What I love about this recipe is that it uses pantry staples like bread, onion, garlic, sage, seasoning, oil or butter, and an optional egg. I’m also lucky to have a sage planter right in my garden, which gives me even more reasons to whip up these delicious appetizers whenever I want. They’re so tasty that we sometimes enjoy them as appetizers, even when it’s not a roast day!
Air Fry or Oven Bake
Both cooking methods are delicious, but if I’m short on time, I definitely prefer making sage and onion stuffing balls in my air fryer, as the cooking time is just 7 minutes! However, when I’m preparing large batches, I find that baking them in the oven works better, taking about 20 minutes. Give this sage and onion stuffing recipe a try today, and I guarantee it will become an instant family favourite!
Why you’ll love this recipe?
Versatile Cooking: Make them in the air fryer or oven—whichever is more convenient for you. Freezer Friendly: Prepare a large batch and freeze them for later. Easily Available Ingredients: Use pantry staples and your favorite herbs to create these stuffing balls. Dietary Needs: They’re suitable for vegetarians and can easily be adapted for vegan and gluten-free diets with a few substitutions. Make ahead: Prepare the mixture a night prior, store it in the refrigerator overnight and then cook it the next day.
In case you want to make things simpler you can even go ahead and pick up breadcrumbs from the market.
How to make Air fryer Sage and Stuffing Balls?: Step by Step
Making these stuffing balls is really simple! First, I cook the onion and garlic in oil for about 4-5 minutes until they’re soft. I make sure to keep the heat on low to medium so they don’t change color. After that, I turn off the heat and let the onion mixture cool for about 5 min Next, I add the seasoning, fresh sage, salt, pepper, and breadcrumbs. I mix it all together really well. Then, I slowly add a beaten egg to the mixture and stir until everything is combined. If the mixture feels too wet, I just add a bit more breadcrumbs. Now it’s time to roll the mixture into walnut-sized balls!
Air Frying the Stuffing Balls
I preheat the air fryer to 180°C for 2 minutes. After that, I place the stuffing balls in the air fryer basket. I air fry them for a total of 6-7 minutes. I check them at the 5-minute mark and add extra time if needed. If I want them extra crispy, I let them cook for the full 7 minutes.
Tips to make the best stuffing balls
When making breadcrumbs, I avoid using sandwich bread. Instead, I prefer a bloomer or an ordinary loaf from the baker. I grate the bread with a large-hole cheese grater or pop it into the food processor to get the right texture. This easy family recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator overnight for next-day enjoyment. If I’m prepping the mixture in advance, I skip the egg until I’m ready to cook. However, I can cook the stuffing balls and then store them for later. If you have a larger air fryer, like the Instant Brands Vortex VersaZone 8.5L, it cooks the stuffing balls more quickly than smaller models. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex air fryer, and it takes about 7 minutes. If you’re working with a 3-4 quart air fryer, just add a little extra time as needed.
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