Description
A savory and slightly sweet sausage and apple stuffing recipe combining mild Italian sausage, sourdough bread cubes, apples, and aromatic spices, baked to a golden crispy topping, perfect as a comforting side dish for holiday meals or family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Vegetables
- 1 lb. mild Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1 large apple, cored and diced
Base
- 12 cups dried or stale sourdough bread cubes (about 1 loaf)
Liquids and Binding
- 2-3 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- â…› teaspoon dried ground thyme
Garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Cook Sausage Mixture: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the mild Italian sausage along with diced celery and yellow onion until the sausage is browned and the vegetables are tender and cooked through.
- Combine Bread and Sausage Mixture: Transfer the cooked sausage, onions, and celery into a large bowl. Add the dried sourdough bread cubes and diced apple, tossing everything together to mix thoroughly.
- Mix Liquids and Seasonings: In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups of chicken broth, melted butter, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and beaten eggs until fully combined.
- Moisten the Stuffing: Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the bread and sausage mixture. Toss to distribute the liquid so the bread is moistened uniformly but not soggy. Add additional chicken broth in small amounts if necessary to achieve the right moisture level.
- Transfer and Bake: Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish and transfer the stuffing mixture into it. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the stuffing to cook through.
- Crisp the Top: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes to develop a golden brown, crispy top layer.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm as a flavorful side dish.
Notes
- Using stale or dried bread cubes helps to absorb the liquid better, resulting in perfect stuffing texture.
- You can adjust the amount of chicken broth to achieve your preferred stuffing moisture—less for drier stuffing, more for moist and soft texture.
- If you want a spicier flavor, consider substituting mild Italian sausage with spicy Italian sausage.
- The recipe serves 8, making it ideal for a large family or holiday gathering.
- This stuffing can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated before baking to save time on the day of serving.
