3 Keto Low Carb Sausage Balls + Carnivore Alternatives

Low carb sausage balls are easy, delicious, high-protein, portable, and meal-prep friendly. Whether on a Low-Carb, Keto, or Ketovore Diet, you can enjoy these low-carb sausage balls. Even if you are on a zero-carb Carnivore, you can tweak the recipe and add it to your Carnivore meal plan. Let’s learn how to make different versions of this yummy and nutritious dish + tips, variations, and storage guides.

Why Eat Low Carb Sausage Balls?

Low carb sausage balls are high-fat, moderate-protein snacks that are portable and Keto-friendly. They have minimal net carbohydrates that can be eaten as a snack, breakfast, or appetizer.

Many keto recipes replace Bisquick or breadcrumbs with almond flour or pork-rind panko to reduce carbohydrates to nearly zero.

However, those on a Carnivore Diet only allow meat with animal binders, such as egg, cheese, and pork rinds, as well as no nut flour or vegetable oils, to make it truly zero-carb.

The exact nutrients in each dish vary depending on the ingredients used in each recipe. So, whether you are on a Low-Carb, Keto, Ketovore, or even Carnivore Diet, you can use the following recipes to make low carb sausage balls, Keto sausage balls, and Carnivore sausage balls.

But before going into recipes, let’s focus on the main ingredient, sausage, and see how we can find the right type of sausages based on our diet and culinary needs.

Learn More: 15 Keto Recipes: Dinner, Soup, Quick Bites, Snacks, Desserts

Choosing the Right Sausage

To make truly low carb sausage balls, we need low-carb sausages, but not all sausages are low-carb. The table below compares different types to help you find a proper product based on your macronutrient needs and limits.

So, according to the above table, the best choice for a zero-carb diet is fresh pork sausage with no fillers. But you can also use the other options depending on your diet rules and daily macros.

Learn More: Are Pumpkin Seeds Keto? The Best Ways to Eat Pumpkin Seeds

In addition to healthy and high-quality sausage, we need some tools and equipment to make low carb sausage balls more easily.

Learn More: Are Sunflower Seeds Keto? 5 Ways to Add Them to Your Diet

Tools and Equipment Needed

• Rimmed baking sheet
• Parchment or silicone mat
• Mixing bowl
• Cookie scoop (1 tablespoon) for uniform balls
• Food processor for crushing pork rinds
• Air fryer (optional)
• Meat thermometer

Recipe 1: Classic Low Carb Sausage Balls

You can make about 24 (1-inch) low carb sausage balls in about 30 minutes using the ingredients and instructions below.

Learn More: 15 Easy Low Carb Dinner Ideas + Recipes for Keto & Carnivore

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) ground pork sausage
• 4 oz. (113 g) cream cheese
• 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup (96 g) almond flour
• 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
• ½ tsp baking powder (optional)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Mix the sausage, softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar, almond flour, garlic powder, baking powder, salt, and pepper with your hands. The mixture should be tacky.
3. Roll into 24 balls. You can use a 1-TB cookie scoop if you want a uniform size.
4. Place the sausage balls on the sheet 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.
5. Bake for 18-22 minutes until golden and internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C).
6. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Learn More: Carnivore Diet Sausage and Egg Salad

Nutrients

Each serving or each sausage ball contains about:

Calories: 110 kcal | Fat: 9.5 g | Protein: 4.9 g | Carbs: 1.3 g | Fiber: 0.5 g | Net Carbs: 0.8 g

Tips and Notes

• If the mixture is too wet, chill it for 15 minutes.
• If the mixture is too dry, add 1 tsp water or an extra tablespoon of cream cheese.
• If you are on a dairy-free Keto Diet, use coconut-based soft cheese instead of cream cheese or add more eggs.
• For a crispy exterior, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end.

Learn More: Is Cream Cheese Keto? Best Keto Cream Cheese Brands/ Recipes

Recipe 2: Pork-Rind Keto Sausage Balls

This recipe for Keto sausage balls uses pork rinds instead of almond flour or coconut flour and produces a crisper exterior with very low carbohydrates. Many popular Keto recipes use pork panko for this reason.

