Stuffing Fritters Recipe (2024)

  • Fall
  • Thanksgiving
  • Thanksgiving Stuffings

If you can fry a turkey, why not the fixings?

By

Joshua Bousel

Stuffing Fritters Recipe (1)

Joshua Bousel

Joshua Bousel is a Serious Eats old-timer, having started sharing his passion for grilling and barbecue recipes on the site back in 2008. He continues to develop grilling and barbecue recipes on his own site, The Meatwave, out of his home base of Durham, North Carolina.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated January 17, 2023

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Stuffing Fritters Recipe (2)

In This Recipe

  • Adding Ingredients to the Stuffing

  • Forming the Batter

Why It Works

  • Classic Thanksgiving flavors and cornmeal batter form the base of these hush puppy-like fritters.
  • Cooked diced Granny Smith apples impart a stuffing quality to the fritters.

I've only made a fried turkey once, but almost as memorable as that juicy and crisp-skinned bird were the taters we sliced and cooked in the still-hot oil. The seasoning and fat from the bird infused those fries with a special flavor that I've never been able to reproduce. It did get me thinking though, if you can fry the centerpiece of the holiday meal, why not try out frying some of the trimmings? Well folks,it turns out that fried Thanksgiving stuffing fritters are pretty damn incredible.

Getting Stuffed: Adding Ingredients to the Stuffing

Kenji actually floated the idea of stuffing fritters to me, and in an instant, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I've spent a bit of time developing a really good hush puppy recipe, so I figured if I threw some stuffing standards in, I'd have a fried approximation of my cornbread stuffing that adorns the table each Thanksgiving.

The first question was what to add to the batter to give it an unmistakable Thanksgiving flavor. I started with the standard onion and celery, sweated in butter to give them the softened texture and sweet flavor they normally develop in a traditional roasted stuffing. At the very end of cooking, I stirred a healthy amount of sage and thyme to add that familiar herbal touch.

Mixed into my cornmeal batter and fried, these fritters were light and fluffy, but had a balance that was more hush puppy-sweet than the savory stuffing I was after. So I built upon that foundation and added in lightly cooked diced Granny Smith apples, which squarely pushed these fritters into stuffing territory.

But I didn't stop there. I also tried another favorite stuffing mix-in—sausage. My guest tasters were mixed with this one. Sure, the sausage tasted good, but it also introduced a harder texture that was out of harmony with the rest of the soft vegetables and apples. I sided with those who weren't as fond of the sausage and opted to leave it out of the final recipe. Feel free to add it in if you like, or experiment with other stuffing-friendly ingredients like cranberries, nuts, or mushrooms.

Batter Up: Forming the Batter

Stuffing Fritters Recipe (3)

With a batch of pretty awesome fritters resting nicely in my belly, I figured I was all set. Just for kicks though, and to use up the rest of my stuffing mix, I whipped up another batter. This time, I strayed away from the cornmeal-heavy hush puppy batter and made one that was composed mainly of flour, more like an apple fritter. These fried up just as light and airy as the first batch, but tasted like a whole different animal.

By backing down on the cornmeal, the savory value of this batch of fritters was turned way up.They didn't have the sweetness of the first batter, which gave the onions, celery, apples, and herbs center stage. Across the board, everyone thought these tasted much more like stuffing; something that would fit perfectly nestled between turkey and cranberry sauce on a plate. The only thing that would make them better is if I were able to fry them in post-turkey-frying oil, but worry not—a little bacon fat in the oil can work its own magic.

November 2013

Recipe Details

Stuffing Fritters Recipe

Active30 mins

Total30 mins

Serves8to 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
  • 3/4 cup diced peeled Granny Smith apple (about 1 apple)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped celery (about 1 large stalk)
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • For the Batter:
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • For Frying:
  • 1 quart peanut or vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup bacon drippings (optional)

Directions

  1. Melt butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add onions, apple, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions, apple, and celery have softened, but not browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in sage and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Stuffing Fritters Recipe (4)

  2. To make the batter: Stir together flour, cornmeal, buttermilk, eggs, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in onion and apple mixture.

    Stuffing Fritters Recipe (5)

  3. Heat oil and bacon drippings (if using) to 375°F (190°C) in a large pot or Dutch oven over high heat. Using a cookie scoop or 2 spoons, drop heaping tablespoons of batter into oil and fry until golden brown, flipping halfway through cooking, about 5 minutes total. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Season with additional salt to taste, then serve immediately.

    Stuffing Fritters Recipe (6)

  • Thanksgiving Stuffings
  • Frying
  • Sides
  • Quick Sides
  • Christmas Sides
Stuffing Fritters Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my stuffing gummy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

What does egg do for stuffing? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

Why does my stuffing crumble? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

What makes stuffing mushy? ›

You'll need day-old loaves to get stale so that the stuffing doesn't get too mushy. Don't cube that bread! Ragged, imperfect pieces of bread have more surface area; it's those nooks and crannies that give you good texture. Speaking of texture, that's what stuffing is all about--you want a mix of crispy and soft pieces.

How do you keep stuffing from drying out? ›

Broth is your best friend

But as stuffing bakes, moisture can also start to disappear, leading to a parched dressing. This is where broth comes in. According to EatingWell, you can fix dry stuffing by adding 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of stuffing mix, tossing gently to help the mix rehydrate.

Can you mess up stuffing? ›

Your Bread Is Too Fresh

There's nothing better than soft, fresh bread—except for when it comes to stuffing. If you want your stuffing to hold up and not end up a soupy, soggy mess, make sure your bread is dried out or staled for a few days.

How can you tell if stuffing is undercooked? ›

If stuffing does not reach 165 ºF when the meat itself is done, further cooking will be required for the stuffing to reach 165 ºF. For optimal safety and uniform doneness, cook stuffing separately.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread.

What makes stuffing unhealthy? ›

Stuffing is not strictly a healthy food, because it is typically high in calories, fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates. 1 But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, All foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation.

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

Classic stuffing made with bread cubes, seasonings, and held together with chicken stock and eggs. A holiday staple!

Is it better to make stuffing the night before? ›

The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes. "Making stuffing ahead saves time, allows stove and oven space for other things, and making it ahead gives time for the flavor to fully develop," Chef David Tiner, Director at Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge, tells Southern Living.

How to fix gummy stuffing? ›

Gummy Stuffing

If your stuffing is too wet and gummy, turn it out onto a baking pan or cookie sheet. Break it up and spread it in an even layer. Then bake until dried to the desired level.

What do southerners call stuffing? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

Why does stuffing make me ill? ›

Stuffing recipes usually require raw eggs, which carry with them the risk of bacteria such as Salmonella.

How do you crisp leftover stuffing? ›

The oven method may be your best bet if you're reheating a large amount of stuffing.
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish.
  2. Add a splash of broth if it seems dry (optional).
  3. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

How do you make soggy bread crispy? ›

Heat it.

Put the bread in a cold oven, then turn the heat to 300° F. Let the loaf slowly heat up for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the density and dryness of the bread.

How do you keep stuffing soft? ›

Use enough liquid: The key to keeping stuffing moist is to use enough liquid. You can use chicken or vegetable broth, melted butter, or a combination of both. The amount of liquid you need will depend on the recipe, but a good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid for every 4 cups of bread cubes.

Can you make stuffing the day before and reheat? ›

Can you prepare stuffing ahead of time and reheat? YES! This stuffing is baked to golden perfection the day before the big meal. You store it in the fridge overnight and then simply warm it in the oven before dinner.

References

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