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reinventing "meatballs" using leftover Thanksgiving stuffing
If you read my Day After Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich post, you know that I look forward to that sandwich more than anything else in the holiday season, and I make tons on Thanksgiving so I can have plenty of left overs. Invariably though, we run out of turkey before we run out of the other left overs, and since I want to maintain the “specialness” of the Leftover Turkey Sandwich, I make sure not to overload on them by eating them for more than two days.
So, with all the turkey gone, except for some dark meat scraps, which goes into my Kitchen Sink Turkey Soup, that I will post up very soon, I am left with about a half a tray of stuffing, some mashed potatoes and gravy. Since we are all tired of poultry at this point, I like to convert the stuffing into “meatballs” and serve it with leftover mashed potatoes, a vegetable and gravy. It is a very quick meal that stretches the leftovers and everyone really gets a kick out of the stuffing balls. My grandmother was the first to make these with leftover stuffing in our family when she first came to America in the early 60′s.
Easy Sausage Chestnut Stuffing Balls
Serves 4-6
We make sausage chestnut stuffing for Thanksgiving (will put up the recipe another time), but you should use any left over stuffing you have that is on the drier side. In bird stuffing can be used, but you should first spread it out onto a cookie sheet and chop it into small pieces and bake at 350 for 30 minutes and then cool to dry it out some.
2-3 Cups leftover stuffing
2 Tbs leftover gravy or stock
1 Egg beaten
Pre-heat oven to 375 and line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper. In a large bowl, break up the stuffing with your hands until it resembles crumbled cooked ground beef. Add in the egg and mix with hands until well combined. If the mixture is too dry, add in the gravy or stock one tablespoon at a time until the mixture holds together well and can be formed into golf ball sized “meatballs”.
Place the well formed balls into even rows on the cookie sheet and then bake in the oven without turning over for about 20-30 minutes or until hot through and slightly browned on the outside. If the balls are not well compacted they may burst during cooking, so make sure the oven temperature is not too hot and the stuffing was well broken up in the beginning and any large pieces we cut smaller.
Allow to cool for 1 minute before serving with gravy for dipping. Everyone in our family really loves these stuffing balls because, while they love Thankgiving, it signals the end of the holiday “leftover season” and everyone is ready for something completely different!
This recipe is a part of the Hearth and Soul Hop-Volume 26, Dr. Laura’s Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Tuesday Night Supper Club, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platters, Tip Day Thursday, Real Food Deals, Frugal Friday, Seasonal Saturday and Real food Wednesday. Please check out my other featured blog hop recipes.
December 7th, 2010 on 7:03 am
I will be saving this idea, I hate it when stuffing is not all used up!
December 7th, 2010 on 9:38 am
these look so delicious I will try to make some extra so we have leftovers to try this great recipe
December 7th, 2010 on 10:10 am
I just love those Stuffing Balls, yum! Thank you for sharing and you have a great week.
December 7th, 2010 on 11:00 am
Yum! What a great way to use your leftovers!
December 7th, 2010 on 12:28 pm
I love – love – love stuffing! These look so yummy! I made need to make some fresh stuffing just so I can try them!
Twitter: fudgerippleblog
December 7th, 2010 on 6:04 pm
i usually eat stuffing sandwiches…but this seems less gluttonous and just as delicious! thank you for sharing with tuesday night supper club!
Twitter: girlichef
December 7th, 2010 on 8:54 pm
Oh, what a fabulous idea! Perfect little balls for popping in your mouth. {she says with a straight face} I think I’m going to have to save this and try it next time I make stuffing…which’ll probably be next year, but hey…
Delish Alex…thanks so much for sharing and for being our hearth and soul hop guru 
Twitter: suebuschnz
December 8th, 2010 on 3:29 pm
Alex, what a great idea for using up leftover stuffing – never would have thought
Sue xo
December 8th, 2010 on 3:44 pm
Sounds like I need to try some of these from a pure safety standpoint!! Fed-Ex overnight is really cheap from your house to mine right?!? Thanks for being the boss and t.v. star Alex…you’re awesome!
Twitter: aleasleftovers
December 9th, 2010 on 4:06 pm
These look incredible! I am seriously considering making a batch of stuffing just so I can make these!
December 10th, 2010 on 2:31 am
Oh, this is a terrific idea! Thanks for sharing!
I’m trying to build up my blog carnival- the Zero Food Waste Challenge where readers can link up to any post they have that talks about anything remotely connected to eliminating food waste. I’d love if you could link up your stuffing balls, as it’s a terrific way to use up leftovers very creatively and eliminate food waste! Thanks!
http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2010/12/figuring-out-true-cost-of-meat-zero.html
December 12th, 2010 on 10:28 pm
Ah you are the queen of Thanksgiving leftovers – first the sandwich and now the stuffing balls – what a great leftover meal. I glad to know I can just dry out my stuffing – because I make mine wet – in order to have some of these luscious bites – your gram was a brilliant woman! Thanks for being the awesome Hostess with the Mostess and sharing another great recipe with the Hearth and Soul Hop!
December 13th, 2010 on 12:06 am
Sounds good! Great idea!!
December 14th, 2010 on 1:19 pm
Those sound wonderful. I can’t wait to try them in a couple weeks with my left over dressing. Thanks for linking up to Tip Day Thursday. Link up anytime.
Wendy
Around My Family Table
November 18th, 2011 on 11:55 am
Wonderful! I truly appreciate the information you provided hear. I’m sure I will be looking forward to putting it to great uses this Thanksgiving Day. I’ll be sure to pass this post on to my friends. Thanks you so much, I love your writing&