Description
These Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage Cranberry Bites combine savory smoked sausage with tangy whole berry cranberry sauce and creamy white cheddar cheese, all baked to perfection on a single sheet pan. Perfect as a flavorful appetizer or party snack, they offer a delightful blend of smoky, sweet, and cheesy flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12-14 oz smoked sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 6 oz white cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (optional)
- Skewers or toothpicks for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the sausage bites.
- Coat the sausage: In a mixing bowl, toss the sliced smoked sausage with olive oil until the slices are evenly coated. This adds flavor and helps crisp the sausage during baking.
- Arrange on sheet pan: Spread the oiled sausage slices evenly over a sheet pan in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
- Add cheese and cranberry sauce: Place a cube of white cheddar cheese on each sausage slice, then spoon a small amount of whole berry cranberry sauce on top of the cheese for sweetness and tang.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the sausage is heated through and the cheese has melted.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh thyme if using, and insert skewers or toothpicks into each bite for easy serving.
Notes
- Use whole berry cranberry sauce for texture and flavor contrast.
- Fresh thyme is optional but adds a lovely herbaceous note to the bites.
- Serve warm for the best taste and texture.
- These bites can easily be doubled or tripled for larger gatherings.
- For a spicier twist, try using smoked sausage with a bit of heat or add a dash of cayenne pepper before baking.
