Description
An inspired reinvention of a holiday classic, these Cranberry Turkey Stuffing Balls feature a crisp exterior, moist interior, savory turkey, fragrant herbs, and bright, tangy cranberries. Perfectly portioned for elegant entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground turkey (93/7 lean)
- 8 cups stale bread cubes (½–¾ inch)
- 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 stalks celery, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup unsalted butter, divided
- 1 ½ cups dried cranberries
- 1 cup pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped (optional)
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 ½ cups low sodium chicken or turkey broth
- 2 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
- ½ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp poultry seasoning
- Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Bread & Aromatics: Cube stale bread (½-¾ inch); if not stale, toast at 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 min until dried. Finely dice onion and celery, and mince garlic. Finely chop fresh sage, thyme, and parsley. Roughly chop pecans/walnuts if using.
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt ¼ cup butter in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté diced onion and celery for 8-10 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic, cook 1 minute. Stir in chopped sage and thyme; cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat to cool slightly.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine stale bread cubes, dried cranberries, chopped nuts (if using), remaining ¼ cup melted butter, salt, black pepper, poultry seasoning, and orange zest (if using). Toss gently. Add the cooled sautéed aromatic mixture, lightly beaten eggs, 1 cup broth, and ground turkey.
- Mix and Season: Gently mix all ingredients until just combined. If too dry, add remaining ½ cup broth, a tablespoon at a time, until moist enough to hold its shape. Cook a small sample (microwave 30 sec or pan-fry 1-2 min) to taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Shape Stuffing Balls: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Take 1½-2 tablespoons of mixture and gently roll into compact, golf-ball sized balls. Place 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake for 25-35 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown on the outside and cooked through in the center (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C for turkey).
- Serve: Remove from oven and let rest on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before serving warm. Serve as an appetizer with cranberry sauce, or as a side with gravy.
Notes
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffing ball
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 55mg