Stuffing Balls
Nov 16, 2024
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Stuffing balls have been a family favorite on our holiday table for years. Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and full of the classic stuffing flavor. These little bites are fun to eat and a great twist on a holiday staple.
I still remember when my aunt brought these stuffing balls to a family Thanksgiving – they were an instant hit! Everyone thought it was such a fun idea, that we started making them every year.
As a huge fan of the golden, crispy edges of traditional stuffing, these little bites were right up my ally. You get that perfect crunch on the outside, but still have the tender, moist stuffing on the inside. The best of both worlds!
The best part about this side dish is that they are super simple to make. I use a box of Stove Top Stuffing mix to make it even easier.
If you enjoy stuffing like me, be sure to try this chicken stuffing casserole for an easy dinner.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- They can be prepped ahead of time. I like to make and roll these balls the night before so it saves me some time the next day. They don’t take long to bake, so you can get them in and out of the oven in no time.
- Easy to make. These don’t take long to make and bake.
- Great to portion into individual servings. Since these are already portioned out, it makes it easy for guest to grab what they want. No scooping necessary.
- Portable. Great for potlucks, holiday dinners, or you can even serve them as an appetizer.
Ingredients
- Stove Top Stuffing Mix – Use your favorite Stove Top Stuffing mix flavor like turkey or chicken. You can also substitute with your favorite stuffing mix like Pepperidege Farm.
- Chicken broth – You can use chicken broth or vegetable broth to help soften the stuffing.
- Butter – Unsalted butter adds richness and flavor.
- Celery – Diced celery, about 2-3 stalks.
- Onion – Diced onion.
- Egg – An egg helps to bind the stuffing balls together.
- Poultry seasoning, salt, pepper – A little extra seasoning. Stove Top Stuffing is already seasoned so you can leave out the extra seasoning if you want to cut back on salt.
How to make stuffing balls
- Pour the stuffing mix in a large bowl. Stir in egg and chicken broth.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Stir in the diced onion and diced celery. Stir for 3-4 minutes to soften the vegetables.
- Pour the butter and vegetables in with the stuffing. Stir to fully combine. Shape the stuffing mixture into balls.
- Place the stuffing balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes.
Variations
These stuffing balls are easy to customize with extra add-ins. Here are a few suggestions:
- Mix-ins: Try adding diced apples, dried cranberries, or cooked breakfast sausage.
- Herbs: To give them some extra color, you can add in some fresh chopped parsley.
Heather’s recipe tips
- Dice small. Make sure to dice the onion and celery into very small pieces.
- Rolling into balls. If you find that the mixture isn’t wanting to stay together, you can add an extra splash of chicken broth. Really press the mixture together to make it hold.
- Great way to use leftovers. You can use leftover stuffing by simply adding an egg and then form into balls.
- Making for a large crowd. If you are making these for a larger crowd, you can double or tripe the recipe.
Storage
Store: Keep any leftover stuffing balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last 3-4 days.
Freeze: Place any leftovers on a baking sheet in the freezer for several hours until the balls are frozen. Place them in a freezer safe bag or container for 2-3 months. When ready to serve, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.
Serving suggestions
Stuffing balls made with Stove Top Stuffing go with a wide variety of main dishes, especially chicken, pork, and turkey.
I like serving it with crockpot turkey tenderloins, BBQ chicken, pork tenderloin, and more.
Frequently asked questions
The eggs and chicken broth help the balls stay together. If you find your mixture needs to be a little more moist, add an extra splash of broth. Make sure to really press the mixture together to form the balls.
Depending on how large I roll the balls, I usually serve about 2 per person.
Yes, you can cook these in an air fryer. I cook them at 380 degrees for about 10 minutes.
More holiday side dishes
If you would like some more side dishes perfect for the holiday season be sure to check out these recipes.
- Boursin mashed potatoes
- Baked Velveeta mac and cheese
- Corn pudding
- Pineapple casserole
- Tennessee onions
Stuffing Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Stove Top Stuffing
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- ½ cup onion
- ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ⅛ salt
- ⅛ ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pour the stuffing mix in a large bowl. Stir in egg and chicken broth.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan of medium heat. Stir in the diced onion and diced celery. Stir for 3-4 minutes to soften the vegetables.
- Pour the butter and vegetables in with the stuffing. Stir to fully combine. Shape the stuffing mixture into balls. Mine are typically about 1 1/2-inches to 2-inches in size.
- Place the stuffing balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I loves this recipe! I added dried cranberries to the vegetables boiling! Fantastic! Thanks!
Cranberries sound great!
Made these for friendsgiving and were a big hit. Have some leftovers and they taste just as good!
So happy you enjoyed them! Happy Thanksgiving!