This Air Fryer Stuffing recipe brings a delightful twist to a classic holiday favorite – delivering crispy edges and a perfectly moist center in just 39 minutes. With only 234 calories per serving and packed with 4g of fiber, it’s a healthier take on traditional stuffing without sacrificing that beloved homestyle taste. The magic of the air fryer creates an irresistible texture while keeping the dish lighter than conventional oven-baked versions.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Stuffing
- Butter: 3 tablespoons, either dairy or plant-based
- Leeks or White Onion: 1.5 cups, finely diced for even cooking
- Carrots: 3/4 cup, uniformly diced for consistent texture
- Celery: 1.5 cups, diced to match other vegetables
- Poultry Seasoning: 3 tablespoons for classic stuffing flavor
- Salt & Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon each for balanced seasoning
- Bread Mix: 3 cups each of dried and soft bread cubes
- Vegetable Broth: 1/3 cup, plus extra if needed for moisture
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté Base: Melt butter in skillet over medium heat until bubbly
- Cook Vegetables: Add leeks, carrots, and celery, cooking until tender
- Season: Incorporate poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper thoroughly
- Combine: Mix in both dried and soft bread pieces until well-coated
- Moisten: Pour in vegetable broth gradually until desired consistency
- Taste Test: Adjust seasonings as needed for perfect flavor
- Prepare for Air Frying: Transfer to an oiled oven-safe dish
- Air Fry: Cook at 325F for 22-24 minutes until golden brown and crispy
Cooking Tips
When sautéing your veggies, keep an eye on those leeks! They can brown quickly, so stir them often over medium heat. You’ll know they’re perfect when they’re soft and slightly translucent – usually about 5-7 minutes. For the bread cubes, a mix of dried and soft pieces creates the best texture. If your bread is fresh, you can dry some pieces in your air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 300°F before starting the recipe.
Easy Substitutions
Don’t have leeks? White or yellow onions work great! For the bread, any kind will do – from basic white to fancy sourdough. If you need this dish to be vegan, plant-based butter works perfectly. Out of vegetable broth? You can use mushroom broth for an extra savory kick. Just remember the golden rule: if your stuffing feels dry, add a splash more broth until it’s just moist enough to hold together.
Serving Ideas
This stuffing is amazing alongside roasted turkey or chicken, but don’t stop there! It’s wonderful with roasted vegetables for a meat-free meal. Spoon it hot from the air fryer, and if you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle some fresh parsley on top. Got leftovers? Heat them up the next morning and top with a fried egg for a cozy breakfast.
Storage Tips
Let your stuffing cool completely before storing it in an airtight container. It’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop it back in the air fryer at 300°F for 3-4 minutes – this keeps the top nice and crispy. You can also freeze portions for up to 2 months. Just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Air Fryer Stuffing
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Skillet
- Oven-Safe Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter dairy or vegan
- 1.5 cups leeks or white onion, diced
- 3/4 cup carrots diced
- 1.5 cups celery diced
- 3 tablespoons poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups dried bread pieces cut into cubes
- 3 cups soft bread pieces cut into cubes
- 1/3 cup vegetable broth or more to moisten
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
- Once butter is melted, add the leeks, carrots, and celery. Sauté until soft.
- Once softened, add poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add the dried and soft bread pieces to the mixture. Stir to combine.
- Add the vegetable broth to the mixture to moisten. Taste at this point to see if it needs more seasoning. If so, add more poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- If the flavors are right, pour your bread mixture into an oiled oven-safe baking dish. Air Fry at 325F/170C for 22-24 minutes or until your stuffing is golden brown.
