Description
These Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs are the ultimate holiday hack! This ingenious recipe combines lean ground turkey with classic stuffing ingredients right in the meatball, creating a dish that tastes like a full turkey dinner rolled into one. Perfect for a festive appetizer, a meal prep lunch, or a simple weeknight dinner when you’re craving comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Ground Turkey (85% lean)
- 1/2 lb. Ground Sausage
- 1 (6 oz.) box Turkey Stovetop Stuffing
- 1/2 cup Yellow Onion, minced
- 1 rib Celery, very finely diced
- 3/4 cup Chicken Broth
- 1/4 cup Water
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, divided
- 1 Large Egg, whisked
- To taste Salt and Pepper
Instructions
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Preheat and Sauté: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced onion and diced celery. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened.
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Prepare Stuffing Mix: Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter, chicken broth, and water to the vegetables. Bring to a boil. Stir in the stuffing mix, reduce heat to low, and stir until liquid is absorbed. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 2-3 minutes.
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Combine Meat and Stuffing: Season ground turkey with salt and pepper and add to the bowl with the cooled stuffing. Add ground sausage and the whisked egg. Mix gently with hands until evenly combined.
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Shape and Bake: Roll mixture into 1 ¾ inch meatballs. Place on the baking sheet, spacing evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.
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Broil: Switch oven to Broil (High) at 450°F. Broil meatballs for 2 minutes until golden brown (watch closely!).
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Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot with mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce.
Notes
- Mincing Veggies: Mincing the vegetables finely is key to ensuring they blend seamlessly into the meatballs and cook through perfectly.
- Cooling Stuffing: It’s crucial to let the stuffing mixture cool slightly before adding the meat and egg so the residual heat doesn’t scramble the raw egg.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix just until the ingredients are incorporated. Overworking the meat can result in tough, dense meatballs.
- Broiler Watch: Watch the meatballs closely during the broil step! The sugar/carbs in the stuffing mix can burn quickly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Broiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
