Description
These Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage Cranberry Bites are a delicious, easy-to-make appetizer perfect for gatherings and holiday parties. Featuring savory smoked sausage slices topped with creamy white cheddar cheese and tangy whole cranberries, all baked to perfection and garnished with fresh parsley, these bites deliver a delightful balance of flavors and textures in every piece.
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 and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Cut Cheese and Cranberries: Cut the white cheddar cheese into 30 evenly-sized cubes. Carefully separate 30 whole cranberries from the canned cranberry sauce and set aside for topping later.
- Slice Sausage: Cut the smoked sausage link into 1/2-inch thick slices and arrange them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they have some space between each slice for even cooking.
- Bake Sausage: Bake the sausage slices in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until they start to brown around the edges. Watch carefully as thinner slices will cook faster and can brown quickly.
- Assemble Bites: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Place one cheese cube on top of each sausage slice, then gently set a whole cranberry on each cheese cube. Secure each bite by placing a skewer through the cranberry, cheese, and sausage to hold everything together.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the assembled cranberry bites onto a serving platter. Sprinkle with the snipped fresh parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor. Serve immediately with the remaining cranberry sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Choose smoked sausage with a thickness that allows for uniform 1/2-inch slices for even cooking.
- If whole cranberries are unavailable, gently separate from sauce or substitute with fresh cranberries when in season.
- Use parchment paper to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sausage from sticking.
- Adjust baking time based on sausage slice thickness to avoid overcooking.
- Serve warm for best flavor and texture.
- Can be prepared ahead by slicing and assembling, then baking just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
