Boudin Balls are a southern thing and make a great appetizer. In fact, I had never even heard of them until just recently... but I'm told people here in Louisiana have been doing this for years!
I had to give it a try, so using our family's favorite Boudin Sausage I got to work creating a really good Boudin Balls Recipe, in time for Game Day!
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What Is Boudin?
The first time I tried to say Boudin Sausage I totally messed it up. It is properly pronounced "Boo-dan" and is a sausage native to Louisiana that is made up of cooked ground pork, rice and seasonings.
That is the original ingredients, but that can be mixed up too... I even saw Crawfish Boudin the other day. I believe you could probably use any type of meat or seafood for this type of sausage.
Boudin balls are often seen at tailgating events in Louisiana, or Jazz Fest. It's true Creole cuisine.
That boudin mixture of meat, rice and seasonings are then stuffed inside a sausage casing and ready to cook.
🧅 Ingredients in Boudin Balls
- Boudin Link Sausage (try my homemade boudin sausage here)
- Large Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Breadcrumbs, plain
- Creole Seasoning (or Cajun Seasoning)
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- All Purpose Flour
- Vegetable Oil, for frying
🔄 Substitutions and Additions
- The boudin sausage is a variable that can be changed up depending on your preference. There are hotter/milder versions as well as differing meats used. You could even add some chicken livers for even more depth of flavor.
- Take my boudin sausage recipe and just use the meat mixture without stuffing into a casing.
- Add some green onions or green peppers (bell pepper) for even more flavor.
- Chicken liver or pork liver is often used.
- Try a chicken boudin.
- You can even make your own boudin sausage meat too (instead of store bought).
- Add a little black pepper if you like or for some heat, add some hot sauce.
🥣 How to cook Boudin Balls
- Step 1: Remove Boudin Sausage meat from the casing, using kitchen shears, into a large bowl.
- Step 2: Roll your meat into roughly 1-½" sized balls. If you find your boudin sausage meat is a little on the dry side feel free to sprinkle a little water (enough to make the meat/rice mixture moldable) and place on a prepared baking sheet. Place the boudin balls into your refrigerator for an hour or more.
- Step 3: In a medium mixing bowl beat the eggs.
- Step 4: Mix the buttermilk into the eggs.
- Step 5: In a medium mixing bowl mix the bread crumbs with the garlic powder, onion powder and Creole seasoning.
- Step 6: Line up the dredging bowls. First goes flour, then the egg wash and finally the breadcrumb/seasoning mix.
- Step 7: Pass each Boudin Ball through the dredging station, first through the flour, then the egg mixture, then the breadcrumb mix.
- Step 8: Fry balls in hot oil (at least 2" Deep) at 350°F for 3-4 Minutes until golden brown and an internal temperature of 160°F has been reached, remove with a slotted spoon, catch the excess drip on paper towels and serve right away with a dipping sauce.
Next time try my Natchitoches Meat Pies, another delicious South Louisiana snack.
🍽 What To Serve With Boudin Balls
One of Louisiana's great appetizers. Boudin balls should be served hot with a Mustard Cream Sauce, or Remoulade Sauce. I prefer a small bowl of Mustard Cream Sauce, it's really easy, see below ingredients:
- 1 Cup Mayo
- 5 tablespoon Spicy Brown Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne (red pepper)
- ½ teaspoon Creole Seasoning
🧊Storage
After the Boudin Balls have been cooked and eaten... any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container (with a sheet of paper towel), in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For best results warm up in the air fryer or oven to keep a crispy texture.
📘 More Cajun recipes:
- Homemade Boudin Recipe
- Crawfish Bread
- Seafood Gumbo
- Crawfish Etouffee
- Boudin Dip
- Boudin King Cake
- Cajun Muffuletta Sandwich
- Homemade Corn Nuggets Recipe
💡 Tips and Tricks
- Allow to harden in the refrigerator covered in plastic wrap for at least an hour before frying, this will help the Boudin Balls retain their shape better in the frying process.
