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Sausage and Stuffing Balls

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These Sausage and Stuffing Balls with Cranberry Dipping Sauce are a fabulous holiday appetizer...or a great recipe twist to use up leftovers from the big meal!

Thanksgiving Finger Foods
These sausage and stuffing balls could also be called "little bites of Thanksgiving", y'all. They have all the essentials...except, instead of turkey, I used breakfast sausage. They're similar to the classic baking mix sausage ball, but a lot moister (I always think the baking mix ones get so dried out). These stay moist and delicious...and the cranberry dipping sauce just takes them to the next level of holiday yumminess. You'll definitely want these to nosh on this holiday season...they're a lovely departure from the norm! Check out this delicious holiday recipe (with a twist!) below.


Sausage and Stuffing Balls with Cranberry Dipping Sauce

Easy Thanksgiving Appetizer
I can't decide if I want these sausage and stuffing balls for breakfast, as a snack, or as an appetizer at a holiday party. They're so versatile...and delicious. And who doesn't have leftovers to use from the big holiday meals? Most holidays involve overnight guests...these are perfect to serve during the "in-between" times, when everyone is waiting for a big meal...or packing up to head home. 


Cranberry Dipping Sauce Recipe
And the cranberry dipping sauce is absolutely to die for. Something about that sweet and delicious tartness that really goes well with these yummy, sage-filled sausage and stuffing balls. Sometimes, I really wish double dipping were socially acceptable. Just kidding. Kind of.


Thanksgiving Appetizer
On the day I made these, my oldest noted that the entire house smelled like Thanksgiving. They're perfect for this time of the year, for sure.


Recipe for Sausage Stuffing Balls
There is an option in the recipe to create this with leftovers, or even boxed stuffing mix. Since this recipe is ideal for a party, you may be making it without leftovers on hand. Just be careful not to add too much broth if using leftover stuffing. If using the boxed mix, it will take the mixture just a couple of minutes to moisten once you add the eggs and broth.
Oh, and just a hint: to get my celery, onions, and cranberries well minced, I run them through my mini food processor. It makes quick work of it.


Sausage and Stuffing Balls Recipe

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients:
  • 1 pound ground breakfast sausage
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup finely minced onions
  • 1 stalk celery, finely minced
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries, minced
  • 1 box stuffing mix (unprepared) (can substitute 2 1/2-3 cups leftover prepared stuffing)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup chicken broth (if using leftover stuffing, reduce amount to 1/4-1/2 cup, adding more, as needed)
    • Feel free to substitute with turkey broth. We save the carcass from our turkey every year and make a nice bone broth from it. This would be the perfect place to use it.


Recipe Directions:

  • Brown sausage in large skillet over medium heat. Add seasonings and cook until pink is gone. Add onions and celery to skillet and continue to cook until vegetables are soft and onions are clear. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.
  • Add cheese, cranberries, and stuffing to sausage and stir. Stir in eggs and chicken broth and make sure entire mixture is completely combined.
  • Using a cookie scooper, scoop out heaping balls of mixture (and slightly use palm to press mixture into scoop to make sure it sticks together well). Place balls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. If any of the mixture falls off of one, just press it back into place. Continue with entire batch of mixture (I place about 24 sausage and stuffing balls onto one standard cookie sheet).

Bake in a preheated 375º oven for 15-18 minutes, until tops begin to brown. 
Makes 36-48 Sausage and Stuffing Balls, depending on the sizes you create. I like to use these bamboo appetizer picks to serve these.

While sausage balls are baking, prepare Cranberry Dipping Sauce. 

Cranberry Dipping Sauce Recipe


Ingredients:
Directions:
  • Combine cranberry sauce, orange juice and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. 
  • Stir until thinned out a bit and completely combined.
  • Transfer to a serving dish.


CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE RECIPE


Need More Thanksgiving Inspiration?

Let your table decor go au naturale with these simple tablescape ideas (I grabbed most of the items in the produce department or out of my backyard!). See my video below or the post for these ideas here.




Holiday Appetizer

Want More Thanksgiving Recipes?






48 comments:

  1. This is definitely something we would love to eat. It can be easily made veggie friendly with a few substitutions. The cranberry sauce sounds fantastic!

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  2. This is an awesome way to incorporate Thanksgiving flavors!

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  3. Yum!!! I have an unhealthy love of stuffing with cranberry sauce. This is right up my alley!

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  4. I love Swanson's broth--I use it all the time! I really love using it for pasta recipes, but now I am dying to try it with stuffing! Such a great recipe idea!

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    1. It's a wonderful way to keep things nice an moist...without taking away from the flavor!

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    2. can we make them the night before?

