RECIPE: Stuffed Wonton Sausage Stars

These crispy little handheld wonders have strong appetizer lore in my family. My cousin has been making them for years and every time we throw a party, this is the appetizer people are hoping shows up. I’ve watched more than one friend hover around the oven waiting to snag one hot and fresh before they even make it to the table. Before you know it, they are gone. This recipe is deceptively simple and so good, I recommend you plan ahead for a double batch. 

Makes 48 stars.

Ingredients

• 1 (12-ounce) package store-bought wonton wrappers 
• 1 pound spicy Italian sausage 
• 1 pound pre-shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 1 (12-ounce bottle) ranch dressing (your favorite brand; I opt for Hidden Valley but any will do.)
• ½ of a small onion, grated on the large holes of a box grater
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• ¼ cup chives, finely chopped, divided
• Nonstick cooking spray

Special Equipment: 24-cup mini muffin pan

Note: This recipe makes 48 stars, so if you have two 24-cup mini muffin pans, prep them both. If not, let the first pan cool slightly before doing a second batch. 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

Prepare the filling:

1. In a medium-sized skillet, cook sausage until browned and no pink remains. 
2. Drain off excess fat and add to a large mixing bowl. Let cool slightly. If any sausage pieces are larger than a grape, use a fork (or gloved hands) to break them up into smaller pieces. 
3. Add all remaining ingredients to sausage, reserving 2 tablespoons chives for topping. Stir thoroughly until combined. 

Prepare the wontons: 

1. Press 1 wonton into each muffin well; spray nonstick spray over the top of the pan. 
2. Bake (without filling) for 7 to 8 minutes, until wontons are set and just starting to brown. 
3. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. 

Fill the wontons: 

1. Using two spoons, or a gloved hand, add approximately 1 tablespoon of filling to each wonton. 
2. Sprinkle with reserved chives. Bake for 7–8 minutes, or until wonton wrappers are golden brown and cheese is melted. 
3. Transfer to a serving platter and serve warm! 

Tip: While these are best served fresh from the oven, they also reheat really well—place them on a wire rack set into a sheet pan and bake for 5–7 minutes at 350°F, until crispy and warmed through.