Air Fryer Stuffing Balls: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Air fryer stuffing balls are a fun and delicious twist on the traditional holiday side dish. They are quick and easy to make and are perfect for Christmas dinner or as a quick side dish. They are also a great way to save oven space when cooking a roast. The air fryer ensures that the stuffing balls are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The cooking time for stuffing balls in an air fryer varies depending on the recipe and the size of the balls, but on average, they take around 15-20 minutes to cook at a temperature of 180-350 degrees Celsius.

How to make stuffing balls from scratch

Ingredients

• Butter (unsalted)
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Celery
• Fresh or dried sage
• Bread (white, whole wheat, gluten-free, sourdough, or bread crumbs)
• Chicken or vegetable broth
• Poultry seasoning
• Salt and pepper
• Eggs
• Walnuts (optional)
• Dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
• Sausage (optional)

Instructions

• Combine butter and olive oil in a frying pan and heat until melted.
• Chop the onion and add it to the pan. Fry until translucent.
• Chop the celery and add it to the pan. Cook until softened.
• If using fresh sage, chop it and add it to the pan. Fry for 1-2 minutes.
• Chop or tear up the bread and add it to the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Place the mixture into a food processor and pulse until it reaches a fine consistency.
• Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the chicken or vegetable broth, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Beat an egg and add it to the mixture.
• Optional: add chopped walnuts, dried cranberries or raisins, or cooked and crumbled sausage.
• Stir the mixture until well combined.
• Roll the mixture into balls.
• Place the balls into an air fryer basket or a baking sheet.
• Spray the tops and sides of the balls lightly with cooking spray or olive oil spray.
• If using an air fryer, cook at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. If baking in the oven, preheat the oven to 375°F and bake for 20 minutes.
• Serve and enjoy!

Tips

• You can make the stuffing balls in advance and freeze them. When ready to eat, cook them from frozen by increasing the cooking time.
• If the mixture is too wet, add more bread. If it's too dry, add a bit more olive oil.
• To make gluten-free stuffing balls, use gluten-free bread.
• To make vegan stuffing balls, use vegan spread and bread.

How to cook Paxo stuffing balls in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Paxo sage and onion stuffing mix
• Boiling water
• Salted or unsalted butter
• Olive oil or Fry Light Spray

Method:

• Follow the packet instructions to make up the Paxo stuffing mix, adding a little more water than suggested to keep the mixture moist.
• Add butter to the mix – this will add richness and improve the texture.
• Lightly spray or brush the stuffing mixture with olive oil or Fry Light Spray. This will help the balls crisp up without drying out.
• Roll the stuffing mixture into balls. For even cooking, make the balls a similar size.
• Place the balls into the air fryer basket, leaving space between them.
• Cook for 10–15 minutes at 180°C/350°F. If your air fryer has a preheat setting, use this first.
• Shake the basket gently halfway through cooking.
• If you are cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the stuffing balls in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.
• Serve immediately while still hot and crispy.

Tips:

• You can make the stuffing balls in advance and store them in the fridge for up to three days before cooking.
• You can also freeze the cooked stuffing balls.
• Reheat in the microwave or air fryer.

How to make gluten-free stuffing balls

Ingredients

• Gluten-free breadcrumbs
• Dried chives and sage (or any combination of dried green herbs)
• Gluten-free plain flour or cornflour
• Butter (or a dairy-free alternative)
• Boiling water

Method

• Mix together the breadcrumbs, chives, sage, and flour in a large mixing bowl.
• Add boiling water and butter to the bowl.
• Mix thoroughly and allow to rest for 5 minutes or until it becomes a thick, workable paste. If the mixture is too runny, add more breadcrumbs.
• Roll the mixture into balls.
• Preheat the air fryer to 180°C.
• Lightly spray the base of the air fryer basket with vegetable oil.
• Place the stuffing balls in the air fryer, leaving space between them.
• Air fry for 14-16 minutes, turning over after 10 minutes, until golden brown on the outside and not wet in the middle.

Tips

• Use dried herbs instead of fresh herbs. Fresh herbs hold a lot more moisture and won't work as well for rolling the mixture into balls.
• Don't add salt to the dry mixture as gluten-free breadcrumbs tend to be salty.
• If the mixture is too runny after resting, add more gluten-free breadcrumbs and allow the mixture to rest for a few more minutes.

How to make vegan stuffing balls

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• Vegan spread (e.g. Vitalite)
• Bread (e.g. sourdough)
• Fresh sage or dried sage
• Onion
• Vegan butter (unsalted)
• Vegetable stock
• Condensed cream of mushroom soup
• Salt
• Pepper

Method

• Combine olive oil and vegan spread/butter in a wide-based frying pan and heat until melted.
• Chop the onion and add it to the pan. Fry until translucent.
• Chop or tear up the bread and add it to the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Chop the sage and add it to the pan. Fry for 1 minute.
• Place the mixture into a food processor and pulse until it reaches a fine consistency.
• Roll the mixture into balls.
• Place the balls into an air fryer basket and cook at 350°F/180°C for 8-10 minutes, or 200°C for 10 minutes.
• Serve and enjoy!

Tips

• You can add other ingredients to the mixture, such as sausage, sage, mushrooms, or dried fruit. Just be sure to cook these ingredients beforehand.
• You can make the stuffing mixture in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before cooking.
• You can also freeze the uncooked stuffing balls and then cook them from frozen by increasing the cooking time.

How long to reheat stuffing balls in an air fryer

To reheat stuffing balls in an air fryer, it is recommended to reheat them at 180 °C (350 °F) for 3 to 4 minutes or until piping hot. You can also reheat them at 180 °C (355 °F) for about 4 to 5 minutes, ensuring they are hot throughout first.

Reheating stuffing balls in an air fryer is a great way to retain their crispness. You can also reheat them in the microwave for convenience.

Frequently asked questions