these Tex-Mex sausage balls:
Ranch Dressing
Sour cream or crema
Salsa or hot sauce
Creamy Green Sauce (with Jalapeno!)
Chipotle and Roasted Garlic Mayo
Roasted Garlic Chimichurri
The top two ways to reheat leftover sausage balls are 1) in the oven 2) in the air fryer. The microwave gets a hard pass from me here. They just get kind of rubbery. And sad.
For reheating in the oven, set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake until warmed through the center (around 10 minutes or so). For reheating in the air fryer, set to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for around 5-6 minutes.
Don't reheat these more than once; they just won't be as good.
If you like these Taco Sausage Balls, I KNOW you’ll appreciate this other sausage ball variation, Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls, which uses Chorizo and Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay biscuit mix to create one flavorful bite!
Taco Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ pound ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning (or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning)
- 2 cups cheddar or pepper jack cheese shredded
- 1 cup biscuit mix
- dipping sauce of your choice (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Put parchment paper on a baking sheet (for easy cleanup!).
- Add the ground beef, taco seasoning, shredded cheese, and Biscuit Mix to a food processor. Mix for 30-45 seconds, until combined. The mix should be slightly moist.
- Use a tablespoon, overfilling it slightly, as a guide to help you achieve uniform balls. Roll the mixture between your hands to form round balls.
- Arrange taco sausage balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 22-24 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool. Serve the Taco Balls on their own or with a dipping sauce of your choice.
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