Description
Festive Cranberry Turkey Stuffing Balls bursting with flavor! Perfect for holiday gatherings, featuring turkey, cranberries, and savory stuffing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (375g) leftover stuffing, crumbled
- 2 cups (280g) cooked turkey, finely chopped
- 1 cup (100g) fresh cranberries, roughly chopped (or ¾ cup dried cranberries)
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) turkey or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons (8g) fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon (3g) fresh sage, minced
- 1 teaspoon (1g) fresh thyme leaves
- ½ cup (60g) panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) olive oil or melted butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Mixture In a large mixing bowl, gently break apart your leftover stuffing using a fork, maintaining some texture rather than pulverizing it completely. Add the finely chopped turkey, distributing it evenly throughout. Fold in the chopped cranberries, ensuring they’re dispersed throughout the mixture. The vibrant red berries not only add flavor but create beautiful jewel-like spots in your finished Festive Cranberry Turkey Stuffing Balls.
- Step 2: Add Binding Ingredients Drizzle the beaten eggs and turkey broth over the stuffing mixture. Add the chopped parsley, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper. Using clean hands or a wooden spoon, gently fold everything together until evenly combined. The mixture should be moist enough to hold together when pressed but not overly wet or sticky. Let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb some moisture.
- Step 3: Form the Balls Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and gently roll between your palms to form balls approximately 1½ inches in diameter. Place each ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about an inch of space between them. Once all balls are formed, refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up, which helps them maintain their shape while baking.
- Step 4: Prepare for Baking Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove the chilled stuffing balls from the refrigerator. Combine the panko breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl, then gently roll each ball in this mixture for extra crispness. Alternatively, simply brush each ball with olive oil or melted butter for a golden finish.
- Step 5: Bake to Perfection Bake the Festive Cranberry Turkey Stuffing Balls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and heated through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Rotate the baking sheet halfway through cooking time to ensure even browning. Allow the stuffing balls to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let them set up properly. Serve warm with cranberry sauce or gravy for dipping.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 35mg