Sausage & Sweet Potato Puffs

These sausage and sweet potato puffs are the perfect blend of savory and sweet, wrapped in a flaky, golden pastry. An ideal party appetizer or cozy snack, they’re packed with bold flavors and an irresistible crunch in every bite!

Why I Love This Sausage & Sweet Potato Puff Recipe

I love any party that involves gougéres, also known as cheese puffs! I bet you know what I mean: those airy puffs of dough packed with an intense cheese flavor. They’re effortless to make. The base contains flour, baking powder, and some seasonings. Then, you cap things off with sweet potato, chorizo, and cheese. Once formed and baked, they puff up beautifully in the oven, creating a bite-sized treat that’s equal parts airy and flavorful.

While I love making traditional gougéres, there are a few tricks to getting the dough right, and sometimes I don’t have the time. This is a holiday spin on the concept, perfect for Thanksgiving and beyond. Enter the sausage and sweet potato components of this puff recipe — a twist that combines the comforting flavors of the season with the ease of a classic party favorite. These bites are as satisfying as their cheesy counterparts, with a unique savory-sweet flavor that makes them perfect appetizers or side dishes for the holidays!

Sausage & Sweet Potato Puffs Ingredients

Aside from finding a good quality sausage, ingredients for this dish can be easy to obtain and flexible in form.

• Chorizo sausage comes in bulk form, ready to be browned and added to each bite, giving each puff a flavorful blend of spices.
• All-purpose flour creates the texture for each bite, allowing it to form
• Baking powder provides lift to the dish, giving it the light texture needed for each puff.
• Baking soda works with the baking powder to raise the dish, providing a light texture.
• Kosher salt provides seasoning to the dish.
• Black pepper partners with the kosher salt to season the dish, bringing a hint of sharpness to the bites.
• Garlic powder adds a subtle garlic flavor, bringing complexity to the bites.
• Sweet potato contributes an earthy sweetness that complements the chorizo sausage, striking a flavorful balance.
• Cheddar cheese has a mild flavor while creating creaminess in each bite.
• Fresh thyme brings a bright, earthy herb flavor that boosts the flavor and balances out the other tastes.
• Honey assists in creating a balance in the dish, giving a sweetness to offset the intense flavors of the chorizo.

How to Make Sausage & Sweet Potato Puffs

There are four steps to creating sausage and sweet potato puffs:

1. Brown the sausage
2. Mix the ingredients
3. Cook the puffs
4. Create the dressing

Step 1: Brown the sausage. Place the sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the sausage into small pieces. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until the sausage browns.

Step 2: Mix the ingredients. Combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Add the cooked, mashed sweet potato and the cheddar cheese, thyme, and honey. Add in the sausage with any residual oil. Mix until evenly combined and dough-like, using your hands if necessary.

Step 3: Bake the bites. Using a #40 cookie scoop, form the bites into 1 ½ tbsp-sized balls. Place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, until the puffs are tender, have just set, and the cheese has melted.

Step 4: Create the sauce. While the puffs bake, mix the Dijon mustard and honey until evenly combined in a small bowl. Once the bites are removed from the oven, serve immediately with the dressing on the side.

The full amount of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.

Pro Tips for Success

• Don’t drain the sausage when cooking. The oil from the sausage helps bind the bites together when mixing the ingredients. It also assists in maintaining intense flavors.
• If you’re in a hurry, cook the sweet potato in the microwave. Perforate the surface of the potato with a fork, then cook on high for about 10 minutes. Let it cook, then peel off the skin and measure the amount needed.
• Use your hands to mix the dough. It will be slightly dry and thick, and hands work well for this type of mixing. Once it holds shape, it is ready to be portioned out and baked.
• Press the dough hard into the cookie scoop when measuring. It will help them form into a solid ball shape.

Variations and Substitutions

There are a few ways this recipe can be adapted:

• Swap the sausage for ground turkey or chicken to create a leaner version. Sausage is essential for flavor in this recipe, so make sure whatever protein alternative you use is seasoned well.
• Use shredded gouda, feta, or Parmesan cheese in place (or addition!) to the cheddar cheese to bring a unique flavor twist to the filling.
• Add a hint of brown sugar or vanilla extract to sweeten the dish and bring out the flavor of the sweet potato.
• Add final garnishes to meet taste preferences. Sprinkle some additional thyme or kosher salt over the top of each puff.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Appetizer Recipes

• Cranberry chicken meatball sliders
• Sweet potato chili nachos
• Ham and onion jam sliders
• Puff pastry sausage bites
• Cheese-stuffed pizza buns
• Sweet corn guacamole

Watch How to Make These Sausage & Sweet Potato Puffs