Sausage & Cheese Muffins

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Sausage:
   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line it with muffin liners.
   • In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground sausage, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it’s fully cooked and browned. Drain any excess fat and set the sausage aside to cool slightly.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Combine Wet Ingredients:
   • In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and eggs until well combined.
4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
   • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough muffins.
5. Add Sausage and Cheese:
   • Fold in the cooked sausage, shredded cheddar cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped chives or green onions if using. Mix until evenly distributed.
6. Fill Muffin Tins:
   • Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each cup about 3/4 full.
7. Bake:
   • Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
8. Cool and Serve:
   • Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.