Fried Dressing Patties | Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe - Hostess At Heart (2024)

By: Author Julie Menghini

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Fried Dressing Patties have a tender moist center with a buttery crunchy exterior. They’re the perfect quick and easy recipe for using leftover dressing!

Fried Dressing Patties | Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe - Hostess At Heart (1)

Fried Dressing Patties recipe is a delicious way to use up Thanksgiving dressing leftovers.

They’re quick and easy to make and are the perfect side dish for any meal. You’ll feel good about repurposing leftovers instead of throwing them out when the family refuses one more spoonful!

Our Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe is one of our most requested dishes over the holidays.

It’s a simple homemade dressing that family members request to take home so I always make plenty.

But, let’s face it you can only eat so much of it until your family is tired of it or the food police say to throw it out.

This Thanksgiving Leftover Food Guide and FoodSafety.org are good resources on how long food can be safely stored.

Dressing is good for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

We often make up an extra dish of dressing to freeze and bake when we start craving it again.

Fried Dressing Patty Ingredients

  • Leftover Dressing – previously made and baked
  • Egg – this binds the dressing together and allows you to shape it.
  • Butter – adds flavor and allows the exterior of our patties to become crisp.

Note: This recipe can be increased very easily.

How to make this Dressing Patties Recipe

Fried Dressing Patties | Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe - Hostess At Heart (3)

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  1. Combine the leftover dressing with an egg. The egg acts as a binder and will keep your patty together. Feel free to add a couple of drops of water if it isn’t sticky enough to press together.
  2. We used a 3-inch biscuit cutter to make uniformed-sized Fried Dressing Patties that are approximately 1 to 1-1/2 inches thick. You can also use a glass or any 3-inch circle. My mom just used her hands to form them like you would a hamburger patty.
  3. Heat the butter in a large skillet. When hot, add the Dressing Patties and cook for approximately 4 minutes on each side. We love using a fish spatula for this task.

Thaw and Reheat

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Stuffing Patties

Last year we fried up Dressing Patties and repurposed them with some of our other leftover meals.

The best way to store Leftover Dressing Patties

The best way to store Dressing patties is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. That being said, their countdown started the day you made the stuffing. Therefore, keep the dressing or the dressing patties no longer than 3 to 4 days.

If you will not be able to eat them within that period of time, seal them in an airtight container and slip them into the freezer for up to 3 months.

There’s no need to wait for the holidays! You can enjoy delicious patties all year long. They make a great side dish and thaw out in a jiffy.

Tip: You can also freeze them before frying. Just thaw and then fry them. That will give you a nice crisp buttery exterior.

Thaw and Reheat

To thaw, either put the stuffing patties in the refrigerator overnight or thaw them in 30-second increments in the microwave. They can be re-fried in a little butter after thawing to crisp up the exterior.

Fried Dressing Patties | Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe - Hostess At Heart (4)

Tips for the Perfect Fried Stuffing Patties

  • Uniformed-sized patties will cook at the same rate.
  • Make sure the butter is melted and hot in the skillet so the patties will form a crust and not just absorb the butter.
  • Don’t crowd the skillet. These cook quickly so it doesn’t take long to have them all cooked up in a jiffy.
  • Cook over medium-high heat.
    • If it’s too hot they will burn and not get warm in the center.
    • If it’s not high enough, it will be difficult to get that crispy exterior.
  • When freezing the patties, allow them to cool completely before adding to an air-tight container. Otherwise, the exterior will not be crispy.
  • Frozen Fried Dressing Patties don’t have to be thawed.
    • Just pop them into the microwave for a couple of minutes or let them sit in the refrigerator (plan ahead method).
  • You can re-crisp the patties by adding them back to a hot skillet lined with a little butter or placed briefly under the broiler.

Serving Ideas

Make two patties. Top one patty with a couple slices of turkey and then top with the other patty. Fry your mini turkey sandwich and serve with hot leftover gravy.

From our friend and reader Roma

Pin this amazing Leftover Dressing recipe!

Fried Dressing Patties | Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe - Hostess At Heart (5)

More Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

Don’t forget to stop back and let me know how your fried dressing patties turned out!

Fried Dressing Patties | Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe - Hostess At Heart (6)

Fried Dressing Patties Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini

Fried Dressing Patties have a tender moist center with a buttery crunchy exterior. It's an easy delicious recipe for using leftover dressing!

