Leftover Turkey Balls: A Thanksgiving Tradition with a Twist

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food. But what happens to all those leftovers? Don’t let them go to waste! Leftover turkey balls are a fun and creative way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers, and they’re sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.

What are Leftover Turkey Balls?

Leftover turkey balls are a combination of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and chopped turkey that are formed into balls, coated in breadcrumbs, and then either deep-fried or air-fried. They’re a delicious and easy way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers, and they’re perfect for a quick and easy meal or appetizer.

How to Make Leftover Turkey Balls:

Making leftover turkey balls is a simple process that anyone can do. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Gather your ingredients. You’ll need leftover mashed potatoes, stuffing, chopped turkey, eggs, panko breadcrumbs, and vegetable oil or olive oil cooking spray.
2. Combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and chopped turkey. Mix well until everything is evenly combined.
3. Form the balls. Using your hands, form the mixture into balls. The size of the balls is up to you, but they should be about the size of a golf ball.
4. Coat the balls. Beat the eggs in a bowl. Pour the panko breadcrumbs into another bowl. Dip each ball in the eggs and then coat it with the panko breadcrumbs.
5. Cook the balls. You can either deep-fry or air-fry the balls. If deep-frying, heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully add the balls and fry for 3 minutes, flipping halfway through. If air-frying, place the balls in the air fryer basket and spray them with olive oil cooking spray. Set the air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 20 minutes.
6. Serve. Serve the leftover turkey balls with gravy for dipping.

Tips for Making Leftover Turkey Balls:

• For extra flavor, add some grated Parmesan cheese or chopped herbs to the mixture.
• If you don’t have panko breadcrumbs, you can use regular breadcrumbs or crushed crackers.
• Be sure to let the balls cool slightly before serving so that they don’t fall apart.
• Leftover turkey balls can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Leftover turkey balls are a delicious and easy way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers. They’re perfect for a quick and easy meal or appetizer, and they’re sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. So next time you have Thanksgiving leftovers, don’t throw them away! Make leftover turkey balls instead. You won’t regret it.