Description
These Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage Cranberry Bites are a delicious and easy appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings or any party. Featuring smoky sausage slices topped with rich white cheddar cheese and tart whole cranberries, all baked to perfection on a sheet pan. Finished with fresh parsley and served alongside tangy whole cranberry sauce, these bites offer a delightful balance of savory and sweet flavors in every mouthful.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked sausage
- 8 ounces white cheddar cheese
- 15 ounces whole cranberry sauce (1 can)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, snipped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Cheese and Cranberries: Cut the white cheddar cheese into 30 uniform cubes for even topping. Using a spoon, separate 30 whole cranberries from the canned cranberry sauce and set them aside for topping.
- Slice Sausage: Cut the smoked sausage link into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet to ensure even cooking.
- Bake Sausage: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the sausage slices for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they start to brown around the edges. Watch closely as thinner slices brown faster to avoid burning.
- Assemble Bites: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately top each sausage slice with a cube of white cheddar cheese. Then, place one whole cranberry on top of each cheese cube.
- Skewer and Garnish: Insert a skewer or toothpick through the cranberry and cheese into the sausage slice to hold each bite together. Arrange the assembled bites on a serving platter and sprinkle with the snipped fresh parsley.
- Serve: Serve the cranberry bites warm or at room temperature with the remaining whole cranberry sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can lightly brush the sausage slices with a little olive oil before baking.
- If fresh whole cranberries are available, they can be used instead of canned for a fresher taste and texture.
- Make sure the cheese cubes are all similar in size to ensure even melting onto the sausage.
- These bites can be made ahead and reheated briefly in the oven before serving.
- Substitute smoked sausage with kielbasa or andouille sausage for a different flavor profile.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
