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Home » Recipes » Boudin Balls

Boudin Balls

by Mike Hultquist · Feb 12, 2020 · 39 Comments

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Boudin Balls Recipe

This easy boudin balls recipe is the perfect appetizer, with Cajun boudin sausage hand formed, breaded and fried until golden. Make a batch tonight! Great for parties, game day, or snacking.

Boudin Balls Recipe

Boudin Balls Recipe

We're cooking up a delicious batch of Boudin Balls in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen, my friends. Care for some?

Boudin balls are basically savory fried appetizer balls filled with meat and rice, and I love them.

If you've never tried one, get ready to fall in love with them.

What are Boudin Balls?

Boudin balls are made from Cajun boudin sausage, which is a mixture of ground pork and rice, along with seasonings. The sausage is removed from its casing, formed into balls, then coated and fried until golden brown.

Boudin sausage is a staple in Louisiana cooking.

Boudin Links

Cooks enjoy it grilled, sliced and served on crackers, and mixed in with anything from gumbos and etouffees to po' boys and classics like jambalaya.

Boudin balls are one of the most popular ways of serving them up, and they make for a big hit in party situations.

Serve them up with a classic remoulade sauce, or a very simple Creole-style mustard cream sauce for dipping, which I will show you how to make. It is so easy.

Let's get cooking!

Let's talk about how to make boudin balls, shall we?

Boudin balls on a plate

Boudin Balls Ingredients

  • FOR THE CREOLE MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE
  • Sour Cream. Or crema.
  • Spicy Mustard
  • Lemon Juice
  • Creole Seasoning. Or use Cajun seasoning.
  • Garlic Powder.
  • Salt and Black Pepper.
  • FOR THE BOUDIN BALLS
  • Cajun-Style Boudin Sausage.
  • Cajun Seasonings.
  • Flour.
  • Eggs.
  • Buttermilk.
  • Hot Sauce.
  • Bread Crumbs.
  • Vegetable Oil. For frying.

How to Make Boudin Balls - the Recipe Method

First, heat the oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F/176 C. If you are unable to measure the temperature, add a droplet of batter or flour to the oil. It is ready when the batter sizzles.

Do NOT bring the oil to a boil.

Remove the boudin sausage links from casings and crumble. Mix the meat with extra Cajun seasonings, if desired. This is what is looks like crumbled up.

These particular boudin sausages had a lot of rice, as you can see.

Crumbled boudin in a bowl

Shape the boudin into 1 1/2-inch balls. Depending on the brand of boudin you are using, you may need to squeeze out excess moisture, or sprinkle in some water if it is too dry.

TIP: Refrigerate the boudin balls for 30 minutes to harden them up a bit, which makes them easier to handle and fry.

Fill a shallow bowl with flour, a second bowl with beaten eggs, milk, hot sauce and salt, and a third bowl with breadcrumbs.

Coat each boudin ball with flour.

Coat each boudin ball with the beaten egg was mixture.

Forming then coating the boudin balls with the egg wash mixture

Coat each boudin ball with the bread crumbs. Roll them around to get all sides.

Fry the boudin balls in the hot oil until golden brown, working in batches. Flip them once half way through if the oil doesn’t cover them entirely. You can also use a deep fryer.

You can see that the oil does not entirely cover them in my pan. I just roll them after a couple minutes to get all sides.

Coating then frying Boudin balls in a pan

Set onto a plate lined with paper towels to drain some of the oil.

Serve with the with Creole-style mustard dipping sauce or a good remoulade sauce, or creole tartar sauce. Garnish with fresh chopped herbs or green onion. And chili flakes!

Makes about 16 boudin balls. Sometimes I make them a little bit larger and get about 12 boudin balls.

FOR THE CREOLE MUSTARD CREAM SAUCE

Whisk together the sour cream or crema, mustard, lemon juice, Creole seasoning, garlic powder and salt in a small bowl.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

Creole Mustard Cream Sauce

Boom! Easy enough, isn't it? Presenting - fried boudin balls! Your friends will be amazed, your guests ravenous!

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • Forming the Boudin Balls. I didn't use any binders in making these. I normally use egg and/or breadcrumbs to help bind my meatballs together. You certainly CAN use them if you have trouble forming the boudin balls and they fall apart. The rice content worked great in this case, so I didn't need extra binders. Skipping binders will result in more airy boudin balls.
  • Squeeze Out the Moisture. There was a lot of liquid content in my particular boudin product. I had to squeeze out excess moisture to properly form the balls. Keep this in mind.
  • Refrigerate or Freeze the Balls. Refrigerating your boudin balls for 30 minutes or freezing them for 10 minutes before coating and frying them will help to keep loose boudin balls from falling apart.
  • Baked Boudin Balls. To bake instead of frying, set the breaded boudin balls onto a lined baking sheet and bake them for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F (204 C), until they are golden brown.

