Cajun food is intensely flavorful and satisfying! If you love it as much as we do, try some of our other recipes like tender, juicy cajun popcorn shrimp, creamy cajun chicken meatballs or amazing baked cajun fries!

What are Boudin Balls?

Boudin Balls (pronounced “boo-dan”) are fried Cajun appetizers made with pork sausage, rice and sautéed veggies. They are very popular in Louisiana, and are great as an appetizer for game day, parties or other gatherings. You can even enjoy them as a side dish to complete a traditional cajun meal! These are the perfect delicious and unique appetizer that will really impress your guests! These warm and savory bites are packed with wonderful flavor that will transport you to the heart of Louisiana. We are big fans of cajun food, and if you’re looking for more recipes to complete your menu, we have plenty of tasty options! Try out New Orleans gumbo, slow cooker jambalaya and southern hush puppies. Don’t forget the beignets to finish the meal with something sweet!

What’s in Boudin Balls?

If you don’t live close to Louisiana, it’s unlikely that you will find boudin sausage in your neck of the woods. Luckily, the authentic mix of pork, rice and veggies is easy to make at home. Here is a note on all of the ingredients you’ll need. You can find exact measurements in the recipe card below.

Pork Sausage: If you’re using sausage in a casing, be sure to remove this before cooking. Green Bell Pepper: Diced and sautéed with the other veggies, green bell pepper adds color, flavor and texture. Yellow Onion: Adds a savory depth of flavor to each bite. Celery: Balances the other savory veggies with a slight sweetness. Rice: Traditional boudin sausage includes rice. However, if you choose to use pork sausage, you’ll need to add 1 cup cooked rice. Cajun Seasoning: For that authentic cajun flavor, you can add store-bought cajun seasoning or homemade cajun seasoning. Flour: Use all-purpose flour for a nice crispy breading. Paprika: Along with salt & pepper, paprika adds flavor to the breading. Eggs: Helps the breading mixture stick to the sausage balls and will result in a golden crust. Breadcrumbs: We recommend panko bread crumbs for maximum crispiness. Oil: Use any neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil for frying.

How to Make This Recipe

Kind of like a fried meatball, get ready to be obsessed with everything about this delicious southern snack! These are best served hot and crispy with a side sauce for dipping. Here’s how they come together:

Boudin Sausage: Traditional boudin balls are made with boudin sausage, which is not easily available in all regions. If you have boudin sausage where you live, I suggest using that instead of making my easy version of it. Frying: I like to use a fry daddy for recipes like this, but you can use a deep pan on the stove, if the balls cannot be fully submerged, just cook them on each side for about 3-5 minutes. They should still be an even golden brown.  Serving Sauces: A few of my favorite dipping sauces to serve with these are Comeback Sauce, Remoulade Sauce, or Garlic Aioli.  Recipe: My balls were about 1 ½ inches and I was able to get 22 balls from this recipe, depending on the size of your balls you may get more or less.

Yes! You can make the sausage, rice, vegetable mixture up to 24 hours ahead of making and frying the balls. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and the flavor will get even tastier over time!

In the Refrigerator: Once completely cool, store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheating: You can reheat balls in the oven at 350ºF for about 10 to 15 minutes, and until they’re warmed through. You could also reheat them in an air fryer at 350ºF for 5 to 8 minutes. While not the best for maintaining crispiness, you can rewarm them in the microwave in 20 to 30 second intervals until warmed through. Freezing: Place them on a baking sheet in a single layer in the freezer until they’re firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, you can fry them directly from frozen.

Jalapeño Popper Pigs in a Blanket

35 mins

Pretzel Bites

57 mins

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

25 mins

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

21 mins

Boudin Balls - 19Boudin Balls - 83Boudin Balls - 94Boudin Balls - 84Boudin Balls - 27Boudin Balls - 61Boudin Balls - 47Boudin Balls - 82Boudin Balls - 85Boudin Balls - 14