Making Perfect Sausage Balls: Exploring the Best KitchenAid Attachments

Sausage balls are a beloved appetizer for any occasion. These savory, bite-sized treats are a cinch to make But shaping and forming evenly-sized sausage balls by hand can be tedious This is where KitchenAid stand mixer attachments can help streamline the process.

With the right accessory, you can quickly mix, shape, and prep sausage balls with your KitchenAid. But with so many attachments available, which ones work best? Let’s explore the top options for effortless homemade sausage balls.

The Dough Hook: Kneading to Perfection

The number one KitchenAid attachment for mixing and forming sausage balls is the dough hook. This spiral-shaped accessory is designed specifically for dense sturdy mixtures like biscuit dough.

The dough hook efficiently kneads the sausage ball ingredients together while minimizing sticking. Simply add your biscuit baking mix, sausage, cheese, and any herbs or seasonings to the mixing bowl. Attach the dough hook and mix on low speed until a stiff dough forms.

The dough hook thoroughly incorporates the fatty sausage into the dry ingredients without overworking the dough. This prevents your sausage balls from becoming tough. The result is tender sausage balls with the perfect biscuit texture.

The Pasta Press: Stamping Out Sausage Balls

While the dough hook mixes sausage ball dough, the pasta press attachment can shape it into uniform balls. KitchenAid’s pasta press set includes a sausage disk that forms the dough into small, round balls.

To use it, portion the mixed sausage dough into lime-sized pieces. Feed each piece into the top of the pasta press. Crank the handle as the dough passes through the sausage disk and out into even, round balls.

With the pasta press, you can skip hand shaping while still achieving perfect spheres of sausage goodness.

The Food Grinder: Fresh Sausage From Scratch

For ultimate flavor and control, you can grind your own sausage meat using KitchenAid’s food grinder attachment. This accessory fits onto the power hub of the stand mixer.

Place chunks of pork shoulder or other sausage meat into the grinder’s feeding tube. The machine grinds it into fresh, ready-to-mix sausage. Customize the blend by adding herbs, spices, and seasonings.

Grinding your own meat allows you to create unique sausage flavors. You can control the fat ratio for hearty or delicate sausage balls. Freshly ground sausage makes for the most flavorful filling.

The Scoop and Sweep: Portioning With Ease

Skip hand rolling entirely by using a cookie scoop and sweep attachment. This duo makes shaping sausage balls a breeze.

Simply scoop the prepared sausage mixture with the spring-handled scoop. Squeeze to release dough balls onto a baking sheet. Use the sweep attachment to scrape off any excess dough.

The result? Perfectly portioned sausage balls ready for the oven in seconds. No mess, no fuss!

Cleanup and Storage Tips

Be sure to fully disassemble attachments and wash thoroughly after making sausage balls. Remove all dough from the dough hook and pasta press. Soak in warm, soapy water if needed to loosen residue.

Before storing, allow attachments to dry fully to prevent mold growth. Place loose parts like disks and hooks in sealed plastic bags. Store attachments upright in a safe area away from heat and moisture.

With the right attachments, your KitchenAid mixer can take sausage balls from tedious to easy. Explore all the options to find your perfect sausage ball-making sidekick!