- It's important you use a good quality boudin sausage. The more you like the flavor, the better your boudin balls will taste to you.
- If you are trying to eat healthier and would prefer to bake them, this is possible. I would recommend air fryer (spray them with a light coat of oil first), cook on 425°F for 8-10 minutes. Otherwise, to bake them, place on an oven sheet and bake at 425°F for 10 minutes.
- You could use a deep fryer (or electric fryer) if you prefer, to hold the temperature better.
👩🍳 FAQ
Boudin bites (or balls, they are the same) are made from boudin sausage that has been removed from it's casing and mixed together with some seasonings, dipped in bread crumbs and fried. Super simple. No fuss needed.
Boudin is actually made from cooked pork instead of raw. It's mixed with rice and seasonings and stuffed into a casing.
If you are cooking a straight up boudin sausage link, for best results cook on the barbecue pit (that's my favorite way). As the rice/meat has already been cooked it doesn't take long to cook. Just until it's brown enough on the outside.
Boudin Balls take that boudin sausage meat and bread it then fry it for a few minutes.
Yes, they freeze well. Make sure they're in an airtight freezer safe container. They freeze well for 3 months. When defrosting allow to slowly defrost in the refrigerator.
If you have ever heard this, you have been to Lousiana! There are a lot of small shops that sell boudin and cracklins. Usually this is their specialty. They'll process a pig/hog and make their own boudin sausage and pig skins (cracklin).
Boudin can be quite dry at times, if it is then you'll need a way to help bind it together. I've heard some people sprinkle flour in, a little at a time along with a little water to try to help bind it. I personally prefer just the water as it will bind fine with the starch of the rice.
Boudin blanc is a type of white sausage that is made out of pork and rice with added cream/milk and other herbs. It's famous in Louisiana and France.
If you are in Louisiana then yes, I'm sure there probably is. Just type that question into your smart phone search area and it will throw out some places. If you don't live in Louisiana you may need to special order it to be shipped to you.
Cooked ground pork is usually used, which can be a mixture of the different meats from the pig. The small intestine is traditionally used as the casing for boudin.
This can vary greatly, but most of the time it's pork shoulder, liver, white rice and seasonings.
The word boudin actually comes from an Anglo Saxon word meaning "Sausage" and dates back to ancient Greece.
It often has liver, yes. It doesn't necessarily have to though, if you prefer it without.
You'll need some sort of dip, like remoulade or a spicy mayo. Then some other finger foods work well. It's a great party food.
If you’ve tried this Boudin Balls recipe or any other great recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section below, how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers!
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Boudin Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb Boudin Sausage Links
- 2 Large Eggs
- ½ Cup Buttermilk
- 1 Tablespoon Creole Seasoning
- 2 Cups Breadcrumbs plain
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Remove casing from Boudin Sausage links with kitchen shears.
- Roll Boudin Sausage meat into 1-½" Balls, then refrigerate for 1 hour or more.
- Beat eggs in a medium sized bowl.
- Add the buttermilk to the eggs and mix together.
- In another medium sized bowl mix the seasonings with the breadcrumbs.
- Set up your dredging stations, with the flour in a bowl first, then the egg/buttermilk mix and last the breadcrumb mix.
- Remove the boudin balls from the refrigerator and coat each one in the flour first, then into the egg/buttermilk mix and last the breadcrumbs.
- Heat frying oil to 350°F (at least 2" deep) and fry until golden (about 3-4 minutes). Serve right away with a dip.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Original Publish Date: April 24, 2021.
Gloria says
I have never heard of these before. They do sound delicious. Containing sausage meat, and a crispy coating, my family would devour them for sure.
Chef Dennis says
Yum! I have never tried this before but these Boudin Balls looks absolutely mouthwatering!
Eva says
Uhh I had never heard of those before but I like the sound of this recipe. A sausage with rice in it, breaded and fried. Like a lovechild between meatballs and arancini!
