Gearing up for a Superbowl party? Besides a good television set the most important element to a successful soiree is food – lots of yummy, substantial, heavy-duty food. No fru-fru fancy finger sandwiches; no fru-fru feminine salads; no fru-fru canapés on cucumbers. Italian Sausage Balls with Marinara will be a welcome addition to any Superbowl party, and they can be made ahead and reheated, making it very easy on the cook.

You can make these balls as spicy as you like, by adding additional crushed red pepper to the sausage mixture. If you prefer your sausage balls to be mild, you can substitute mild Italian sausage for the hot. Stale biscuits give the balls body, and are a nice way to use up leftover baking powder-type biscuits (not the kind in the tube) that are never good after the first day. You can use homemade marinara sauce, or bottled spaghetti sauce for dipping. All told, this is a very easy, but substantial appetizer, and there will be no leftovers. Hopefully your favorite team will win, but if not, at least everyone will have eaten good food.

12 Servings

2 cups biscuit crumbs, (baking powder biscuits)
1 1/2 pounds hot Italian Sausages
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 eggs

Marinara sauce, for dipping

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line two shallow baking sheets with parchment.
3. Mix the biscuit crumbs, Italian sausage, eggs, cheese, basil, and rosemary.
4. Scoop tablespoonfuls of the mixture, roll them into balls, and place on the prepared baking sheets.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden.
6. Remove from the oven and transfer to paper towels to drain. At this point, they may be placed in a plastic zip-type bag and refrigerated until 30 minutes before serving (up to 3 days ahead).
7. Serve hot with the marinara sauce for dipping.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 256 Calories from Fat 158
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 62% Protein 20% Carb. 19%

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Total Fat 18 g
Saturated Fat 8 g
Cholesterol 77 mg
Sodium 588 mg
Total Carbohydrate 12 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 13 g

Vitamin A 4% Vitamin C 1% Calcium 0% Iron 7%