Baked Thanksgiving Meatballs

Name: Baked Thanksgiving Meatballs
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ¼ cup Stuffing Mix (1 1/4 cup herbed stuffing mix, divided); ½ cup Chicken Stock (1/2 cup unsalted chicken or turkey stock); 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter (3 tablespoons unsalted butter); 1 cup Yellow Onion (1/2 cup+2 tablespoons minced yellow onion); 1 cup Celery (1/2 cup+2 tablespoons minced celery); 1 tbsp Kosher Salt (1 tablespoon kosher salt, divided); 8 pieces Sage (8-10 large sage leaves, thinly sliced — up to 10); 1 tsp Thyme (1 teaspoon minced thyme leaves); 1 ½ lb Whole Turkey (1 1/2 pounds ground turkey); ⅓ cup Pecans (1/3 cup toasted, chopped pecans); 1 tsp Dried marjoram (1 teaspoon dried marjoram); 1 ½ tsp Black Pepper (1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper); ¼ tsp Nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg); 1 tbsp Parsley (1 tablespoon chopped parsley); 1 piece Egg (1 whole egg, beaten); 0 pieces Cooking Spray (vegetable oil spray); 0 pieces Tart Cranberry Dipping Sauce (Tart Cranberry Dipping Sauce https://altonbrown.com/recipes/tart-cranberry-dipping-sauce/) — optional

Thanksgiving-themed turkey meatballs with herb stuffing, pecans, and spices, baked in egg cartons and served with a tart cranberry dipping sauce.

90 minAmerican

Servings24

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Ingredients

For 24 servings

Stuffing Mix1 ¼ cup · 1 1/4 cup herbed stuffing mix, divided
Chicken Stock½ cup · 1/2 cup unsalted chicken or turkey stock
Unsalted Butter3 tbsp · 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Yellow Onion1 cup · 1/2 cup+2 tablespoons minced yellow onion
Celery1 cup · 1/2 cup+2 tablespoons minced celery
Kosher Salt1 tbsp · 1 tablespoon kosher salt, divided
Sage8 pieces · 8-10 large sage leaves, thinly sliced — up to 10
Thyme1 tsp · 1 teaspoon minced thyme leaves
Whole Turkey1 ½ lb · 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
Pecans⅓ cup · 1/3 cup toasted, chopped pecans
Dried marjoram1 tsp · 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
Black Pepper1 ½ tsp · 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Nutmeg¼ tsp · 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Parsley1 tbsp · 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Egg1 piece · 1 whole egg, beaten
Cooking Spray0 pieces · vegetable oil spray
Tart Cranberry Dipping Sauce0 pieces · Tart Cranberry Dipping Sauce https://altonbrown.com/recipes/tart-cranberry-dipping-sauce/ · optional

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Steps

1Measure 3/4 cup (50 grams) of the stuffing mix into a quart size zip top bag and seal, pushing any air out. Crush the crumbs with a rolling pin, meat mallet, or even a large can until finely ground. Remove the crumbs to a pie pan or plate and set aside.
2Melt the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and 1/2 teaspoon of the kosher salt and sauté, stirring frequently, until the vegetables begin to brown, 4-5 minutes. Finish with the sage and thyme leaves and cook 1 more minute. Remove this mixture to a small bowl to cool for 5 minutes.
3Place the turkey in a large mixing bowl along with the remaining salt, pecans, the remaining stuffing mix, marjoram, black pepper, nutmeg, parsley, egg, and the cooled vegetable mixture. Thoroughly combine with your fingers. Scoop the meatball mixture with a tablespoon into 24 equal portions (42-43 grams or 1 1/2 ounces each) and place them on the sheet pan. They don't have to be perfect balls at this point. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or cover and store overnight to finish the next day.)
4Heat the oven to 400℉ with a rack in the middle position.
5Using scissors or a utility knife, separate the egg carton lids from the side that holds the eggs. Form trays by nesting the egg cup sides into the lids.
6When 30 minutes are up, roll each portion into a ball then thoroughly coat each with the crushed stuffing crumbs. Return to the sheet pan then spray the tops of the balls generously with cooking spray. Place lubed side down into the egg cartons, then spray the tops with additional spray.
7Place the cartons in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 160℉.
8Serve the meatballs hot, or at room temperature, dipped into our Tart Cranberry Dipping Sauce, if desired...and it will be, desired that is.