To make 24 pork rind Keto sausage balls, you need about 30 minutes and the following ingredients and instructions.

Learn More: White Meat vs Dark Meat on a Low-Carb, Keto & Carnivore Diet

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) ground pork sausage
• 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
• 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup (about 28 g) crushed pork rinds (pork panko)
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp salt

Learn More: The Best Dairy Free Protein Shakes [Lose Weight Gain Muscle]

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet.
2. Mix sausage, cream cheese, cheddar, crushed pork rinds, onion powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix with your hands until the mixture is tacky.
3. Form 24 balls and place them on the sheet.
4. Chill for 10 minutes in the fridge if the mixture seems too soft.
5. Remove from the fridge and bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden and internal temperature 160°F (70°C).
6. Remove them from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes.
7. Enjoy!

Nutrients

Each Keto sausage ball contains about:

Calories: 90 kcal | Fat: 7.5 g | Protein: 4.6 g | Net Carbs: 0.3 g | Fiber: 0 g

Learn More: Carnivore Diet Beef Breakfast Sausage Sandwich with Eggs

Recipe 3: Zero-Carb Carnivore Sausage Balls

Making these zero-carb Carnivore sausage balls is easy. You just need about 35 minutes to make 24 balls using the ingredients and instructions given below.

This recipe eliminates plant flours and uses eggs and cheeses as binders. Its texture will be denser and meatier, different from almond-flour bready balls. Adding pork rinds can make them crunchy while remaining Carnivore-friendly.

You can also use these Carnivore Diet Recipes for more zero-carb, Carnivore-friendly meal ideas.

Learn More: 20+ High Protein Low Carb Snacks for Keto and Carnivore Diet

Ingredients

• 2 lb (900 g) ground pork sausage
• 8 oz. (226 g) cream cheese
• 1 cup (113 g) shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp salt
• ¼ cup crushed pork rinds (optional)
• 1 tsp black pepper (optional)

Learn More: Can You Eat Sausage on a Carnivore Diet? [5 Best Sausages]

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a lined baking sheet.
2. Combine the sausage, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, and eggs. Mix well until the mixture sticks together when pressed. Season with salt and pepper (if using).
3. Form the mixture into 24 balls. You can chill the mixture in the fridge for 15 minutes if it is too soft.
4. Bake the Carnivore sausage balls for 18-22 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C).
5. Remove them from the oven and rest for 5 minutes.
6. Bon Appetit!

Nutrients

Each of these Carnivore sausage balls provides:

Calories: 154 kcal | Fat: 13.1 g | Protein: 7.2 g | Net Carbs: 0.6 g | Fiber: 0 g

This recipe is effectively zero-carb. The trace carbohydrates come from dairy and eggs, and exact numbers vary by product.

If you want a truly zero-carbohydrate meal, choose dairy labels with 0g carbs (rare) or reduce cheeses/ eggs and rely on pure ground meat, but expect binding problems.

Learn More: Are Sunflower Seeds Keto? 5 Ways to Add Them to Your Diet

Pro Tips

• If you want a crisper finish, spray lightly with avocado oil before baking or finish with 1-2 minutes of broil.
• Make two sheet batches to avoid crowding because balls that touch steam rather than roast will stay soggier.
• Almond flour gives a softer and more crumb-bread-like texture. Pork rinds give crisper and nut-free sausage balls. Carnivore versions are dense or meaty.
• If you are allergic, remember that almond flour contains nuts. The Carnivore sausage balls have no nuts but contain dairy.
• Pork-rind and Carnivore recipes give the lowest net carbs per ball.
• To have moist or juicy sausage balls, use high-fat sausages.
• Keto beginners can use the almond flour version.
• To have more protein, use the turkey sausage version.

Learn More: 30 High Protein Low Carb Lunch Ideas for Keto and Carnivore

How to Change the Recipes for Making Sausage Ball Batches?

If you want to make more low carb sausage balls for meal prep, parties, or other reasons, you can use the following chart as a guide to know how much of each ingredient to use.

How to Serve Low Carb Sausage Balls?

