Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (2024)

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This easy Sausage Stuffing recipe is our absolute favorite! Loaded with sausage, cranberries, apples and tons of fresh herbs it’s the perfect addition to your holiday feast! Preparing for Thanksgiving? Don’t forget these light and fluffy dinner rolls, the best turkey gravy, and the JUICIEST Crockpot Turkey Breast!

Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (1)

Sausage Stuffing

When it comes to Thanksgiving, there is nothing I look forward to more than the stuffing. Unless it’s the crockpot turkey breast…and the mashed potatoes…and the turkey gravy…and the green beans…and the rolls (we like to make these dinner rolls AND my mom’s crescent rolls – carb loading yo!)

Okay, you got me. I like it ALL.

Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (2)

When Chris and I first started hosting Thanksgiving, it was my brother-in-law who brought the stuffing every year. It was the first time I had had sausage stuffing and was like whoa – where has this been all my life? I have slowly adapted that recipe to include both dried cranberries and apples and loads of fresh herbs.

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I love this easy stuffing recipe because it can easily be adapted to be a looser style stuffing or a moister stuffing.

What Is The Difference Between Stuffing and Dressing?

Generally speaking, stuffing is referred to as mixture that gets stuffed inside the bird and dressing is baked in a separate baking dish. This doesn’t hold true for the entire population though, including me. For whatever reason, we have always called this stuffing whether it gets cooked inside the turkey or not and I know this is true for many parts of the country.

The bottom line? Call it what you want. I won’t be offended 🙂

Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (3)

This stuffing recipe is loaded with good stuff. Tart granny smith apples, rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley, sausage, and cranberries. So good you guys!

How to Toast the Bread

It starts with cubed bread. I used a combination of sourdough and ciabatta but any kind will do. You can also buy a bag of the cubed stuffing at the store if you’re in a pinch.

The bread is cubed and then toasted in the oven just until it’s nicely dried out and crunchy. This will allow it to absorb the stock and butter and all those flavors.

You an use any type of bread you like. I usually go for sourdough, French, or ciabatta.

Can I Use Store Bought Stuffing Mix

Yes you can! If you need to save some time, you can use the store bought stuffing mix. Just skip the bread toasting part of the recipe and continue as directed.

Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (4)

What Are The Eggs For?

I like to use two eggs in this stuffing recipe to hold it together a bit more but one is great if you want a looser stuffing. I actually used just one the day I photographed the recipe so that will give you a good idea of what it will look like.

Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (5)

What You Need To Make This Stuffing Recipe

  • Bread.Ciabatta, Sourdough, French, whatever you want. Or buy the stuffing bread at the store.
  • Fresh Herbs. Rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley. Fresh is really best and will make your stuffing shine this holiday season.
  • Granny Smith apple. You could use a Gala as well but I love the tartness of the Granny Smith.
  • Turkey or Chicken stock or broth. Whatever you have on hand.
  • Dried Cranberries. I use a cup in this recipe but you can add more or less depending on your preference.
  • Onion and Celery. Of course. These two ingredients are the building blocks of all good stuffing recipes.
  • Eggs. One of two depending on your preference. Two eggs will hold the stuffing together better.

Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (6)

Easy Sausage Stuffing

I know you guys are going to love this stuffing recipe! It’s so easy to pull together and the flavors are just perfect for the holidays! I sure hope you give it a try!

Complete Thanksgiving with These Favorites:

  1. Twice Baked Potato Casserole
  2. The BEST Dinner Rolls
  3. Crockpot Turkey Breast with Citrus and Herbs
  4. The Best Turkey Gravy
  5. The BEST Homemade Crescent Rolls
  6. Nana’s Famous Green Beans
  7. Maple Sage Smashed Yams with Marshmallow Butter

How To Make the Best Sausage Stuffing

Stuffing Recipe with Sausage Cranberries and Apple

This easy Stuffing Recipe is our absolute favorite! Loaded with sausage, cranberries, apples and tons of fresh herbs it's the perfect addition to your holiday feast!

Course Side

Cuisine American

Keyword sausage stuffing, stuffing recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 350kcal

Author Trish - Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

  • 8 to 10 cups bread, cubed Ciabatta, Sourdough, French, etc.
  • 1 lb breakfast sausage sage flavored if you can find it
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • 1.5 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
  • 1.5 tbsp fresh sage chopped
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 Granny Smith apple chopped
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 to 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 21/2 to 3 1/2 cups low sodium turkey or chicken stock or broth
  • 8 tbsp butter melted, divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Place cubed bread on a large baking sheet and bake 5 to10 minutes until dried out. Set aside.

