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 are my fritters not crispy? ›

Avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry the fritters in batches, leaving enough space between each fritter so they cook evenly and get crispy. If the pan is overcrowded, the fritters may release more moisture, making them soft instead of crispy.

What does egg do for stuffing? ›

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

Should stuffing be crispy? ›

Speaking of texture, that's what stuffing is all about--you want a mix of crispy and soft pieces.

What makes batter more crispy? ›

Rice flour and cornstarch work particularly well because they fry up crispier than wheat flour. They also absorb less moisture and fat during the frying process, making the products less greasy.

What does baking soda do in fritters? ›

So we use both to get the best of both worlds; Baking soda (bi-carb) OR baking powder – just a touch, to aerate the batter every so slightly (without it, it's slightly denser); Parmesan – for a good hit of savoury flavour AND to make the fritters extra crispy! Green onion and coriander – for a hit of freshness.

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.

Are you supposed to cook the stuffing before putting it in? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

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.

How much stuffing for 12 people? ›

In order to fill the cavity of the bird you are stuffing, you should make 3/4 cup of stuffing per person. You may not be able to fit all the stuffing into your turkey. If this is the case, then you can even make a casserole to fill up your guests!

Is it better to make stuffing the day 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.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

Can you just add boiling water to stuffing? ›

It's simple to make – just combine the stuffing mix with boiling water, mix well and leave to stand for five minutes. Then the mix is ready to either place into an ovenproof dish or shape into stuffing balls and bake in the oven.

How to fix soggy fritters? ›

Larger eggs have more water from the egg white, resulting in wetter batter and soggy fritters. Add flour to your wet batter! Most veggies have a high water content (which we know equals soggy fritters). Adding flour to a wetter batter will give you the thick consistency need to make the perfect batter.

How do you keep fritters crispy? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

How do you make fritters crispy again? ›

For the stovetop skillet technique, heat a skillet over medium heat with a thin layer of vegetable oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the fritters and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they reach a golden-brown color and regain their crispy exterior.

Why is my batter not getting crispy? ›

Soggy batter prevention that works every time

If you've gotten the dreaded limp fried coating, you might have over-mixed your batter, which forms more pesky gluten that readily soaks up the oil. Mix batter until just combined — no more, and no less. You might also be making the mistake of adding warm water.

References

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