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    3. Hi there! I have tried making them the night before and they did dry out quite a bit! I think they are best made on the same day they will be served. I hope this helps! Thanks for stopping by! xoxo

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  5. Stuffing is my favorite holiday food so I love this idea to make them into small sausage balls to snack on!

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    1. They are so yummy! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, Victoria! Thank you bunches for stopping by!

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  6. This is just awesome! I am totally excited about sharing this one at Thanksgiving with my family. They will absolutely love it with the dipping sauce. Tasty!

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  7. I would have never thought of sausage & stuffing balls! And that dip looks super yummy.

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  8. Thank you, Camila! They are perfect to take to parties and get togethers!

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  9. These sausage balls look awesome. I am always looking for new appetizers for parties. These would be great.
    Bev

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  10. I'm going to a Friendsgiving this weekend and need to bring something, and I think this is what I will be bringing! I love this idea!

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  11. These are going to happen at my house, Kristi! YUM! FYI, I'll be featuring them tomorrow night on Best of the Weekend!

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  12. Oh my tummy already know these will be yummy... Guess what I'm making them. Thanks for sharing!
    Vera

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  13. curious if you have made them ahead ( like a day or two) and then reheated or do they dry out too much? Kind of seem like meatballs which are often frozen and come out fine. I usually like leftover stuffing, even cold stuffing but that is usually in a bowl and not as much surface area, etc.

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    1. I've tried it once and they did dry out quite a bit...maybe add a bit more broth to them, just in case?

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  14. I'm trying to make ahead for a party Friday. Could I freeze them before baking? Thank you! They look great! - Jenny

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    1. I'm not sure I would...I worry it could dry them out.

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  15. Such a disappointment! I love stuffing so I couldn’t wait for these. They were super dry! I made them for a party and overheard a guest saying that they suck the moisture out of your mouth ��

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    1. I'm sorry to hear that, Maria. Was your stuffing too dry to start with? Maybe that's the issue? Thanks for letting me know.

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  16. What kind of breakfast sausage do u use?

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    Replies
    1. We like the Jimmy Dean mild kind...with sage, if we can find that variety. :)

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  17. Wow, these are good! I have to say that I made them with what I had on hand so I followed your idea more than your recipe. I'll have to try the whole recipe some time since your way looks even better!

    In case anyone is wondering about a gluten-free version, I used Trader Joe's GF stuffing mix following their directions exactly with the higher amount of water. It makes SO much stuffing that I could make a batch of these plus have extra to take to Thanksgiving for my son with celiac disease.

    I have half of these in a freezer bag, hoping they reheat well. THANK YOU!!

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    1. We just added a November event (potluck) to our calendar & my husband already requested that we bring these! I only wish TJ's sold their GF stuffing mix all year! But, I should add that YES, these are fine to freeze and reheat!! :) Thanks again!

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  18. My family does a twist on Thanksgiving where it's a day of grazing - all apps, all day. But everything has to have a traditional component. This has been our "stuffing" for the past 3 years, and has become a staple. The only request was that I bring them out a bit later so folks don't scarf them all down and find themselves too full for other options!

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    1. Hi Nan! I LOVE that idea!! I'm so glad that these sausage and stuffing balls have been a hit for the past several years! Thank you bunches for stopping by and sharing this sweet story with me! <3

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  19. Do you not drain the sausage after it is cooked? Are they too greasy?

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    1. Hi Carol! Yes! I do drain the sausage after browning it! I have not found them to be greasy at all. This is a great question! Thank you bunches for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the recipe! <3

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  20. Could you omit the cheese? I have a dairy allergy and was trying to figure out how to substitute it out.

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    1. Hi there! The cheese does help the balls to stick together, but I would definitely try it!

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  21. Making these right now! Adding jalapeños to my cranberry sauce for an extra kick. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Oh YUM! I bet those were FABULOUS! I love the idea of adding jalapenos!

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  22. I just made these. At first they wouldn’t stay together. I followed the recipe exactly. I noticed when I went to prepare the 2nd cookie sheet, they held together way better. So maybe don’t scoop into balls right away. Let it sit a few minutes.
    They taste really good. Don’t omit the cranberries. They add a nice little surprise of sweetness.
    Thank you

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    1. That's a great tip! Thank for sharing! I hope you all enjoyed these as much as we do! xoxo

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  23. Any suggestions on type of stuffing? I have cornbread and chicken flavors.

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    1. Yum! I think either one would be a tasty option!! You honestly can't go wrong with these, Treena! I hope you tried them and enjoyed them as much as we do! xoxo

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  24. Just made these for my husband to take to a last minute potluck pre-Thanksgiving gathering & they're easy and delicious! Glad I made extra to keep for us at home. :) Thanks for a great recipe@

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