These Turkey Stuffing Balls are a great way to use up leftover turkey and mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving! They’re crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfect for dipping in gravy or cranberry sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for leftovers: An easy way to transform Thanksgiving leftovers into a whole new dish.
- Crispy and flavorful: The Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs give them a crispy texture, while the stuffing and turkey add all the flavor.
- Quick and easy: Simple ingredients and a fast bake time make this a stress-free recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed potatoes: A great base that holds everything together.
- 2 cups stuffing: Adds that delicious savory flavor.
- 1 cup shredded turkey: The star protein of the dish, perfect for using up leftovers.
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese: Adds richness and a bit of a crispy edge.
- 1 egg, beaten: Helps bind everything together.
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs: To add structure and a bit of crunch.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt & 1/8 teaspoon black pepper: Simple seasoning to enhance the flavors.
Variations
- Add herbs: Toss in some chopped parsley or sage for extra flavor.
- Cheesy twist: Try mixing in some shredded mozzarella or cheddar for a gooey center.
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
How to Make the Recipe
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Combine Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, stuffing, shredded turkey, Parmesan cheese, beaten egg, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together until well combined.
3. Form the Balls
Using your hands, shape the mixture into 1-inch balls. If the mixture is too sticky, wet your hands slightly to help form the balls.
4. Place on Baking Sheet
Arrange the turkey stuffing balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
5. Bake
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the balls are golden brown and heated through.
Tips for Making the Recipe
- Use leftovers wisely: If your mashed potatoes are a bit runny, add extra bread crumbs to firm up the mixture.
- Make them crispy: If you want extra crunch, brush the balls with a bit of olive oil before baking.
- Size matters: Try to keep the balls uniform in size so they bake evenly.
How to Serve
Serve these Turkey Stuffing Balls hot, with gravy or cranberry sauce on the side for dipping. They make a great appetizer, snack, or even a main dish!
Make Ahead
- To Refrigerate: These balls can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven until warmed through.
- To Freeze: Freeze uncooked stuffing balls on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cook time.
FAQs
Can I use chicken instead of turkey?
Yes! Shredded chicken works just as well if you don’t have turkey on hand.
What if I don’t have mashed potatoes?
You can substitute sweet potatoes or even cooked quinoa for a different twist.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes, just use gluten-free stuffing and breadcrumbs.
Conclusion
There you have it—easy and delicious Turkey Stuffing Balls that are perfect for using up leftovers and transforming them into a fun and flavorful dish. Serve them with gravy or cranberry sauce, and enjoy a taste of Thanksgiving any time!
Print
Turkey Stuffing Balls
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 balls 1x
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Turkey Stuffing Balls are a perfect way to use up leftover Thanksgiving ingredients. Combining mashed potatoes, stuffing, and shredded turkey with Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs, these bite-sized delights are baked to golden perfection. Serve them with gravy or cranberry sauce for a delicious appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 2 cups stuffing
- 1 cup shredded turkey
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, stuffing, shredded turkey, grated Parmesan cheese, beaten egg, bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper.
- Form Balls: Mix the ingredients well until thoroughly combined. Using your hands, form the mixture into 1-inch balls.
- Place on Baking Sheet: Arrange the turkey stuffing balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the balls are golden brown and heated through.
- Serve: Serve the turkey stuffing balls hot with gravy or cranberry sauce for dipping.
Notes
- For added flavor, you can mix in some chopped fresh herbs like parsley or thyme.
- These stuffing balls can also be made ahead and reheated in the oven just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 balls
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Hands down it was so damn delicious
Sounds fantastic! Can’t wait to try. Now to wait for the leftovers!
Did you cook the stuffing beforehand?
Are you talking made stuffing or stuffing mix?
I was wondering the same thing.
I used my leftover stuffing I made for Thanksgiving and it worked well.
This sounds delicious!!! I am going to try them on Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!!!
Was wondering if you could tweet this recipe for baked ham? Substitute yams for mashed potatoes n minced ham for turkey add some cinnamon n nutmeg. What are your thoughts? Large family n always have two proteins. Enjoyed making this – did it in advance n ysed chicken. Delicious!!.
This sounds like it would would be lovely. You could even use leftover scalloped or au gratin potatoes, depending on what your family serves, with some thyme and rosemary.
Going to definitely try this! About how many 1 inch balls does this recipe make? Thanks!
I was wondering if you might know the conversion for air frying. My KitchenAid countertop oven has an air fryer setting, and I thought these might make a nice appetizer if I made them small & served them with a cranberry chutney dip.
Is this prepared stuffing or the dry stuffing mix? This sounds like a great way to use those Thanksgiving leftovers. I can’t wait to try it out.
These were so good! I added a teaspoon each of dried parsley, poultry seasoning and garlic powder and baked in my air fryer. Delicious
Such an easy and delicious recipe! I doubled the turkey cause we had a ton left. But this is a great way to repurpose leftovers!