4.67 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Collect Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 23 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword: Dressing Patties, Thanksgiving Dressing, Thanksgiving leftover recipe

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Cooked Dressing
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp butter

Instructions

  • Combine the leftover dressing with the egg. Press together until somewhat sticky.

  • Using a circle such as a biscuit cutter or a glass, cut a 3-inch circle that's approximately 1 inch thick. You can also form individual patties with your hands.

  • Heat 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet. Add the dressing patties and fry 4 minutes on each side over medium-high heat.

Notes

  • Uniformed sized patties will cook at the same rate.
  • Make sure the butter is melted and hot in the skillet so the patties will form a crust and not just absorb the butter.
  • Don’t crowd the skillet. These cook quickly so it doesn’t take long to have them all cooked up in a jiffy.
  • Cook over medium-high heat.
    • If it’s too hot they will burn and not get warm in the center.
    • If it’s not high enough, it will be difficult to get that crispy exterior.
  • When freezing the patties, allow them to cool completely before adding to an air-tight container. Otherwise, the exterior will not be crispy.
  • Frozen Fried Dressing Patties don’t have to be thawed.
    • Just pop them into the microwave for a couple of minutes or let them sit in the refrigerator (plan ahead method).
  • You can re-crisp the patties by adding them back to a hot skillet lined with a little butter or placed briefly under the broiler.

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 545mgPotassium: 91mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 547IUCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

More Delicious Recipes

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  • Italian Sausage and Potatoes
  • Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe

This post was updated to improve readers’ experience. No changes were made to the recipe.

Fried Dressing Patties | Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe - Hostess At Heart (2024)

FAQs

Can you prepare uncooked dressing ahead of time and refrigerate? ›

Do not refrigerate uncooked stuffing. If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.

How do you keep stuffing moist? ›

Use enough liquid: The key to keeping stuffing moist is to use enough liquid. You can use chicken or vegetable broth, melted butter, or a combination of both. The amount of liquid you need will depend on the recipe, but a good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid for every 4 cups of bread cubes.

Can you make dressing ahead of time and reheat? ›

Yes! You can absolutely make stuffing ahead of time. It's a great way to get a jumpstart on Thanksgiving cooking and it frees up much-needed oven space. This stuffing can be made up to three days in advance.

Why shouldn't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

Is it OK to make stuffing a day ahead of time? ›

No matter where you fall, getting a head start on what can be prepared before the big day is essential. One question that always crops up: Can you make stuffing ahead of time? The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

How do you reheat stuffing and keep it moist? ›

Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish (or, you can keep it in the dish that it was originally cooked in). If it seems dry, you'll want to add a splash of broth. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

Why can't you make stuffing ahead of time? ›

You haven't said whether you are going to cook the stuffing inside the bird or out, but it's fine to make almost any stuffing a few hours before you'll need it. The important thing is to keep it properly chilled so that bacteria won't have a chance to grow in it.

How long can uncooked dressing stay in the refrigerator? ›

Make the dressing ahead of time.

Here are the guidelines for refrigerating vs freezing the dressing. Make ahead and refrigerate: Make up to 2 days ahead and store, covered and uncooked, in the fridge. Bake the day you plan to serve it. Make ahead and freeze: Make up to one month ahead; cover well and freeze.

Can dressing be refrigerated before baking? ›

Refrigerate your dressing immediately after you make it, covered, in the coldest part of your fridge. Cook it as soon as possible, preferably within 6 to 8 hours. Much better to make it, cook right away, and serve hot. I would only keep it in the fridge covered for 1 night.

How long can you keep uncooked chicken and dressing in the fridge? ›

This applies to whole chicken, or various cuts like chicken breast, thighs, and drumsticks. It also applies to raw turkey. Once two days have passed, you might be wondering if your refrigerated raw chicken has gone bad. At that point, the USDA would recommend throwing it out to be on the safe side.

Is it OK to make stuffing the day before? ›

Absolutely. Most Thanksgiving stuffing recipes can be made at least partially in advance since: A) They're easily assembled a day or two ahead of Thanksgiving Day; and B) They're often baked using a two-step process (once covered with foil to cook through, then uncovered to achieve a crispy top).

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