Last Updated 08-08-2024
SAUSAGE APPLE AND CRANBERRY STUFFING — This festive stuffing recipe is loaded with savory ground sausage, fresh apples and dried cranberries. The perfect side dish whether your serving turkey or ham this holiday season.
In fact, I saw a survey recently that said Americans will make seven side dishes this holiday season, with nearly 1 in 5 Americans making more than 10 side dishes!
I don’t know about you, but that’s say more side dishes than I make! I’m more of a three to four side dish kind of girl. Probably because I’d rather spend my time making pies!
We have a deal at our house. Turkey for Thanksgiving (for me) and ham for Christmas (for my husband).
Since stuffing is one of my favorite holiday sides, I had to find a stuffing recipe that would work with ham, and this Apple, Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing is it!
I’ve had people who don’t like stuffing tell me this the best they’ve ever tried, so it’s definitely worth a try if you’ll be feeding any stuffing haters this holiday season.
As with most stuffing recipes, the measurements listed are just guidelines. If you like more sausage, apples, or cranberries, feel free to add them.
Some people like a moist stuffing while others prefer it a bit more dry. Add your chicken or vegetable stock gradually until the stuffing is just the way you like it!
Most stuffing recipes are pretty forgiving, and this one is no exception. You could even omit the sausage for a vegetarian version (with vegetable stock, of course), and it would still be delicious!
Of course, I will always be partial to my grandma’s homemade stuffing recipe, but this version is loaded with so many fall favorites, like apples and cranberries, it comes in a very close second.
Be sure to save this Sausage, Apple, and Cranberry Stuffing recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing
- Dried bread or stuffing mix
- Prepared cornbread
- Ground sausage
- Produce: onion, celery, apples, fresh parsley
- Spices: sage, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper
- Dried cranberries
- Chicken or vegetable stock
- Butter
- Eggs
Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed dried bread or stuffing mix
- 2-3 cups crumbled cornbread
- 1 pound seasoned ground sausage
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 2 teaspoons ground sage
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
- 2 medium apples cored and chopped
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix dried bread cubes and cornbread in a large bowl; set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage until done; remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Add butter to the skillet to melt. Add onions, chopped celery, sage, rosemary and thyme and sauté for about five minutes.
- Add the butter mixture to the bread mixture, along with the sausage, chopped apples, cranberries and parsley. Add stock gradually until stuffing is as moist as you would like. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon mixture into a large casserole dish or 9×13 pan and bake at 350 for about 40-45 minutes, or until heated through.
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Nutrition
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*I received products from Swanson to review for this post, but all opinions stated are my own.
Heather
For the sausage, if you don’t use the Jimmy Dean Sage would you use breakfast sausage or Italian Sausage?
mel
Do you use red apples?
PAMELA
Question! I see the first step says cornbread? But I do not see that under the ingredients list. Please advise! 🙂
Danelle
Oops! The recipe has been updated.
Don
I love sausage but my girlfriend dosent so Im going to try this on thanksgiving without sausage
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps
I will never ever get tired of stuffing, it’s one of my all-time favorite side dishes and this one looks so pretty!