Keto/ Low-Carb Versions:

• Serve with low-carb dips: garlic aioli, keto ranch, buffalo, sugar-free BBQ, zero-sugar mustard, a warm low-carb marinara, or sugar free ketchup and other sugar free sauces.
• They are also great with pickled jalapeños, cheddar, or roasted veggies.
• For party platters, include toothpicks and small ramekins of dip.
• You can also serve them with pizza (mozzarella + pepperoni), bacon parmesan, and bacon dip.

Carnivore Versions:

• Serve with animal-based sauces like melted butter, hipped tallow, or Carnivore mayo, bone marrow dips, or alone as a protein snack.
• Serve with hard cheeses, soft-boiled eggs, Mozzarella, or crispy bacon.
• Avoid dairy for a zero-carb Carnivore. Use only sausage and eggs.

Learn More: Carnivore & Keto Alfredo Sauce: How to Make a Healthy Sauce?

Meal-Prep Ideas

• Refrigerate the sausage balls in meal-prep containers for 3-4 days. Freeze extras.
• For breakfasts, reheat and serve with sliced avocado (Keto) or with a side of bacon (Keto/Carnivore).
• For parties, double the recipe and keep them warm in a slow cooker on low.

Troubleshooting

Check the following troubleshooting table and find fixes for your problem.

Learn More: The Best Low-Carb Pasta Types and Brands for Ketogenic Diets

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat Low Carb Sausage Balls Safely?

The best thing to do is to consume low carb sausage balls hot and fresh, but if you make extra for meal prep or there are leftovers, you can use the following tips to safely store, freeze, and reheat them.

Learn More: 5 Best Keto Fat Bombs with Recipes: Why and When to Use Them

FAQs

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about low carb sausage balls below.

Learn More: High Protein Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese for Keto

How Many Carbs Are in Keto Sausage Balls?

It depends on the recipe. Almond-flour versions have 0.5-1.5 g net carbs per ball, pork-rind versions have 0-0.4 g net carbs per ball, and Carnivore versions are almost zero.

How Do I Get Sausage Balls to Stick Together?

Use sufficient cream cheese + shredded cheese + (egg or egg yolk). Chill the mixture if it is too loose.

Can I Bake from Frozen? How Long to Reheat?

Yes, reheat from frozen in an oven at 350°F (177°C) for about 12-18 minutes, and 8-10 minutes if reheating thawed. Air fryer reheat from frozen for 8-12 minutes at 350°F.

Are Sausage Balls Keto-Friendly If I Use Turkey Sausage?

Yes, turkey sausage lowers fat slightly, but it is still keto-friendly if your daily fats are adequate. Adjust macros accordingly.

Learn More: 10 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas: Low-Carb, Keto & Ketovore Diets

Can I Make Sausage Balls Dairy-Free?

Somehow, because cream cheese and shredded cheese provide binding and fat. You can use a soft dairy-free cream cheese alternative and egg binder, but the texture will be different.

Are Low Carb Sausage Balls Safe to Serve to Guests?

Yes, treat them like any ground pork recipe and cook to 160°F (70°C) internal temperature. If you use pork rinds as a binder, use low-carb options not flavored with sugar.

What Is the Best Way to Make Sausage Balls Crispy without Burning?

Bake at 375°F (190°C), then broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, or spray lightly with oil for better browning. Air frying at 350°F (175°C) gives a crispy exterior in less time.

Learn More: How to Make Smoked Ribeye Roast for Carnivore and Keto Diets

Are Sausage Balls Keto?

Yes, they have 0-1g net carbs per ball, depending on the recipe.

Why Are My Sausage Balls Crumbly?

They get crumbly because the binder is not enough. Add 1 egg or more pork rinds.

Can I Make Sausage Balls without Eggs?

Yes, almond flour or cream cheese alone will bind well.

Are Carnivore Sausage Balls Really Zero Carb?

Yes, if you use only sausage, eggs, and cheese (or no cheese).

Can I Use Pre-Cooked Sausage?

No, you need raw sausage so the mixture holds.

Learn More: 4 Healthy and Easy Keto Tuna Casserole Recipes