As a celebrity chef, seasoned restaurateur and recent co-winner of Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas, one might think Bryan Voltaggio would prefer refined dishes and high-end ingredients. But his favorite childhood holiday food is easy enough for even those who are cooking-challenged to make.

On a recent episode of Food Network Obsessed, Food Network’s official podcast hosted by Jaymee Sire, Bryan shared his favorite childhood Christmas memory: eating his mom's special sausage balls.

Now, when Bryan was a kid, this special treat was the most delicious part of the holiday season. "It was tradition that Mom only gave them to us on holidays," Bryan said on the podcast. "It was basically pancake mix, sausage — like Jimmy Dean or something — and some cheese. Then, they were molded together and baked. We only got them once or twice a year.

“As we got older, we pulled the curtain back a little bit and found out how simple they were to make,” Bryan added.

Bryan's brother (and TOC co-winner) Michael Voltaggio was surprised that the simple sausage balls were Bryan’s favorite, given the complex sweet and savory dishes the duo recently crafted for each round of TOC: All-Star Christmas.

“That’s your favorite holiday memory as a kid is mixing Bisquick, Jimmy Dean sausage and cheddar cheese together? That’s your favorite holiday memory?” Michael joked.

“It’s because we only got them once a year,” said Bryan.

“Do you want me to go make that for you right now, buddy?” Michael offered (with maybe a slight tone of sarcasm).

It’s said that great food should evoke a feeling, and if Jimmy Dean sausage balls mixed with pancake batter and cheese are a lasting memory from Bryan’s storied career in kitchens, then we’re willing to give them a try.

Watch Bryan and Michael compete as a team in Season 1 of Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas on HBO Max and discovery+.