Sausage & Stuffing Meatballs
These Sausage Stuffing Meatballs have all the cozy flavors of a holiday stuffing, savory sausage, sharp cheddar, and sweet-tart cranberries, rolled into golden, crispy-edged bites and dunked in a bright cranberry-orange sauce.

These bites the kind of appetizer that makes a holiday spread feel extra festive without adding much work to your day. They’re a brilliant way to use up leftover stuffing, but they’re also worth making from scratch with a boxed mix any time you want a taste of Thanksgiving.
Serve them at Friendsgiving, set them out on a holiday grazing board, or turn them into a next-day snack that has everyone going back for more.
Helpful Tips
- Adjust the broth to your stuffing: Leftover stuffing can be drier or moister depending on the recipe, so add the chicken broth a little at a time until the mixture holds together when you squeeze it.
- Wet your hands for rolling: The mixture is sticky, so dampen your hands or use a small cookie scoop to shape tidy, even bites that bake at the same rate.
- Make sure the sausage is cooked through: Since the sausage goes in raw, check that the center of a bite reaches 160°F before serving, and add a few extra minutes if your stuffing balls are on the larger side.
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Sausage & Stuffing Meatballs
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 1/2 cups prepared stuffing
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries chopped
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
For the dipping sauce:
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F(190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine all stuffing ingredients in large bowl.
- Scoop the mixture into balls and set on the baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden.
- To prepare the dipping sauce, combine the cranberry sauce, orange juice, and salt in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk until fully combined. Simmer until sauce has thicken, about 5 minutes.
- Serve stuffing balls with cranberry sauce on the side.