  • In a large skillet, brown sausage. Remove from skillet leaving one tablespoon of grease in skillet.

  • Add onion, celery, rosemary, sage, thyme, salt and pepper to skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent.

  • Place dried bread cubes in a very large bowl. Add sausage, onion and herb mixture, apple, cranberries, eggs, 2 cups of stock or broth and 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Mix until combined.

  • Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish and press down lightly. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

  • Remove stuffing from oven and remove foil. Check consistency of stuffing. Add additional stock as needed and drizzle with the remaining 4 tablespoons of melted butter.

  • Return stuffing to the oven, uncovered, and continue to bake for an additional 15 to 25 minutes or until stuffing is lightly golden brown on the top.

  • Top with additional fresh herbs and serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 596mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 465IU | Vitamin C: 4.5mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 2.1mg

Originally published November 10, 2018

Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (8)

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Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries and Apples (2024)

FAQs

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.

What is sausage stuffing made of? ›

Sausage Stuffing Ingredients

Vegetables: You'll need finely diced celery and a chopped onion. Bread: The white bread cubes should ideally be slightly stale. If your bread seems too soft, lightly toast it in the oven. Seasonings: Season the sausage stuffing with poultry seasoning and ground black pepper.

What is stuffing made of in Christmas dinner? ›

Easy stuffing

Starting with dried sourdough bread, celery, onion, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, chicken broth and eggs. A whole stick of butter goes in the pan adding onions, herbs and garlic (sausage is optional). Eggs combine everything together before going in the oven on a baking dish.

How to make stuffing with Nigella? ›

  1. 1 ounce butter (chopped)
  2. 1 small onion (finely chopped)
  3. 1 ounce macadamia nuts (chopped)
  4. 2 rashers bacon (chopped)
  5. 2 ounces breadcrumbs (day-old)
  6. 2⅞ fluid ounces pears (grated)
  7. ounce fresh sage (chopped)
  8. ounce dried cranberries.

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

If you don't plan on stuffing the bird, but preparing the dressing as a side dish, you can prepare uncooked stuffing ahead of time as long as you freeze the stuffing immediately after mixing the wet and dry ingredients. USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing.

Should you put an egg in stuffing? ›

The most important ingredient of stuffing may be the binder, which keeps all the other elements in place. For a fluffy texture, use eggs. Stock is the most-used binder. Less conventional possibilities include fruit juice (such as apple or orange) and alcohol (wine or liqueur).

How much water do you put in sausage before stuffing? ›

Add at least 1 oz. of water per pound of meat to aid in the stuffing process.

How do you keep sausage casings from breaking when stuffing? ›

Soak the casing in water for at least 5 minutes to make them more pliable and easier to work with.

How long is sausage stuffing good for? ›

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.

What is British stuffing made of? ›

Stuffing consists of a mixture of savoury ingredients such as breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, nuts, sausagemeat and onion which are bound together with egg or liquid to form a semi-solid mixture. It is usually cooked with roast meat such as chicken, pork or lamb and is served as an accompaniment to the sliced, cooked meat.

What is stuffing called when it's not in a turkey? ›

Some people make the distinction that dressing is the proper name for the dish when it has been prepared outside of the bird—that is, when it has not been stuffed and cooked inside.

What kind of bread do you use for stuffing? ›

Breads such as sour dough, French bread or Italian loaves are for the best bread for stuffing. Their soft-but-sturdy interiors are the perfect texture for stuffing. The pieces retain their shape without crumbling.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

How do you keep stuffing moist when cooking? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

In what did recipes did people originally use stuffing? ›

So how far back can we find stuffing used in cooking? Some time between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD, a chef by the name of Apicius created a cookbook entitled, “Apicius de re Coquinaria.” In its pages are recipes for stuffed chicken, rabbit, pig, and even dormouse.

Can you refrigerate uncooked stuffing overnight? ›

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 when reheating? ›

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.

Will bread dry out overnight for stuffing? ›

So, how do you dry bread for stuffing? There are two ways to go about it. If you've planned your Thanksgiving dinner ahead of time, you can cut your bread into cubes and leave them out to become stale overnight. Or, if you're short on time, you can use the oven method for a quick and easy way to dry.

Can I stuff my turkey with stuffing the night before? ›

Information. Do not stuff whole poultry and leave in the refrigerator before cooking. If stuffing whole poultry, the ingredients for the stuffing can be prepared ahead of time. Keep wet and dry ingredients separated and chill.

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