Marta says
Being affiliated to the military for as long as we were, exposed us to a wide variety of food culture. Boudin balls is one of those recipes. Our local grocer carries a great tasting boudin, so when I saw your recipe, I jumped at the chance to make them. Thank you!
Gina Hoskins says
Wow this is different I never heard of this before. I always love when I come across different Southern recipes. I love remoulade sauce so now I will have a recipe to eat with that besides a po boy!
Melanie Cagle says
Thanks Gina, glad you like it!
Cooking with Carbs says
I've never heard of these before, but these sound like they would make an amazing appetizer. I'm going to save this to make at our next party (whenever this pandemic ends...) Thank you!
Melanie Cagle says
Great idea!! Hope you enjoy!
Linda says
Loving these boudin balls! And all the seasonings sound so delicious
Amy Liu Dong says
I have never heard of this recipe before. It sounds like a delicious dish to make for my family. I will def save this, thank you!
Veronika Sykorova says
I've never heard of Boudin balls either until now! They look super simple to make, I need to give these a try during the week next week. They look like the perfect appetizer.
Georgie says
how good do these look! great recipe and I appreciate all your tips and tricks to make them.
Melanie Cagle says
Thanks Georgie! Appreciate it.
Jamie says
Wow these look delicious! I've never heard of these but the ingredients list sounds so flavorful. So excited to make these.
Moop Brown says
This recipe has my mouth watering and reminds me of my last trip to Lousiana. Definitely want to try making these!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I had never heard of these before but they sound absolutely incredible - I am definitely going to be making a batch of my own!
veenaazmanov says
Sounds like a unique and delicious recipe. Perfect starter and perfect side dish too.
Dannii says
I have never heard of this, but the flavours in it sound amazing. I can't wait to try.
Beth says
I’ve never heard of this recipe before, so after I saw this recipe, my daughter and I went out and bought the ingredients. These turned out amazing and so delicious! We loved these and I can’t wait to make these again!
Redma says
OMG!!!! I never heard of them until I moved to tx.. I tried the sausage and they are amazing.. but the pepper jack boudin balls I fell in love with.. Billy Boudins is my favorite spot in Louisiana.. we always get a load of them.
Melanie Cagle says
I've heard about the ones with Pepper Jack in them. I must try that next time!! Glad you like them.
Rhetta says
Your recipes look amazing! Love your blog too :).
Melanie Cagle says
Thank you so much!
Brandi says
I had never heard of boudin balls until I was in Louisianna a few years ago, but they were so yummy! I've been looking for a good, easy recipe for them ever since and this one is perfect!
MARYE AUDET says
A big platter of boudin balls, some spicy remoulade... and I'm good to go for most anything! YUM!
One Crazy House says
I haven't heard of boudin balls before--can they be made gluten free? I bet I could try making them with gluten free breadcrumbs and gluten free flour!
Holly says
Boudin balls is the perfect Game Day go-to! I especially love that you can make them ahead of time and freeze them so that you are set for at least part of the season! 😉
Sharon says
While I'm excited to make these boudin balls, I'm REALLY excited to have them with the Mustard Cream Sauce or Remoulade Sauce... Yum!
Cynthia says
I have lived in the south my whole life but never had boudin balls until I visited New Orleans. They are soooooo good.
Rita Joy says
I had never heard of boudin balls either? But, now that you've explained so well what boudin balls are, I think it would be such a great idea for an appetizer for parties (and I never know what to take when I'm asked to bring one!).
Cindy says
I love boudin balls but have never tried to make them myself. This actually looks doable. I love cajun food so I'll try this next time cook it!
Becky Mansfield says
I had never made boudin balls before, but I had them at my sister-in-law's house & knew that I had to find the recipe to make them myself.
Thanks.
Cindy says
I made these Boudin Balls for a party last weekend, and they were a total hit! Thanks for sharing the recipe; it's going straight into my "party favorites" folder. 🎉🍽️😋