RITZ Sausage and Cheese BitesRITZ Sausage and Cheese Bites
RITZ Sausage and Cheese Bites
RITZ Sausage and Cheese Bites
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Recipe - The Fresh Grocer - Corporate
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RITZ Sausage and Cheese Bites
Prep Time30 Minutes
Servings16
Cook Time15 Minutes
Calories180
Ingredients
78 RITZ Crackers, divided
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2/3 cup marinara sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions

1.Heat oven to 350°F.

 

2. Cover rimmed baking sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray.

 

3. Crush 30 crackers. Reserve 1/4 cup crumbs for later use. Mix remaining cracker crumbs with sausage, peppers, mozzarella, egg and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese until blended.

 

4. Shape into 48 (1-inch) meatballs, using about 1 Tbsp. meat mixture for each meatball

 

5. Combine reserved cracker crumbs and remaining Parmesan cheese in shallow dish. Add meatballs, 1 at a time, to crumb mixture; turn to evenly coat all sides of each meatball with crumb mixture. Place on prepared baking sheet.

 

6. Bake 10 to 15 min. or until done (160°F.). About 5 min. before meatballs are done, heat marinara sauce.

 

7. Top crackers with meatballs; drizzle with marinara sauce. Sprinkle with basil.

 

Tips Make Ahead: For convenience, the meatballs can be baked ahead of time Cool, then place in single layer on baking sheet. Freeze 2 hours. Transfer meatballs to freezer-weight resealable plastic bag. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator. Reheat in microwave before using to prepare recipe as directed.

 

Variation Prepare using a yellow pepper and/or substituting chopped fresh parsley for the basil Prepare using RITZ Reduced Fat Crackers and/or Italian turkey sausage.

 

Food Facts You can instead prepare this recipe using Italian sausage links. Remove the sausage from the casings before using as directed.

 

Nutritional Information

  • 11 g Total Fat
  • 4 g Saturated Fat
  • 25 mg Cholesterol
  • 390 mg Sodium
  • 12 g Carbohydrate
  • 1 g Dietary Fiber
  • 2 g Total Sugars
  • 7 g Protein

30 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
16
Servings
180
Calories

Shop Ingredients

Makes 16 servings
78 RITZ Crackers, divided
Bowl & Basket Cheddar Cheese Crackers, 12.4 oz
Bowl & Basket Cheddar Cheese Crackers, 12.4 oz, 12.4 Ounce
$3.19$0.26/oz
1 lb. ground Italian sausage
Hatfield Recipe Essentials Sweet Italian Fresh Ground Sausage, 16 oz
Hatfield Recipe Essentials Sweet Italian Fresh Ground Sausage, 16 oz, 16 Ounce
$3.49$0.22/oz
1 red pepper, finely chopped
McCormick Crushed Red Pepper, 1.5 oz
McCormick Crushed Red Pepper, 1.5 oz, 1.5 Ounce
$3.99$2.66/oz
1 cup shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
Bowl & Basket Whole Milk, Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese
Bowl & Basket Whole Milk, Low Moisture Mozzarella Cheese, 1 Pound
$7.49/lb$7.49/lb
1 egg, beaten
Wholesome Pantry Organic Large Brown Eggs, 12 count, 24 oz
Wholesome Pantry Organic Large Brown Eggs, 12 count, 24 oz, 12 Each
$5.99$0.50 each
1/2 grated Parmesan cheese, divided
ShopRite Shaved Parmesan Cheese, 6 oz
ShopRite Shaved Parmesan Cheese, 6 oz, 6 Ounce
$4.79$0.80/oz
2/3 cup marinara sauce
Rao's Marinara Sauce, 24oz
Rao's Marinara Sauce, 24oz, 24 Ounce
$9.79$0.41/oz
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Goodness Gardens Farm Fresh Singles Basil, 0.25 oz
Goodness Gardens Farm Fresh Singles Basil, 0.25 oz, 0.25 Ounce
$1.39$5.56/oz

Nutritional Information

  • 11 g Total Fat
  • 4 g Saturated Fat
  • 25 mg Cholesterol
  • 390 mg Sodium
  • 12 g Carbohydrate
  • 1 g Dietary Fiber
  • 2 g Total Sugars
  • 7 g Protein

Directions

1.Heat oven to 350°F.

 

2. Cover rimmed baking sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray.

 

3. Crush 30 crackers. Reserve 1/4 cup crumbs for later use. Mix remaining cracker crumbs with sausage, peppers, mozzarella, egg and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese until blended.

 

4. Shape into 48 (1-inch) meatballs, using about 1 Tbsp. meat mixture for each meatball

 

5. Combine reserved cracker crumbs and remaining Parmesan cheese in shallow dish. Add meatballs, 1 at a time, to crumb mixture; turn to evenly coat all sides of each meatball with crumb mixture. Place on prepared baking sheet.

 

6. Bake 10 to 15 min. or until done (160°F.). About 5 min. before meatballs are done, heat marinara sauce.

 

7. Top crackers with meatballs; drizzle with marinara sauce. Sprinkle with basil.

 

Tips Make Ahead: For convenience, the meatballs can be baked ahead of time Cool, then place in single layer on baking sheet. Freeze 2 hours. Transfer meatballs to freezer-weight resealable plastic bag. Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator. Reheat in microwave before using to prepare recipe as directed.

 

Variation Prepare using a yellow pepper and/or substituting chopped fresh parsley for the basil Prepare using RITZ Reduced Fat Crackers and/or Italian turkey sausage.

 

Food Facts You can instead prepare this recipe using Italian sausage links. Remove the sausage from the casings before using as directed.