Name: Apple & Sausage Stuffing Recipe
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: . Bread; 1 loaf Crusty bread (sourdough or country loaf) (Cut into 3/4-inch cubes); . Oil & Sausage; 2 tablespoons Olive oil; 1 pound Italian sausage; . Vegetables & Fruit; 1 cup Yellow onion (Diced); 1 cup Celery (Sliced into 1/4-inch slices); 1/2 fennel bulb Fennel (Sliced into 1/4-inch slices); 1 cup Granny Smith apples (Cored and sliced into quarter rounds); 1 leaf Bay leaf; 2 cloves Garlic (Minced); 2 tablespoons Fresh sage (Chopped); . Seasoning & Liquids; 2 teaspoons Salt; 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper; 1 cup Whole milk; 1 cup Low-sodium chicken broth; 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter (Melted and cooled to room temperature); 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 3 large Eggs (Lightly beaten); Salt and freshly ground black pepper (To preference, to finish); Fresh sage leaves (Optional, to garnish)

Welcome to a delightful dish that brings comfort to your table! This Apple & Sausage Stuffing is the perfect blend of savory sausage, sweet apples, and aromatic herbs. Let’s dive into this cozy recipe!

Tips for Success

Make sure your bread is nice and crusty for the best texture. Toasting it first adds a wonderful depth of flavor. This part’s so satisfying!

Favorite Parts

The combination of apples and sausage is a match made in heaven. Trust me, you’ll love it!

Ingredients

Instructions

Prepare the Bread:
Step 1

- Toast the Bread: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Place bread cubes in a single layer on a large sheet pan. Toast in the oven for 25 minutes, tossing halfway through, until toasted but not hard. Set aside to cool.
Step 2

- Prepare the Baking Dish: Increase the oven temperature to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch glass baking dish, or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
Cook the Sausage:
Step 3

- Sauté the Sausage: Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and sauté, until browned and cooked through, breaking up into pieces, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage to a large bowl.
Sauté the Vegetables:
Step 4

- Cook the Vegetables: In the same pan with remaining grease from sausage, add the onion, celery, fennel, apple and bay leaf to the skillet and sauté until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, sage, salt, and pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Discard the bay leaf. Remove vegetable mixture to the bowl with sausage.
Step 5

- Combine Ingredients: Add the bread to the sausage and vegetables, and mix to combine.
Step 6

- Prepare Wet Ingredients: In a large measuring glass or medium bowl, whisk together the milk, chicken broth, cooled melted butter, Dijon mustard, and lightly beaten eggs. Pour wet ingredients over the sausage and vegetable mixture and mix together until well combined. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Lightly season with salt and pepper to preference.
Step 7

- Bake the Stuffing: Bake uncovered for about 50 minutes, or until cooked through and browned on top.
Step 8

- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh sage leaves. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 350, Fat: 20g, Carbs: 30g, Protein: 15g

Cooking techniques

Sautéing is key to developing the flavors in this stuffing. Make sure to sauté the sausage and vegetables until they are nicely browned and fragrant!

Variations or substitutions

Feel free to swap out the Granny Smith apples for another variety, or use a different type of sausage to suit your taste. You can even add nuts or dried fruits for extra texture and flavor!

Storage tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for best results!

Notes

For a twist, consider adding some dried cranberries or chopped pecans to the stuffing mixture for extra flavor!