Description
Grandma Dot’s Stuffing Balls are a comforting and flavorful side dish made from seasoned bread cubes mixed with sautéed onions and celery, enriched with fresh herbs and chicken broth, then baked to golden perfection. These bite-sized stuffing balls bring a nostalgic touch to your holiday meals or any roast dinner, providing a crispy outside with a moist, savory inside.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 bag (12–14 oz) dry seasoned bread cubes
- 1 tsp poultry seasoning or a mix of sage, thyme, rosemary
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for freshness)
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 ½ to 2 cups chicken broth, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease or line a large baking sheet to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Sauté vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the finely chopped onion and celery, cooking them gently until they become soft and fragrant, about 5 to 7 minutes. This step builds a rich flavor base for your stuffing balls.
- Mix stuffing base: Transfer the bread cubes to a large bowl. Add the sautéed vegetables along with the melted butter from the skillet. Sprinkle in the poultry seasoning (or your preferred mix of sage, thyme, rosemary), garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together so the seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Moisten mixture: Stir in the beaten eggs to help bind the ingredients together. Gradually add chicken broth, starting with 1 ½ cups, mixing gently just until the mixture is moist and holds together when pressed. Add more broth if needed, but avoid making it too soggy.
- Form balls: Using your hands or a scoop, take a handful of the mixture and roll it into a ball approximately the size of a golf ball. Place each ball on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between them for even cooking.
- Bake: Put the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the stuffing balls for 20 to 25 minutes. Bake until they are golden brown and develop a slightly crisp exterior, while remaining moist inside.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm as a delicious side dish alongside turkey, chicken, or your favorite roast dinner.
Notes
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Fresh parsley is optional but adds a nice fresh flavor and color contrast.
- Adjust salt according to the seasoning on your bread cubes to avoid over-salting.
- For a gluten-free adaptation, use gluten-free seasoned bread cubes.
- These stuffing balls can be prepared ahead of time and reheated in the oven before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffing ball
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
