Difficulty: Easy
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Serves: 8
INGREDIENTS
2 (22-count) bags frozen one-bite soft pretzels (we used Eastern Standard Provisions) • Toothpicks, optional
¼ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
⅔ cup Kolsch beer
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
1 cup shredded Gruyere (4 ounces)
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread the pretzel bites on a baking sheet.
Slice the sausage into ½-inch rounds. Cut each round in half to make half-moons.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne and salt. Cook 1 minute, whisking the whole time.
Pour in the milk and beer a little at a time, whisking until smooth before adding more. Stir in the Dijon and Worcestershire. Cook, stirring often, until thick and bubbling, about 5 minutes.
While the sauce cooks, bake the pretzel bites 4 to 6 minutes, until warm. At the same time, warm the sausage in an air fryer at 375 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes. A skillet over medium heat works too.
Take the saucepan off the heat. Stir in the cheddar and Gruyere a handful at a time until melted and smooth.
Top each pretzel bite with a sausage half-moon. If your pretzels came with salt, sprinkle it over the top. Serve warm with the beer cheese dip.
Description
Game day calls for food you can grab with one hand. These smoked sausage pretzel bites deliver. Each one is a warm, salty soft pretzel bite topped with a piece of Kountry Boys Original Smoked Sausage. Then you dunk it in a creamy beer cheese dip made with Kolsch.
The whole spread comes together in about 25 minutes. Store-bought pretzel bites mean there’s no dough to knead. Your time goes into the one thing that matters most: a smooth, rich cheese sauce.
Why Smoked Sausage Pretzel Bites Win Game Day
Pretzels and sausage belong together. Picture a German beer hall: warm pretzels, smoky links and cold beer on every table. Smoked sausage pretzel bites shrink that whole experience down to party size.
They also check every box for a crowd. They’re easy to eat while you watch the game. They travel well to a tailgate. And they go fast, so you may want to make a double batch.
Kountry Boys smoked sausage is fully cooked, so all it needs is a quick warm-up. A few minutes in the air fryer and it’s hot, juicy and ready to go.
What You Need for Smoked Sausage Pretzel Bites
The list is short:
- Kountry Boys Original Smoked Sausage. Three links from a 24-ounce package top 44 pretzel bites.
- Soft pretzel bites. We used two bags of Eastern Standard Provisions one-bite pretzels, but any store-bought soft pretzel bites work.
- Beer cheese dip basics. Butter, flour, milk, Kolsch, sharp cheddar, Gruyere and a few pantry spices.
Find the full amounts in the recipe card below.
Why Kolsch Makes the Best Beer Cheese Dip
The beer you pick changes the dip. Kolsch is a light, crisp ale from Cologne, Germany. It’s clean and a little fruity, with very little bitterness. That matters because beer gets stronger as it cooks down. A hoppy IPA turns sharp and bitter in a cheese sauce. Kolsch stays smooth and lets the cheddar and Gruyere shine.
Kolsch also fits the German beer hall theme. Serve the rest of the six-pack with your smoked sausage pretzel bites, and the pairing is done for you. Can’t find Kolsch? A light lager or amber ale is the next best choice.
How to Make Smoked Sausage Pretzel Bites
- Cut the sausage. Slice the sausage into ½-inch rounds, then cut each round in half to make half-moons.
- Build the roux. Melt butter in a saucepan, then whisk in the flour and spices. Cook for one minute. This step keeps the dip from tasting like raw flour.
- Add the liquids slowly. Pour in the milk and beer a little at a time. Whisk until smooth after each pour. Adding it all at once can cause lumps.
- Thicken and finish. Stir in Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook until the sauce bubbles and coats a spoon. Then take it off the heat and stir in the cheese.
- Warm everything. Bake thawed soft pretzel bites at 425 degrees for four to six minutes. Warm the sausage in the air fryer at the same time.
- Top each pretzel bite with a sausage half-moon. Serve with the warm beer cheese dip.
Tips for Smooth, Creamy Beer Cheese Dip
- Shred your own cheese. Bagged shredded cheese is coated to stop clumping. That coating can make the dip grainy.
- Take it off the heat first. Too much heat makes cheese oily and stringy. Add the cheese off the burner, a handful at a time.
- Let the cheese warm up. Cold cheese melts unevenly. Set it out while you thaw the pretzels.
- Thin it if needed. If the dip gets too thick, whisk in a splash of milk.
Make-Ahead and Serving Ideas
You can make the beer cheese dip up to three days ahead. Store it covered in the fridge. Reheat it over low heat and whisk in a splash of milk to loosen it.
For parties, keep the dip warm in a small slow cooker on the warm setting. Warm the sausage and pretzels right before guests arrive. Smoked sausage pretzel bites taste best warm. Push a toothpick through each one so the sausage stays put when guests dunk.
Want to stretch the spread? Add apple slices, pickles or extra Dijon mustard to the board.
More Kountry Boys Game Day Appetizers
Building a full game day spread? Pair these smoked sausage pretzel bites with our Sausage Pimento Bites for another easy, cheesy finger food. A 24-ounce package has eight links, so you’ll have plenty left over. Use them in our Smoked Sausage Burnt Ends. They’re smoky, sticky and made for a crowd.
The beer cheese dip in this recipe is adapted from Spend With Pennies. We swapped in Kolsch and paired it with Kountry Boys smoked sausage for a game day twist.
Smoked Sausage Pretzel Bites FAQ
Can I make my own pretzel bites?
Yes. Store-bought saves time, but homemade soft pretzel bites work too. Bake them fresh and assemble while they’re warm.
Can I use a different cheese?
Yes. Keep the sharp cheddar for bold flavor. Swap the Gruyere for Swiss, Monterey Jack or smoked gouda.
Is Kountry Boys smoked sausage already cooked?
Yes. It’s fully cooked, so you only need to warm it. Use an air fryer, skillet or oven.
Can I make beer cheese dip without beer?
Yes. Use chicken broth or more milk in place of the beer. The flavor will be milder.
How do I store leftovers?
Keep the sausage and dip in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to three days. Pretzel bites are best the day you make them.
Your next watch party deserves better than a bag of chips. Make a batch of smoked sausage pretzel bites, pour a cold Kolsch and settle in for kickoff.