Thanksgiving Stuffing Balls Recipe
Delightful Thanksgiving Stuffing Balls combining savory bread crumbs, tart cranberries, fresh sage, and aromatic onion and garlic, baked to golden perfection for a festive and flavorful side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 20 stuffing balls 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups bread crumbs
- ½ cup cooked cranberries (fresh or dried)
- ¼ cup sage (fresh or dried)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ cup butter, melted
Seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and prepare a baking sheet by greasing it lightly or lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the bread crumbs, cooked cranberries, fresh or dried sage, finely chopped onion, and minced garlic. Mix everything thoroughly to distribute the flavors evenly.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable broth and melted butter until well blended, creating a moist mixture to bind the stuffing.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir carefully until the mixture is moist and well combined, ensuring the bread crumbs absorb the liquids evenly.
- Season and Shape: Season the mixture with salt and black pepper to taste. Using clean hands, form the mixture into 1 to 1.5-inch balls, shaping them evenly for uniform baking.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the stuffing balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each to ensure even cooking. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, turning them halfway through baking to achieve a golden brown, crispy exterior.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the balls from the oven and allow them to cool slightly for about 5 minutes. Serve warm as a tasty festive side dish.
Notes
- You can use fresh or dried cranberries depending on availability; dried cranberries will add more chewiness.
- For a richer flavor, consider using chicken broth instead of vegetable broth if not strictly vegetarian.
- To make the balls crispier, bake a few extra minutes but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- These stuffing balls can be prepared in advance and reheated in the oven before serving.
- Fresh sage offers a more vibrant flavor, but dried sage works well too if fresh is unavailable.
Keywords: Thanksgiving, stuffing balls, bread crumbs, cranberries, sage, baked side dish, holiday recipe, vegetarian stuffing
