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sausage and herb stuffing in a baking dish
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5 from 4 reviews

Sausage and Herb Stuffing

Golden brown on top with a softer custard-like center, this easy Sausage Stuffing recipe combines the flavor of sweet Italian sausage, fresh herbs and apples into a masterpiece side dish worthy of your holiday dinner table.Serves
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Apple and Sausage stuffing, Sausage Stuffing, Sausage Stuffing Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 483kcal
Author Chef Kathy McDaniel

Ingredients

  • 1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage or regular sweet Italian sausage casings removed
  • 8 cups of bread cubes from a loaf of bread cut into 1/2 to 1 inch cubes stale or dried out (about 1-pound loaf)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1-stick
  • 1 large onion diced (brown or yellow preferably)
  • 3 celery stalks diced
  • 2 medium apples peeled, cored and diced
  • 4 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 2 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or more if needed (two cups and three quarters)
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon fresh finely chopped sage
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
  • Salt about 1/2 teaspoon
  • Ground black pepper about 1/2 teaspoon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a baking dish with cooking spray (or with melted butter).
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until cooked through. Transfer it to a large bowl, leaving some of the drippings in the skillet.
    cooked the sausage on a skillet with a wooden spoon
  • Place the bread cubes in the same large bowl (on top of the browned sausage).
    bread cubes over the cooked sausage
  • In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, celery and apples and cook, stirring occasionally until soften, about 6-7 minutes.
    chopped apples and celery stalks on a skillet
  • Add the garlic and poultry seasoning and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute.
    garlic and poultry seasoning on cooked onions, celery and apples
  • Add the sautéed vegetables to the bowl with the sausage and the bread cubes. Toss gently. Pour the chicken broth, egg, rosemary, sage and parsley, salt and pepper. Mix until the bread is moistened and soft.
    pouring chicken broth over the sautéed vegetables in the bowl with the sausage and the bread cubes.
  • Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish and bake for 55 to 65 minutes, uncovered or until golden brown. If it starts browning too much on top, cover it with a piece of foil.
    golden brown stuffing in a baking dish

Notes

  • Type of Bread: This recipe can be made with different types of bread such as white bread, French bread, white sandwich bread, soft Italian bread, etc. It's best to use stale or dried up bread.
  • Plan Ahead: If you plan ahead, cut the bread into cubes and let them dry, at room temperature overnight, on a sheet pan loosely tented with foil.
  • How to Dry Bread: You can also dry the bread in the oven. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F and spread the bread cubes onto a baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes.
  • Unseasoned Please: Store bought unseasoned bread cubes for stuffing can be used as well.
  • Small bites: Break up the sausage into very small pieces (no larger than 1/4-inch pieces)
  • To Peel or Not to Peel: My preference is to peel the apples; however, you don't have to.
Granny Smith apples work well.
You may need additional broth, depending on the type of bread used.

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 662mg | Potassium: 391mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 555IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 3mg