These turkey and stuffing meatballs are a fun twist on traditional turkey and stuffing! Juicy, tender meatballs are made with stuffing mix, packed with flavor and served over mashed potatoes with gravy. A perfect Friendsgiving meal!
It’s Thanksgiving week!
We’re kicking things off with my favorite turkey and stuffing meatballs, giving our first Thanksgiving dish here a little twist. Woohoo!
These turkey meatballs are made with a bit of stuffing mix and packed with flavor, so you get a juicy, tender meatball in one bite. Served over mashed potatoes with gravy? Heck yes. This is SUCH a delicious recipe and one you’ll find yourself making a lot more often than just the holiday.
Now we all know that my family is a very traditional Thanksgiving family. Any time I try to switch things up, my family freaks and frankly, I don’t blame them. I want to enjoy the classic dishes that are nostalgic; the ones we only eat one day out of the year.
So you will always find me roasting a whole turkey. But there are so many instances where this recipe for turkey meatballs is fabulous. First, if it’s just you for Thanksgiving, the turkey meatballs provide you with that cozy, comforting flavor that a regular old Thanksgiving might. It’s also a great dish if you have a smaller family and turkey is rarely the star of the show.
After all, Thanksgiving is all about the SIDES!! Side dishes for life. Most of the time I just want a big plate of side dishes!
However, these turkey and stuffing meatballs are also a wonderful idea for Friendsgiving! That is where I like to experiment with my Thanksgiving dishes the most. Friendsgiving calls for fun, exciting twists on the classics and allows you to get creative and excited about a new dish!
The turkey and stuffing meatballs are SO dreamy with my make-ahead gravy (recipe coming this week!) and the how sweet eats mashed potatoes. I love how it tastes familiar and comforting, but can also be served a multitude of ways.
This is how I make them!
I use my classic turkey meatball recipe with a few add-ins. Garlic, some minced onion, fresh parsley, a little sage – just to name a few.
The key is using some stuffing mix! I used to be against this because I make the best stuffing ever and never use a box mix, so it’s not something I have on hand. But let me tell you – it makes this recipe and is what allows it to be so simple and flavorful. Just buy a box for your pantry and you’ll be golden! I usually buy a bag of Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix. I moisten the stuffing with some milk and add it in.
Gently mix it all together and form meatballs. Then, add a drizzle of olive oil to a pan and brown the meatballs all over. Super simple!
Sometimes I brown the meatballs and cook them completely in the skillet. Other times, I pop the skillet in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes to help them along. Either way, you want the inside temp to register 165 degrees before serving.
My mashed potatoes are a major favorite in our house so I love to serve them over that. Especially with lots of gravy – there is nothing more comforting. It can also be the center of your Thanksgiving meal. Say you don’t care about the turkey – then go for it!
Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs
Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs
These turkey and stuffing meatballs are a fun twist on traditional turkey and stuffing! Juicy, tender meatballs are made with stuffing mix, packed with flavor and served over mashed potatoes with gravy. A perfect Friendsgiving meal!
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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In a small bowl, mix the stuffing with the milk. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
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Place the turkey in a bowl and season it all over with salt and pepper. Add the sage and poultry seasoning.
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Add in the onion, garlic and egg. Add in the stuffing and the parsley. Using your hands, mix until everything is just combined. Do not overmix!
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Form the turkey into meatballs.
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Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Brown the meatballs in a single layer, turning them to brown all over. After the meatballs have browned, turn off the heat and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F.
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Serve with mashed potatoes and gravy!
The fluffy cloud of potatoes!
