These Air Fryer Stuffing Balls are crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and made with just 3 ingredients. Using a packet of stuffing mix makes them incredibly easy, and they cook in the air fryer in just 10 minutes.
They're one of my favourite shortcuts for Christmas dinner or a Sunday roast. When the oven is already full of turkey, roast potatoes and all the trimmings, it's one less thing to worry about!
Using Paxo or another packet stuffing mix also means there's very little preparation. You can even shape the stuffing balls in advance, ready to cook just before serving.
Recipe update: This recipe was originally published on 1 December 2023 and was fully retested in November 2026 to check the cooking time and ingredient quantities. The original recipe still worked well, but I've expanded the instructions, tips and FAQs.
Would you like to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love Them
- Recipe Overview
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- How to Make Stuffing Balls in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Stuffing Ball Variations
- How Long to Cook Stuffing Balls in the Air Fryer
- Serving Suggestions
- Storage
- Dannii's Extra Tips
- Troubleshooting Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Air Fryer Side Dish Recipes
- Recipe
- Feedback
Why You'll Love Them
- Only 3 ingredients - Stuffing mix, boiling water and butter. Nothing complicated!
- Quick and easy - Just 10 minutes in the air fryer and 17 minutes in total.
- Saves oven space - Perfect for Christmas Day when you're cooking lots of dishes at once.
- Crispy and golden - The air fryer gives the stuffing balls a lovely golden outside while keeping the middle soft.
- Great for preparing ahead - Make them in advance and keep them in the fridge or freezer until needed.
Recipe Overview
- Recipe Overview
- Air fryer tested: Ninja Foodi MAX Dual 9.5L.
- Temperature: 180°C/350°F on the Air Fry setting.
- Cooking time: 10 minutes, turning halfway through. Allow another 5 minutes for the stuffing to absorb the water before shaping.
- Makes: 16 small stuffing balls from a 170g packet of stuffing mix.
I tested this recipe in my Ninja Foodi MAX Dual 9.5L air fryer. Other models may need a slightly different cooking time, so check the stuffing balls towards the end.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Stuffing mix - We use 170g of packet sage and onion stuffing mix. Paxo is my favourite, but supermarket own-brand stuffing works too. Other flavours are fine, although the amount of water needed may vary between brands. If you prefer homemade stuffing, try our sage and onion stuffing.
- Boiling water - We use 400ml to soften the stuffing mix and help it hold together. Check the instructions on your packet if using a different brand or size.
- Butter - Just a tablespoon adds extra flavour and helps give the stuffing balls a golden finish. You can use a dairy-free alternative if needed, checking that your stuffing mix is suitable too.
More ways to adapt this recipe can be found in the Variations section below.
How to Make Stuffing Balls in the Air Fryer
- Put the stuffing mix, butter and boiling water into a mixing bowl.
- Mix everything together until well combined, then leave to stand for 5 minutes. The stuffing will absorb the water and become firm enough to shape.
- Divide the mixture into 16 equal-sized balls, gently pressing each one together so it holds its shape.
- Arrange the stuffing balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between them.
Cook on the Air Fry setting at 180°C/350°F for 10 minutes, carefully turning halfway through, until golden and piping hot in the middle.
Air Fryer Stuffing Ball Variations
Packet stuffing is delicious on its own, but there are a few easy ways to add something extra.
For a festive twist, add a little finely grated clementine zest or some finely chopped dried cranberries or apricots. These work particularly well with sage and onion stuffing.
For extra crunch, try adding a few finely chopped pecans or walnuts. You could also mix in a teaspoon of Dijon mustard for a little extra flavour.
You can experiment with different packet stuffing flavours too.
If you want to add raw sausage meat, use a separately tested sausage-meat stuffing recipe instead. The cooking time will be different, and the pork must be thoroughly cooked through.
How Long to Cook Stuffing Balls in the Air Fryer
For these small stuffing balls made from packet mix, allow 10 minutes at 180°C/350°F, turning halfway through.
The exact time will depend on your air fryer and the size of your stuffing balls. Start checking towards the end of cooking and add another minute or two if needed.
You want the outside to be lightly crispy and golden, with a soft middle that is piping hot throughout. Avoid leaving them in too long, as the stuffing can dry out.
If your air fryer requires preheating, follow the manufacturer's instructions. You may also need to cook the stuffing balls in batches if you have a smaller basket.
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer stuffing balls are a classic addition to Christmas dinner, but they're just as good with a Sunday roast.
For the main dish, try our slow cooker turkey crown, air fryer turkey, roast turkey breast or slow cooker roast beef.
Stuffing and potatoes are always a good combination. Serve them with duck fat roast potatoes, air fryer roast potatoes, mustard mashed potatoes or our make ahead mashed potatoes.
To complete your Christmas dinner, add some air fryer pigs in blankets, mustard and honey roasted parsnips and slow cooker red cabbage. Don't forget plenty of easy onion gravy!
Leftover stuffing balls are also delicious in our leftover turkey sandwich.
Storage
Make ahead: Prepare the stuffing mixture and roll it into balls up to 24 hours in advance. Keep them covered in the fridge, then air fry when you're ready to serve. This is a great way to save preparation time on Christmas Day.
Store: Allow cooked leftovers to cool, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. Eat within 48 hours.
Freeze: Arrange the uncooked stuffing balls on a tray and freeze until firm. Transfer them to a labelled freezer bag or airtight container. For best quality, use within 2 months. Freezing them separately first stops them sticking together.
Cook from frozen: These small vegetarian stuffing balls can be cooked straight from frozen. Allow approximately 12-14 minutes at 180°C as a starting point, turning halfway through and checking that they are piping hot throughout. Follow the packaging instructions for commercially prepared frozen stuffing balls.
Reheat: Put cooked stuffing balls back in the air fryer at 180°C for a few minutes, checking after 3 minutes. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through, and only reheat once.
Dannii's Extra Tips
- Keep them small and even-sized - Divide the mixture into 16 equal balls so they cook evenly without drying out.
- Let the stuffing stand - Don't skip the 5-minute resting time. The breadcrumbs need to absorb the water before you can shape them.
- Shape gently but firmly - Press the mixture together so the balls hold their shape. Slightly damp hands can help if the stuffing is sticking.
- Don't overcrowd the basket - Leave space around each ball so the hot air can circulate. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Turn carefully - Use tongs or a spoon to gently turn the balls halfway through cooking, rather than shaking the basket vigorously.
- Watch the moisture - The stuffing should hold together without being dry and crumbly. If it's too wet to shape, let it stand a little longer. If it's too dry, mix in a splash of water.
- Try Dijon mustard - A teaspoon mixed into the stuffing adds a lovely extra flavour.
- Adjust for your air fryer - Models vary, so check towards the end of cooking and add a little extra time if needed. Avoid overcooking or the centres can become dry.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mixture too wet to shape | Too much water or not enough resting time | Leave for another few minutes to absorb the water. If still too wet, add a little extra dry stuffing mix. |
| Stuffing balls are dry | Not enough moisture or overcooked | Add a splash more water before shaping. Check towards the end of cooking and avoid leaving them in too long. |
| Not crispy enough | Basket overcrowded or cooking time too short | Leave space between the balls and cook for another 1-2 minutes if needed. |
| Cooking unevenly | Different-sized balls or not turned | Make 16 equal-sized balls and turn gently halfway through. Cook in batches if necessary. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Small stuffing balls made from this vegetarian packet mix can be cooked from frozen. Allow around 12-14 minutes at 180°C as an initial guide, turning halfway through and checking they are piping hot in the centre. For frozen shop-bought stuffing balls, including Aunt Bessie's, check the packaging because ingredients, size and cooking times may differ.
Yes, and that's what we did! You can use the Air Fry function on a Ninja air fryer just as you would with other models. For this recipe, use 180°C and allow approximately 10 minutes, checking towards the end of cooking. If you're using a dual-drawer air fryer, you can cook the stuffing in one drawer while preparing another part of your roast dinner in the other.
The mixture may not have absorbed enough water, or the balls might not have been pressed together firmly enough. Leave the stuffing to stand for the full 5 minutes and make sure it holds together before shaping. Also, avoid turning the stuffing balls too early or shaking the basket too hard, as they can break apart before the outside has firmed up.
More Air Fryer Side Dish Recipes
If you've tried these air fryer stuffing balls, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy and use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Stuffing Balls
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 170 g (6 oz) of Stuffing mix
- 1 tablespoon of Butter
- 400 ml (1 ⅔ cups) of Boiled water
Instructions
- Put 170 g of Stuffing mix, 1 tablespoon of Butter and 400 ml of Boiled water into a mixing bowl.
- Mix everything together until well combined, then leave to stand for 5 minutes. The stuffing will absorb the water and become firm enough to shape.
- Divide the mixture into 16 equal-sized balls, gently pressing each one together so it holds its shape.
- Arrange the stuffing balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between them.
- Cook on the Air Fry setting at 180°C/350°F for 10 minutes, carefully turning halfway through, until golden and piping hot in the middle.
Recipe Notes
- Cooking times vary between air fryer models and may be longer for larger stuffing balls or when cooking from frozen.
- Cook in batches if needed. This will increase the total preparation time.
- You can shape the balls a day ahead and keep them covered in the fridge.
- Different packet stuffing mixes may require different amounts of water.
- If adding raw sausage meat, use a separate recipe with the correct cooking instructions.
Nutritional Information
Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
All timings are a guide and may vary depending on the ingredients, equipment and, where relevant, the appliance used. Changing the serving size may also affect the time needed.
TAYLER ROSS says
I'm never making traditional stuffing again! These stuffing balls were so delicious- and even better that they were made in the air fryer!
Andrea says
What a fun and fabulous way to enjoy stuffing with your Holiday meal.
Katheirne says
This was such a great time saving hack! The stuffing balls turned out perfectly in the air fryer.
Bobby says
These turned out delicious! So easy and actually kind of fun!