Cooking Lesson #1079: Tailgater’s Pizza Balls

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? Are you a sports fan? Do you get off on tailgating? If this sounds like you then you already know the MVP at any tailgater’s party is the person who brings the Pizza Balls. Don’t get us wrong, hot dogs, dips and spreads are important to have on the menu, but a hot and cheesy Pizza Ball?... that’s on another level entirely.
 
My Tailgater’s Pizza Balls are made with ground Italian sausage (mild or hot), baking mix, bell peppers, and mozzarella cheese for an anytime tasty appetizer or snack. This recipe gains more attention each time I show up at a tailgater with a plateful of balls. It’s also a great snack at any time at yours or a friend’s football watch party.
 
My crowd-pleasing party appetizer is mighty meaty, cheesy and easy to make and eat. It’s easy for guests to grab and stuff. It’s a recipe you can prepare last minute but still appears as if you've thought ahead. And above all, it’s guaranteed to be loved by any audience.
 
Not a single pizza flavor was missed in my recipe—you’ve got the Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, green peppers and onions, even the pizza sauce. It’s like popping an entire slice of pizza in your mouth in just one bite.
 
My recipe starts with baking mix (Bisquick), the one ingredient that gives these pizza balls both a chewy and crispy texture. You can also easily customize the  recipe by adding supreme flavors such as fresh basil, pepperoni or olives.  
 
Now, toss all the ingredients in one bowl—then, roll up your sleeves. All of the work can be done with your hands, but an ice cream scoop is useful for even portioning. You can spoon each ball directly onto a baking sheet or roll them in your hands to give them a rounder shape.
 
Bake at 375° F for about 25 minutes (as you’re getting into your gameday gear), and you’re ready to tackle and roll. We recommend serving with marinara sauce to really bring the pizza concept home.
 
Prep time:  15 minutes
Bake time:  25 minutes
Yield:  8 to 10 servings
 
Ingredients 
1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
14 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
2 ounces parmesan cheese
2 cups baking mix (I prefer Bisquick)
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 cup pizza sauce, divided (I prefer Rao’s)
1 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 tablespoon minced fresh or jarred garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
 
Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 375° F.
2. Lightly grease a large baking sheet or use a sheet of parchment paper.
3. Mix the Italian sausage, shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese, baking mix, green bell pepper, yellow onion, 1/2 cup pizza sauce, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper together in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
4. Roll the sausage mixture into 1-inch balls; arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake pizza balls until lightly browned, about 25 minutes.
6. Heat the remaining pizza sauce and place in a bowl for dipping.
7. Serve the pizza balls with toothpicks for dipping into the hot pizza sauce.

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ChefSecret:  There is a lot spice and herb flavor from the Italian sausage, but I like to add fresh basil and parsley for a green flavor note.

Quip of the Day:  Wanna hear a pizza joke? Oh, never mind! It’s too cheesy!
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food
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