Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy + VIDEO

Slow cooker thanksgiving stuffing meatballs with gravy combines the familiar flavors of thanksgiving dinner into one comforting recipe. Ground turkey and stuffing meatballs cook in a homemade gravy directly in the crockpot. Serve these tasty holiday meatballs over mashed potatoes for a complete meal or offer them as an appetizer with cranberry sauce on the side.

Ingredients For Crockpot Thanksgiving Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy

Meatballs

• Ground turkey: I recommend using 93% lean ground turkey. Extra-lean turkey can produce dry meatballs, while ground turkey with a little fat helps keep them moist and flavorful.
• Stuffing mix: Dry stuffing mix takes the place of traditional breadcrumbs while giving the meatballs their signature Thanksgiving flavor. Use the stuffing mix straight from the package without preparing it according to the package directions.
• Celery: Finely diced celery adds the familiar flavor of homemade stuffing. Chop it very finely so it softens completely and blends into the meatballs.
• Egg: One egg binds the turkey and stuffing mixture together.
• Meatball Seasonings: Dried parsley, poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper give the meatballs plenty of savory flavor.

Gravy

• Chicken or turkey broth: Either chicken or turkey broth can form the base of the gravy. Use a low-sodium variety because the stuffing mix may already contain a fair amount of salt.
• Cornstarch or arrowroot starch: Cornstarch thickens the broth. Arrowroot starch may be substituted if needed.
• Gravy seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper create a simple homemade gravy without a packaged mix.

How To Make Thanksgiving Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy In The Slow Cooker

1. Pour the broth into the slow cooker. Add the gravy seasonings. Mix until well blended.  
2. Add the ground turkey, stuffing mix, celery, egg, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix until the ingredients are just combined. Do not overwork the meat because that can make the meatballs dense. Form the mixture into 12 to 15 evenly sized meatballs.
3. Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs, working in batches of about 8. Cook the meatballs until slightly browned on all sides. 
4. Add the turkey meatballs to the slow cooker.
5. Cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
6. Remove the meatballs temporarily or gently move them to one side of the slow cooker. Whisk in the cornstarch until smooth.
7. Return the meatballs to the gravy and keep them warm in the slow cooker until you are ready to serve.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Classic Thanksgiving flavors: Ground turkey, stuffing, celery, and poultry seasoning make these meatballs taste like a miniature Thanksgiving dinner.
• Homemade gravy: The gravy cooks directly in the slow cooker without canned soup or store-bought gravy packets.
• Versatile: Serve the meatballs as a holiday appetizer or turn them into a complete meal with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
• Perfect for entertaining: The slow cooker keeps the meatballs and gravy warm while you prepare the rest of your meal.
• Great for smaller gatherings: Enjoy the flavors of Thanksgiving without cooking an entire turkey and full pan of stuffing.

FAQs & Tips

Can you make the meatballs ahead of time?

You can! Prepare and shape the meatballs up to one day in advance. Cover and refrigerate them until you are ready to slow-cook the recipe.

Can you use frozen meatballs?

Frozen turkey meatballs can be used, but they will not have the same stuffing-inspired flavor as the homemade version. If the frozen meatballs are fully cooked, add them directly to the gravy and cook until heated through.

Do you prepare the stuffing first?

No. Measure 1 cup of dry stuffing mix directly from the package and lightly crush any particularly extra-large pieces. Do not prepare the stuffing according to its package directions.

Can you use an entire package of stuffing?

I would not. A 6-ounce package contains approximately 2 1/2 cups of stuffing, which is too much for 1 pound of ground turkey. It could make the meatballs overly soft and bready.

Can you omit the celery?

Yes, but the celery contributes to the classic stuffing flavor. If you omit it, the recipe will still work without any other adjustments.

Can you use fresh onion and garlic?

You can, but onion and garlic powders distribute more evenly and do not add excess moisture to the meatballs. If using fresh onion, dice it very finely before adding it to the turkey mixture.

How do you store leftovers?

Store leftover crockpot Thanksgiving meatballs and gravy in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

What size slow cooker did you use?

I use a  6-quart slow cooker for this recipe.

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

• Turkey Legs

• Turkey Breast

• Turkey Tenderloin

• Whole Turkey

• Air Fryer Turkey Breast Tenderloin
  

• Smothered Turkey Wings

Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Stuffing Meatballs with Gravy

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Slow cooker thanksgiving stuffing meatballs with gravy combines the familiar flavors of thanksgiving dinner into one comforting recipe. Ground turkey and stuffing meatballs cook in a homemade gravy directly in the crockpot. Serve these tasty holiday meatballs over mashed potatoes for a complete meal or offer them as an appetizer with cranberry sauce on the side.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Dairy-Free

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Meatballs

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup dry stuffing mix
• 1 celery rib, very finely diced
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried poultry seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil (for frying)

Gravy

• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/3 cup cornstarch or arrowroot starch
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

1. Pour the broth into the slow cooker. Add the gravy seasonings. Mix until well blended.
2. Add the ground turkey, stuffing mix, celery, egg, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix until the ingredients are just combined. Do not overwork the meat because that can make the meatballs dense. Form the mixture into 12 to 15 evenly sized meatballs.
3. Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs, working in batches of about 8. Cook the meatballs until slightly browned on all sides.
4. Add the turkey meatballs to the slow cooker.
5. Cook on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or LOW 4 to 6. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
6. Remove the meatballs temporarily or gently move them to one side of the slow cooker. Whisk in the cornstarch until smooth.
7. Return the meatballs to the gravy and keep them warm in the slow cooker until you are ready to serve.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4 meatballs
• Calories: 399
• Sugar: 1.9 g
• Fat: 20.9 g
• Saturated Fat: 4.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 23.4 g
• Fiber: 1.4 g
• Protein: 30.7 g
• Cholesterol: 124.7 mg

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