You know me. I’m always a fan of one-bite appetizers and canapés, especially ones that are super simple to make. Made with flavorful sausage, nutty Manchego, and a sweet dollop on top, these Sausage and Manchego Bites make the perfect little bite to start off your dinner party. With only a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, you’ve got to add them to your next dinner party menu!
What You Need to Make Sausage and Manchego Bites
Equipment
- Saucepan – Or other high sided pan for braising the sausages with a lid
- Tongs – For working with the sausage when cooking.
- Cutting Board – For cubing the cheese and slicing the cooked sausage.
- Chef’s Knife – For cubing the cheese and slicing the cooked sausage.
- Toothpicks
- Small Prep Bowl – For microwaving the sugar free apricot preserves
- Serving Platter
Ingredients
- Beer – You can pick any beer you like. You only need 1 can, regardless of if it is a 12-ounce or a 16-ounce can.)
- Chicken Sausage Links – I use 1 package of 4 links, which is about 20 ounces or 1.25 pounds. You can pick another sausage flavor or type if you like. It doesn’t have to be chicken sausage. I suggest choosing either something spicy or sweet to stand up to the Manchego. I do not recommend picking a sausage that already contains cheese.
- Manchego Cheese
- Keto Honey Substitute (Topping Option #1) – You can use this on all of the bites or make half with this and half with the Sugar Free Apricot Preserves or all with the preserves.
- Sugar Free Apricot Preserves (Topping Option #2) – See note above.
Getting Started with Making Sausage and Manchego Bites
Sausage Selection
First we’re going to get started with cooking the sausages. To make 32 bites, I suggest using 4 links, which is about a 1.25 pound package. While this recipe is calculated using chicken sausage, you could absolutely use another type of sausage that you prefer. The only guidelines that I would give are:
- Pick one that is either spicy or sweet. You can use mild, but spicy or sweet will hold up better to the Manchego.
- Don’t pick one that already has cheese in it.
Cooking Sausage
To cook the sausages, we’ll pour a can of beer into a saucepan or any pan that is deep enough to hold the beer and sausages without spilling over. If you are doing other things and need this to just gently cook without much attention, turn the temperature to a low medium. Allow it to cook for 15 minutes. Then turn them over and cook them for another 15 minutes.
Lori Note: You can cook them faster at a higher temperature, but you will need to keep a closer eye on them.
Cubing Cheese
While the sausages are cooking, you’ll want to cut the Manchego into 32 cubes. Each cube is approximately ½ ounce and about ¾ – inch. Once done, you can set them aside until we’re ready to assemble the bites. If it’s going to be a while until assembly time, you should stick them in a zip top bag and put them in the fridge.
Assembling the Sausage and Manchego Bites
Once the sausages are cooked, you’ll remove them from the heat and allow them to cool just until you can safely handle them. Then you can slice each sausage into 8 pieces and arrange them on your serving platter.
Next you’ll set one cheese cube on top of each sausage round.
For the topper, you can either use keto honey substitute or sugar free apricot preserves or a combination of both. Either way, you will just be dolloping about ⅛ of a teaspoon of it on top of each bite. If you are using keto honey substitute, you can just squeeze a small amount on top of each bite. Alternatively, if you are using sugar free apricot preserves, you’ll need to place the full amount in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave it for approximately 20 seconds. It just needs to be smooth enough for you to easily work with. Then using a small spoon, you’ll drizzle approximately ⅛ teaspoon of the preserves on each bite.
Serving or Storing
That’s it! You can serve them right away or cover them until your guests arrive. If you need to store them longer than that, you’ll want to keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and then let them come to room temperature for serving.
Related Recipes
Are you looking for some other small bites or easy appetizers? Check these out:
- Manchego and Prosciutto Blueberry Bites
- Prosciutto Mozzarella Nests
- Prosciutto Pesto Canapés
- Soppressata and Manchego Pesto Canapés
Sausage and Manchego Bites
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Beer 1 can // 12 – 16 ounces. Pick a beer you like.
- 1.25 pounds Chicken Sausage Links 1 package of 4 links // 20 ounces. Pick a sausage flavor you like. It doesn’t have to be chicken sausage. I suggest either something spicy or sweet.
- 1 pound Manchego Cheese Cubed
- 4 teaspoons Keto Honey Substitute Topping Option #1
- 4 teaspoons Sugar Free Apricot Preserves Topping Option #2
Instructions
- Pour 12 ounces Beer into a medium saucepan (large enough to fit all of the sausages in 1 layer. Lay the 1.25 pounds Chicken Sausage Links in the beer in a single layer.12 ounces Beer, 1.25 pounds Chicken Sausage Links
- Turn the heat on low medium and put the lid on it.
- Cook the sausages for approximately 15 minutes, turn them over, and cook for another 15 minutes. (You can cook them faster at a higher temperature if you prefer, but you will need to keep a closer eye on them.) You’re cooking them to an internal temperature of 165°F for chicken sausage or 160°F for pork, beef, or lamb sausage.
- While the sausage is cooking, cut 1 pound Manchego Cheese into 32 cubes, roughly ¾ – inch each. (About 0.5 ounces each.)1 pound Manchego Cheese
- Once they’re done cooking, remove them from the pan and allow them to cool until you can safely handle them. (About 5 minutes.)
- Slice each sausage into 8 pieces.
- Arrange the sausage pieces on your serving platter and set one cheese cube on top of each sausage round.
- If you are using keto honey, place a small amount on top of each bite. Approximately ⅛ teaspoon on each. If you are using sugar free apricot preserves, place the full amount in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave it for approximately 20 seconds. (It just needs to be smooth enough for you to easily work with.) Then using a small spoon, drizzle approximately ⅛ teaspoon of the preserves on each bite.4 teaspoons Keto Honey Substitute, 4 teaspoons Sugar Free Apricot Preserves
- Serve.
Equipment
- Saucepan Or other high sided pan for braising the sausages with a lid
- Toothpicks
- Small Prep Bowl For microwaving the sugar free apricot preserves
- Serving Platter
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