Description
Comforting stuffing balls bring holiday warmth straight from Grandma’s classic kitchen to modern dining tables. Crispy golden exterior and herbed interior make these savory spheres an irresistible side dish you’ll crave at family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups (710 ml) dried bread cubes
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
- ½ cup (115 g) butter
Vegetables:
- 1 cup (150 g) celery, diced
- 1 cup (150 g) onion, diced
Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
Instructions
- Transform bread cubes into a crisp foundation by allowing them to air-dry for several hours or gently toasting in the oven, ensuring optimal moisture absorption without compromising texture.
- Heat butter in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, introducing finely chopped onion, celery, and garlic. Sauté until vegetables become translucent and tender, approximately 5 minutes.
- Infuse the sautéed vegetables with aromatic dried sage, thyme, salt, and pepper, creating a robust flavor profile. Remove from heat and allow ingredients to meld.
- Transfer bread cubes into a generously sized mixing vessel, combining the fragrant vegetable mixture with optional parsley and Parmesan cheese for additional depth.
- Gradually introduce chicken broth, carefully folding until bread becomes uniformly moistened without becoming overly saturated.
- Incorporate a beaten egg into the mixture, gently binding the ingredients and enhancing structural integrity.
- Craft uniform spherical portions using hands, adjusting moisture levels with additional broth if the mixture appears dry or crumbly.
- Arrange stuffing spheres on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring adequate spacing for even heating.
- Preheat oven to 375F (190C), positioning rack in central location for consistent cooking.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating midway to achieve golden-brown exterior and thoroughly heated interior.
- Optional: Brush with melted butter before final minutes of baking to enhance color and richness.
- Allow stuffing balls to rest briefly before serving, presenting as an elegant side dish or sophisticated appetizer.
Notes
- Choose day-old bread for better texture and absorption, ensuring your stuffing balls stay moist without becoming mushy.
- Avoid wet bread by lightly toasting cubes in the oven or letting them air-dry for a few hours before mixing with other ingredients.
- Experiment with different herbs like rosemary or thyme to customize the flavor profile and add personal flair to your stuffing balls.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular bread with gluten-free bread cubes or use cauliflower rice as a low-carb alternative.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 80mg