Keto Rotel Sausage Cream Cheese Balls

These Keto Rotel Sausage Cream Cheese Balls are spicy, creamy, and irresistibly savory, with ground sausage, cream cheese, Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, sharp cheddar, and almond flour baked into perfectly poppable bites. Soft and cheesy inside with a lightly crisp exterior, they make an easy low-carb appetizer or snack that is high in fat and protein while keeping carbs in check.

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword almond flour, cream cheese, keto, low-carb, party appetizer, rotel, sausage balls

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings balls

Calories 105kcal

Equipment

large mixing bowl
rimmed baking sheet
parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Small cookie scoop or tablespoon
Oven

Ingredients

For the sausage cream cheese mixture

1 pound ground pork sausage use breakfast or mild Italian sausage with no added sugar
8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded for best melting
1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel style) 10 ounce can, very well drained and squeezed dry
3/4 cup super-fine almond flour do not use almond meal
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese adds extra savoriness and structure
1 large egg lightly beaten
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional for extra heat
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt to taste, adjust based on sausage
1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground

For shaping and baking

1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil for greasing hands or scoop if needed
nonstick spray or additional parchment paper optional, for lining the baking sheet

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Add the softened cream cheese to a large mixing bowl and mash it with a spatula or fork until smooth and spreadable.
Add the ground pork sausage, shredded cheddar, very well drained diced tomatoes with green chiles, almond flour, Parmesan, beaten egg, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to the bowl with the cream cheese.
Use clean hands or a sturdy spatula to gently mix everything together just until the ingredients are evenly combined without overworking the sausage.
If the mixture feels overly sticky or loose, sprinkle in a little more almond flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it holds its shape when pressed into a ball.
Lightly oil your hands or a small cookie scoop, then portion the mixture into about 24 balls using roughly 1 heaping tablespoon of mixture for each one.
Roll each portion between your palms to form a smooth ball and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between each ball.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the sausage balls for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the sausage is cooked through, the centers read at least 160°F, and the outsides are lightly golden and set.
Turn the oven to broil on high for 1 to 2 minutes if you want extra browning on the tops, watching closely to prevent burning.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the sausage balls rest for 5 minutes on the pan to firm up slightly before serving.
Serve warm on their own or with your favorite keto-friendly dipping sauces such as ranch, spicy mustard, or jalapeño mayo.
Cool any leftovers completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze them in a single layer before transferring to a freezer bag for longer storage.
Reheat chilled or frozen sausage balls in a 350°F oven or air fryer until heated through and lightly crisp on the outside before serving.

Notes

For the lowest carbs, choose a ground sausage without added sugar or starches and be sure to drain the diced tomatoes with green chiles extremely well, even squeezing them in a clean towel to remove excess moisture. The mixture should be soft but able to hold its shape when formed into balls, and adding a small extra sprinkle of almond flour can help if it feels too loose. You can assemble the sausage balls up to a day ahead, cover, and refrigerate them unbaked, then bake just before serving for easy entertaining. Each ball is designed to stay well within keto macros, so they work as a party appetizer, snack, or part of a hearty breakfast plate.

Nutrition