Storage and Reheating Leftovers

Store any leftover boudin balls in the refrigerator in a sealed container. They will last up to 5 days. To enjoy them again, gently warm them in the oven at 300 degrees F. for 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy the boudin balls. They're such a great appetizer, perfect for snacking. Or hey, make a meal out of them! Enjoy.

If you're curious, read about my foodie trip to New Orleans here!

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

If you love Cajun and Creole cuisine, you'll love my Chicken and Sausage Gumbo or my Seafood Gumbo recipes. They're New Orleans in a pot!

Cajun Red Beans and Rice is always a popular dish, as is Hoppin' John, particularly around the New Year. Or fried green tomatoes!

This Dirty Rice Recipe will definitely satisfy if you enjoy the combination pork and rice. Cajun Corn Maque Choux is also a super popular side dish.

Also, don't forget this classic Muffaletta Sandwich! This is the ultimate sandwich from New Orleans, and you have to make it for yourself. So good!

See all of my Cajun Recipes.

Half of a boudin ball on a fork, exposing the rice filled interior

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Boudin Balls Recipe – How to Make Boudin Balls
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Boudin Balls Recipe – How to Make Boudin Balls

This easy boudin balls recipe is the perfect appetizer, with Cajun boudin sausage hand formed, breaded and fried until golden. Make a batch tonight! Great for parties, game day, or snacking.
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: boudin, cajun, creole, ground pork, meatballs, sausage
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Calories: 155kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 16 boudin balls
Tap or hover to scale
4.80 from 10 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

FOR THE CREOLE MUSTARD CREAM SAUCE

  • 1 cup sour cream or crema
  • 2 tablespoons spicy mustard
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning or use Cajun seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch of salt

FOR THE BOUDIN BALLS

  • 1 pound Cajun-style boudin sausage 3 links, usually
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning blend optional, for spicier boudin balls
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs well-beaten
  • ¼ cup buttermilk or use milk
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • Pinch of salt or to taste
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • Oil for deep-frying

Instructions

FOR THE BOUDIN BALLS

  • Heat the oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F/176 C. If you are unable to measure the temperature, add a droplet of batter or flour to the oil. It is ready when the batter sizzles. Do NOT bring the oil to a boil.
  • Remove the boudin sausage from casings and crumble. Mix the meat with extra Cajun seasonings, if desired
  • Shape the boudin into 1 1/2-inch balls. Depending on the brand of boudin you are using, you may need to squeeze out excess moisture, or sprinkle in some water if it is too dry. TIP: Refrigerate the boudin balls for 30 minutes to harden them up a bit, which makes them easier to handle and fry.
  • Fill a small bowl with flour, a second bow with beaten eggs, milk, hot sauce and salt, and a third bowl with breadcrumbs.
  • Coat each boudin ball with flour.
  • Coat each boudin ball with the beaten egg mixture.
  • Coat each boudin ball with the bread crumbs. Roll them around to get all sides.
  • Fry the boudin balls in the hot oil until golden brown. Flip them once half way through if the oil doesn’t cover them entirely. You may need to fry them in batches.
  • Serve with the with Creole-style mustard cream sauce or a good Cajun remoulade sauce.

FOR THE CREOLE MUSTARD CREAM SAUCE

  • Whisk together the sour cream or crema, mustard, lemon juice, Creole seasoning, garlic powder and salt in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

Makes about 16 boudin balls.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 155kcal   Carbohydrates: 7g   Protein: 6g   Fat: 11g   Saturated Fat: 4g   Cholesterol: 49mg   Sodium: 250mg   Potassium: 131mg   Fiber: 1g   Sugar: 1g   Vitamin A: 414IU   Vitamin C: 1mg   Calcium: 34mg   Iron: 1mg
Boudin Balls Recipe – How to Make Boudin Balls
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Wendy Duckworth says

    December 21, 2022 at 11:29 pm

    We're having a Cajun Christmas dinner. it's a 3 hr drive to our dinner destination. Can I make these the day before, and what is the best way to reheat to serve?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 22, 2022 at 8:36 am

      Wendy, because they are fried, I'm not sure if they will retain their crispiness. I believe you can make them ahead and rewarm them in the oven, though. I think they will still be good. Let me know how it goes if you do it.

