Turn leftover stuffing from your Thanksgiving dinner into delicious, tender meatballs! These Leftover Stuffing Meatballs are a great way to add the flavors of Thanksgiving to your next meal, and they couldn't get much easier to make. Serve them with a little leftover gravy for a delicious, savory meal you'll want long after the holidays end.
We've all had that moment after the holidays as you're standing in front of an open fridge with mountains of leftovers stacked on top of each other. Instead of just eating the same Thanksgiving dinner over and over again, turn those leftovers into something new! These leftover turkey Stuffing balls are absolutely delicious. The stuffing adds so much flavor and is a great replacement for bread crumbs. You might want to keep a box of stuffing mix on hand just to make these!
Why You'll Love These Leftover Stuffing Meatballs
- Use up those leftovers. Deal with your leftovers before they go bad with this easy meatball recipe. They have a subtle holiday flavor from the seasoned stuffing, but you can easily tweak the flavors to take them in a new direction. This is such a simple way to give those leftovers a new life!
- Lots of flavor. Since the stuffing is already seasoned, each of these Thanksgiving meatballs will be so flavorful. Add extra salt and pepper, as well as Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese, for a really robust flavor that tastes great with marinara sauce.
- Lovely, tender texture. Breadcrumbs add a tender texture and absorb excess moisture in your homemade meatballs. The stuffing will serve the same purpose here, making sure your meatballs are absolutely delicious every time.
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious leftover stuffing Meatballs, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- stuffing - use any kind of leftover stuffing. Try leftover Homemade Stuffing, Cornbread Stuffing, or Cranberry Walnut Apple Stuffing. The storebought stuff works, too!
- milk - this will hydrate the meatballs to keep them from being too dry.
- ground beef - use fully thawed ground beef. Ground turkey is another great option!
- egg - this will bind the meatball mixture together so they don't fall apart.
- parmesan cheese - use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a salty, umami flavor.
- Italian seasoning - these dried herbs shift the flavor of the meatballs to keep them from tasting too much like Thanksgiving dinner.
- salt and black pepper
You will also need a large bowl, spoon, baking sheet, and parchment paper or cooking spray.
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How to Make the Best Leftover Stuffing Meatballs
- Soak stuffing. In a large mixing bowl, add stuffing and milk. Stir well to combine and let it sit for 10 minutes so the stuffing absorbs all the milk.
- Add remaining ingredients. Add beef, egg, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well until the mixture forms into a uniform consistency.
- Shape meatballs. Take 2 tablespoonfuls of the meat mixture at a time and roll them into meatballs. Wet your hands with water or oil to prevent sticking.
- Bake. Place the meatballs in a large parchment lined baking sheet and bake in a 400F preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until fully cooked through.
- Serve. Serve with a side of marinara sauce for dipping or over pasta.
How to Cook Stuffing Meatballs in the Air Fryer
Place the meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket (you may need to cook in batches). Air fry at 350F for 15 minutes until fully cooked through. The internal temperature should be at least 160F as read on an instant read thermometer.
Recipe Variations
- Use different ground meat. Use ground turkey for turkey meatballs that taste just like your holiday dinner. Ground chicken or pork works great, too.
- Use cornbread stuffing. We love cornbread stuffing, and it works great in these Thanksgiving balls! Pretty much any type of stuffing can be used, although stuffing with apples or other fruits will change the overall flavor profile.
- Air fryer leftover Thanksgiving stuffing meatballs. Instead of baking these meatballs in the oven, bake a smaller batch in the air fryer. See the instructions above.
How to Serve
These Leftover Stuffing Meatballs are delicious served on its own as an appetizer with a toothpick. Some other ways to serve these meatballs are:
- with a side of Marinara Sauce for dipping
- tossed in leftover Turkey Gravy
- tossed in leftover Cranberry Sauce (see our Cranberry Meatballs)
- serve in Marinara Sauce over a bed of spaghetti or Leftover Mashed Potato Gnocchi (see our Italian Meatballs)
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Don't overmix. To prevent tough meatballs, combine the meatball mixture just enough to bring it together.
- Adjust the size. You can make meatballs of any size. Just be sure to adjust the baking time to ensure they're fully cooked.
- Adjust the flavors. If you want Thanksgiving meatballs that have lots of holiday flavors, replace the Italian seasoning with more dried or fresh herbs, like sage, parsley, and thyme. You can even add dried cranberries and some chopped nuts!
- Use chicken broth. For really moist meatballs, bake the meatballs in a baking dish and add a thin layer of chicken broth.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Store leftover meatballs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat
Reheat leftover meatballs in a 350F preheated oven or in the microwave until warm. You can also saute them in a large skillet with your favorite sauce or leftover gravy.
How to Freeze
Cooked meatballs can be frozen in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw frozen meatballs in the fridge for several hours before reheating.
FAQ
Yes, absolutely! Cooked stuffing will last for about 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Be sure to refrigerate it within two hours of cooking to avoid growing unsafe bacteria.
The best part about leftovers is that the flavors are typically stronger the next day! As the stuffing sits in the fridge, all the seasonings and oils get a chance to settle in. That leftover stuffing may taste even better the next day than fresh from the oven!
Although you can brown meatballs in a large skillet before baking, it's really not necessary! They'll bake just fine on a prepared baking sheet in the oven, and you'll have one less pan to clean. Browned meatballs do have a nice texture on the outside, but it's not really worth the extra effort.
More Meatball Recipes
- 15 Best Meatball Recipes
- Cranberry Meatballs
- Easy Baked Meatballs
- Thai Turkey Meatballs in Coconut Curry
- Teriyaki Meatballs
- Italian Meatballs
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