Fried Stuffing Balls with Ooey-Gooey Cheese Filling
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Got leftover stuffing? Then you need to stuff it with cheese and make these AMAZING Fried Stuffing Balls. I bet you’ll start making too much stuffing from now on so you have lots of stuffing leftovers to make these fried stuffing balls!
Cheesey Fried Stuffing Balls
Thanksgiving is over, and our fridges are packed full of leftovers. How about turning one of those leftovers into something different, and even tastier than the first go-round?
That’s where these fried stuffing balls come into play. Oh my, oh my – are these suckers good!
They’re like Thanksgiving Hush Puppies!
These fried stuffing balls are a tasty appetizer that you’ll want to make again and again. You’ll turn simple stuffing into something completely different—such a fun way to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers.
I prefer to cook my stuffing balls on the stove, but I’ve included instructions for making deep fried stuffing balls and air fryer stuffing balls too.
Another way I repurpose leftover stuffing is whe I make my Stuffing Waffles. If you’ve never had a stuffing waffle, you’ll want to try that too.
Why You’ll Love These Fried Stuffing Balls
- Perfect use for Thanksgiving leftovers: These fried stuffing balls are the ultimate post-Thanksgiving snack, making good use of leftover stuffing.
- Golden brown and crispy: The panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese coating give these stuffing balls a golden brown, crispy exterior. First, you get the crunch, then the soft, cheesy center. They are SO GOOD, y’all!
- Quick and easy to make: Roll, dip, coat, and fry—it’s that easy.
- Easy cleanup: Cleanup is a breeze, and you can have your kitchen tidy in no time.
Ingredients for Fried Stuffing Balls
- Cold stuffing: Any classic stuffing or dressing will work, whether it’s made with bread cubes, onion stuffing, or even a sausage stuffing mix. The cold stuffing holds together well, making it easy to shape into balls.
- Fresh Mozzarella cheese (cut into cubes): Mozzarella cheese adds a creamy, melty center to each stuffing ball.
- Egg (beaten): The beaten egg acts as a binder, helping the bread crumbs stick to the stuffing balls.
- Panko bread crumbs: Panko bread crumbs are light and crunchy, providing the perfect crispy coating for these deep-fried stuffing balls. You can use regular bread crumbs if you don’t have panko, but panko gives the best results.
- Shredded Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese pairs perfectly with the Mozzarella and stuffing.
- Vegetable oil (for frying): You can also use canola oil if preferred.
If you need a good stuffing recipe, my sausage stuffing is our family’s favorite!
Steps to Make Fried Stuffing Balls
Dice the Cheese: Dice up some fresh Mozzarella cheese into small bits.
Prepare the stuffing balls: Start by dividing the cold leftover stuffing into 16 equal portions. Each portion should be about the size of an inch ball. Place a cube of fresh Mozzarella cheese in the center of each portion. Roll it around with your hands to pack it into a firm ball. This will help keep the cheese inside while frying.
Set up the breading station: In a small bowl, mix the panko bread crumbs and shredded Parmesan cheese. In a separate bowl, beat the egg until smooth. You’ll coat the stuffing balls with this before frying.
Coat the stuffing balls: Dip each stuffing ball into the egg, and then dredge in the panko/Parmesan mixture.
Heat the oil: Pour vegetable oil into a large skillet or deep fryer to cover the bottom by about an inch. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it’s hot and ready for frying. The oil should be hot enough to sizzle when you drop a small piece of bread crumb in.
Fry the stuffing balls: Carefully place the coated stuffing balls into the hot oil, cooking in batches if needed. Fry them for about 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are well browned and crispy on all sides. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil.
Drain and serve: Transfer the fried stuffing balls to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil. Let them cool slightly before serving to allow the cheese inside to set.
Using a Deep Fryer to Make Stuffing Balls
- Preheat the deep fryer: Fill your deep fryer with vegetable oil and preheat it to 350°F (medium heat). Make sure there’s enough oil to fully submerge the stuffing balls.
- Fry the stuffing balls: Carefully lower the coated stuffing balls into the hot oil. Fry them in batches for about 3-4 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides. Use a slotted spoon to remove the balls and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Using an Air Fryer to Make Stuffing Balls
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush with a little vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
- Air fry the stuffing balls: Place the coated stuffing balls in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. Air fry at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking. The stuffing balls should come out golden brown and crispy.
- Check for doneness: Ensure that the stuffing balls are heated through and the cheese is melted. If needed, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Ways to Eat Fried Stuffing Balls
- Serve as an Appetizer with Cranberry Sauce: Fried stuffing balls make a delicious appetizer, especially when dunked into cranberry sauce.
- Dip in Gravy: Serve your stuffing balls with some leftover gravy for dipping.
- Pair with Ranch or Garlic Aioli: If you’re looking for a creamy dip, ranch dressing or garlic aioli are great options.
- Serve with Marinara Sauce: Give your stuffing balls an Italian twist by dipping them in marinara sauce.
More Ways to Repurpose Leftovers
- Thanksgiving Sandwich: Super easy to make, just pile it all on and sandwich it together!
- Stuffing Waffles: Here’s another great way to use up leftover stuffing.
- Brunswick Stew: My favorite way to use up all the leftover turkey. I do it every year and I don’t see that changing any time soon. It calls for shredded chicken, but I just swap it out for the leftover turkey.
- Cranberry Streusel Bars: They are reason enough to make two batches of cranberry sauce just to make sure you have enough for a batch or two of the cranberry bars.
- Leftover Mac and Cheese Balls: If you’re like me and you make mac and cheese for big family meals, then this is a new way for you to eat up leftover mac and cheese!
Leftovers
Since you’re using leftovers to make these fried stuffing balls, you should aim to eat them all up after you cook them rather than storing them again.
If you’ve got more than you can eat, it won’t hurt you to pop them back in the fridge, I just don’t like to refrigerate cooked leftovers.
Mozzarella Stuffing Balls
Ingredients
- 3 cups cold stuffing
- 2 oz fresh Mozzarella cheese cut into 16 cubes
- 1 egg beaten
- ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
- ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Divide the stuffing into 16 portions.
- Mix the panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a small dish.
- Cup each portion around a piece of Mozzarella with your hand, and then roll into a firm ball.
- Dip into the egg and dredge in the panko/Parmesan mixture.
- Fry in hot oil to cover until well browned.