      Reply
      • Hudson says

        January 23, 2025 at 11:30 am

        5 stars
        I’ve refrigerated for next day and just drop them in the deep fryer for a couple minutes or so and they are even better than the day they were made.
        I’ve also made boudin egg rolls and frozen and fried 6 min in 350 oil and there perfect

        Reply
        • Mike Hultquist says

          January 23, 2025 at 11:32 am

          Perfection! Thanks for sharing!

          Reply
  2. Clara I Echevarria says

    December 13, 2022 at 6:25 pm

    Hi Michael; how much rice should I add to the recipe

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 14, 2022 at 6:29 am

      Hi, Clara. You don't need to add rice, as boudin already has the rice in it.

      Reply
  3. Ronnie says

    July 03, 2022 at 8:38 am

    Sauce was great, balls cooked really fast, I was going like a banshee.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      July 11, 2022 at 8:46 am

      Awesome! Thanks, Ronnie!

      Reply
  4. Rudy Villarreal says

    December 02, 2021 at 5:37 pm

    5 stars
    Can the boudin balls be frozen after they are fried?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      December 03, 2021 at 7:12 am

      Rudy, I've never done this, but I'm sure you can. They won't be as crisp, though. I would enjoy them right away for best flavor.

      Reply
  5. Debrah Hunter says

    October 02, 2021 at 8:54 am

    Hello can you use chicken for boudin balls?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      October 02, 2021 at 2:00 pm

      Yes, you can Debrah. The flavor will be different, but it will work just fine. Enjoy!

      Reply
  6. margaret simmons says

    July 20, 2021 at 2:20 pm

    Boudin sausage is available by mail from Cajun Grocer (cajungrocer.com). Makes great Boudin Balls!

    Reply
  7. Ruthy says

    March 31, 2021 at 7:09 am

    Hi Michael,
    Would love to make these but the sausage is nearly non existent in California! Do you have the sausage recipe?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      March 31, 2021 at 7:22 am

      Ruthy, I would use half blood sausage and half rice for this. You can also try crumbled ground pork or chopped andouille. Let me know how it turns out for you.

      Reply
  8. Robert Grant says

    February 14, 2021 at 2:19 pm

    5 stars
    Great now on top of making Andoullie, I need to make Boudin. I cannot find any decent cajun sausages this far north. This recipe looks great, this will happen this weekend coming... after the sausage is made. Thanks again Mike.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      February 14, 2021 at 2:22 pm

      Sure thing, Robert! I hope you enjoy it!!

      Reply
    • margaret simmons says

      July 16, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      4 stars
      Robert Grant: you can order all of that from Cajun Grocer (cajungrocer.com) plus lots of other cajun food (including crawfish tails)

      Reply
      • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

        July 17, 2021 at 1:29 pm

        Yes, Cajun Grocer is a good resource.

        Reply
  9. Diane says

    September 24, 2020 at 7:25 pm

    Ok missed that boudin sausage has rice in it I will be using Italian hot spiced sausage how much rice do you think I should put In it?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      September 25, 2020 at 6:05 am

      Diane, boudin is mostly rice, so you can try to use at least as much rice as the sausage for this recipe.

      Reply
  10. Jeremie says

    June 29, 2020 at 1:23 pm

    5 stars
    Impossible to find Cajun-style boudin sausage, in France, so I had to make them myself... cause it's been several weeks that your recipe teased me.
    Yum Yum! Beautiful and tasty: isn't that the recipe of happiness?

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      June 29, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      I love it! Yes, boudin is a wonderful ingredient.

      Reply
  11. Debbie Lea says

    April 12, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    5 stars
    Another great recipe! Thank you! I made this a while back and they were delicious. I must say they were better than any we’ve purchased too! I was intrigued with the review stating he used Zaps jalapeño chips instead of breadcrumbs. So I tried it and holy moly it took it up a notch. Gave it a great taste and texture with a bit more heat.

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      April 13, 2020 at 7:39 am

      Excellent, Debbie! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, great idea to use the jalapeno chips to bread them!

      Reply
  12. David says

    February 12, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe. My family is from Louisiana so these are a staple around our house. We mix them up sometimes by using zaps jalapeño or crawtater chips instead of breadcrumbs as well as jalapeño cheetos. Nice recipe, Well Done!

    Reply
    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      February 12, 2020 at 3:01 pm

      I love it, David. Great additions. I appreciate it!!

      Reply
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