Description
Savory turkey stuffing balls bring festive comfort from traditional holiday kitchens to your dinner table. Crispy exterior and herbed interior blend perfectly, offering irresistible bite-sized goodness you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground turkey
- 2 cups prepared stuffing (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Binding and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tablespoon dried parsley)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for baking or frying)
Optional Serving Ingredient:
- Cranberry sauce or gravy (for dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a light coating of cooking spray to ensure easy release of the stuffing balls.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine dried bread cubes, finely chopped onions, and diced celery, creating a foundational texture for the stuffing mixture.
- Add minced fresh herbs like sage, thyme, and parsley to infuse the mixture with aromatic flavors that complement the turkey’s richness.
- Incorporate beaten eggs and melted butter, which will help bind the ingredients and provide a smooth, cohesive consistency to the stuffing balls.
- Season the mixture with salt, black pepper, and poultry seasoning to enhance the overall taste profile and create depth of flavor.
- Gently mix all ingredients until they are evenly distributed, being careful not to overmix and compress the bread cubes.
- Using clean hands or a small scoop, form the mixture into compact, golf ball-sized spheres, ensuring they are tightly packed to maintain their shape during baking.
- Arrange the stuffing balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart to allow for even heat circulation and consistent browning.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through to ensure uniform golden-brown coloration and crispy exterior.
- Remove from the oven when the stuffing balls are golden brown and have a crisp exterior, with a tender and moist interior.
- Let the stuffing balls rest for a few minutes before serving to allow them to set and cool slightly, enhancing their texture and flavor.
Notes
- Swap bread cubes for gluten-free alternatives like cornbread or rice-based stuffing to accommodate dietary restrictions easily.
- Add extra herbs like sage or thyme to boost flavor intensity and create a more aromatic stuffing ball experience.
- Ensure meat mixture isn’t too wet by gently pressing ingredients together, preventing crumbly texture during baking.
- Let stuffing balls rest for 5 minutes after cooking to help them hold shape and absorb remaining moisture, resulting in a perfectly cohesive bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg