These easy sage and onion stuffing balls can be prepared ahead of time and take just under 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer. Crispy, flavourful, and perfect for roast dinner or holiday meal— they’re much better than store-bought versions.
For more festive side dishes, explore more vegetarian air fryer recipes to make your holiday meals a breeze!
While this stuffing recipe is a Christmas favourite, I love enjoying it all year round just like air fryer whole roasted cauliflower and air fryer bubble and squeaks. These stuffing balls are great for serving in portions. You can also pack the vegetarian or vegan stuffing mixture into a baking dish if you prefer not to roll them into delicate stuffing balls.
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Why This Recipe Works?
- You can easily double or triple the recipe to make as much as you want.
- Air fry or oven bake—use the cooking method more convenient for you.
- You only need Pantry staples and your favourite herbs to make these stuffing balls.
- Dietary Needs: Suitable for vegetarians. Can suit vegan and gluten-free diets with a few substitutions.
- Make ahead: Life saver during holiday prep or busy days
- Freezer Friendly: Prepare a large batch and freeze them for later.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for full ingredient details and quantities.
- Onion: White onion works best as it doesn’t affect the color of the stuffing balls too much.
- Bread: I use bloomer or ordinary loaf. Do not use sandwich bread. Use a grater or a food processor with an S-blade to turn a regular loaf into fresh breadcrumbs.
- Seasoning Blend: My go-to mix includes ground black pepper and dried herbs like sage, basil, oregano, and parsley.
- Sage: Fresh sage gives the best flavor! If not available, substitute with 2 teaspoons of dried sage.
Substitutions & Variations
- To make it eggless, add more butter along with 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable stock until the mixture holds together.
- For a richer flavor, use unsalted butter instead of olive oil.
- For variations, add parsley and rosemary along with the sage.
How to Make Sage and Onion Stuffing Balls?
Step 1: Make fresh breadcrumbs by grating the bread with a large-hole cheese grater. Alternatively, for a larger portion, place the bread in a food processor and process into crumbs.
Step 2: Cook the onion and garlic in oil for about 4-5 minutes until soft. Turn off the heat and let the onion mixture cool for about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Add seasoning, chopped fresh sage, salt, pepper, and breadcrumbs to the cooled mixture.
Step 4: Add the beaten egg and combine.
Step 5: Roll the stuffing into walnut-sized balls.
Step 6: Preheat the air fryer to 180°C for 2 minutes. Place the stuffing mixture balls in the air fryer basket.
Step 7: Air fry for 6-7 minutes. For extra crispiness, air fry for 7 minutes.
Top Tips to make the best stuffings mixture
- For breadcrumbs, use white soda bread, bloomer bread or any regular bread. Avoid using sandwich bread.
- To make ahead, skip the egg and prepare the rest of the mixture until you’re ready to cook. Alternatively, cook the stuffing balls first and store them in the fridge or freezer for later.
- I use a larger air fryer, like the Instant Brands Vortex VersaZone 8.5L for larger portions. When I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex air fryer, and it takes about 7 minutes. If you’re using a 3-4 quart air fryer, just add a little extra time as needed.
- To serve 8 people, simply double the quantity.
- Want to make it in a casserole instead? Skip the breadcrumbs, use bread cubes in the same recipe, and add them to a baking dish. Air fry for 25-30 minutes.
Serving
- Serve sage & onion stuffing with roast parsnips and vegetable tray bake for Christmas dinner or Sunday roast.
- Enjoy as a snack with sour cream and chives dip and vegan boom boom sauce — perfect for after-school munching!
- Use leftover stuffing balls in wraps with lettuce, cucumber, pickled onion, green chutney, and a cooling cucumber dip for a quick dinner plan.
- You can also use this mixture to stuff the main cavity of a duck or chicken, or the neck of a turkey.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can definitely make vegan sage & onion stuffing balls using my vegan sage and onion stuffing recipe! Just substitute any non-vegan ingredients with plant-based alternatives in this recipe, and you’ll have a delicious vegan version.
No, this stuffing recipe is not gluten-free, but it can easily be made gluten-free! Simply use gluten-free breadcrumbs and ensure there’s no cross-contamination during preparation.
You can eat the holiday stuffing mix raw if it’s just the herbs, dried onion, and breadcrumbs—these ingredients are safe and won’t harm you. It tastes much better baked! Just be sure not to add raw eggs if you’re eating it uncooked.
The cooked Stuffings will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or can be frozen for up to 3 months if stored in an airtight container.
Yes, they freeze really well! I like to place the cooled air fryer stuffing balls on a lined baking tray and pop them in the freezer until they’re frozen. Then, I transfer them to a freezer bag, where they can last for about three months.
Just defrost them when you’re ready to eat, then heat them through in the air fryer
More easy Vegetarian Holiday recipes
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Ingredients
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon olive Oil
- Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon Ground Pepper
- 2 teaspoon Mixed Herbs
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Sage or Dried Sage
- 2 Cup Fresh Bread Crumbs
- 1 Egg beaten
Instructions
- Gently heat oil in a medium pan. Add garlic, onion, and fry for 30 seconds on medium heat. Cover with lid and allow the onion to soften for 4-5 minutes in low heat.
- Turn off the flame and allow it to cool down for 5 minutes.
- Add the seasoning mixture, diced sage, salt, pepper, bread crumbs. Give it a good mix.
- Now add the beaten egg slowly and stir the stuffings mixture until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into walnut-sized balls.
Air fryer Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 180C for 2 minutes and then transfer the stuffing balls to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 6-7 minutes in total. Check at 5 minutes and add the extra time as necessary. If you like it crispy, air fry for 7 minutes.
Oven Instructions
- Prheat the oven to 356F/ 180C. Line the baking sheet with a parchment paper. Arrange the stuffing balls on baking sheet and bake for 25-30 mins or until golden brown.
Notes
- For breadcrumbs, use white soda bread, bloomer bread, or any regular bread. Avoid sandwich bread.
- To make ahead, skip the egg and prepare the mixture until you're ready to cook. Store in the fridge or freezer.
- You can also cook the stuffing balls first and store them for later.
- I use a larger air fryer, like the Instant Brands Vortex VersaZone 8.5L, for larger portions. With a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex air fryer, it takes about 7 minutes. If using a 3-4 quart air fryer, add a little extra time as needed.
- To serve 8 people, double the quantity.
- Want to make it in a casserole? Skip the breadcrumbs, use bread cubes, and air fry in a baking dish for 25-30 minutes.
Sara Welch says
Such a fun and easy twist to a holiday staple! Putting these on my Christmas dinner menu; looks too good to pass up!
Tawnie Kroll says
I made these for a Thanksgiving appetizer and everyone loved them! I had all the ingredients already on hand and they were simple to make. Thank you!
Nicole W says
Oh my goodness I love sage in recipes like this so much!! YUMMMMMMMM
Valerie says
I absolutely love stuffing. I'd like to try these, they sound tasty and I love how easy they are to make!
Chenée says
What a delicious fun way to serve stuffing! I bet they'd be delicious dipped in gravy!