sausage bacon apple stuffing
We emigrated here when I was a little girl. Our first Thanksgiving was explained to us by an amazing American family. Aunt Fran showed my mom the spices, the bread cubes, etc. The next year my mom replicated and added a little of "her" in it. She made her own bread and then cubed it, toasted it in the oven (I've so taken a short cut on that)! She found the spices (with some help from Aunt Fran) the rest is history... This stuffing is filled with memories! I remember sitting in the kitchen watching my parents make the meal and saying "America, such a good country and people"! Enjoy!
Blue Ribbon Recipe
This sausage bacon apple stuffing recipe will be a full-flavored holiday side dish. It's filled with sausage, bacon, apples, dried cherries, sauteed onions, and an assortment of herbs and spices. This fluffy stuffing is super moist and almost a meal in itself. So good!
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon diced
- 3 - links Johnsonville Italian sausage (or your choice), casings removed
- 1 large loaf Italian bread (16 cups toasted and cubed)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 4 - 5 - stalks celery diced
- 1 1/2 large apples, diced with peels on (I used Granny Smiths)
- 1/2 cup dried cherries (or dried cranberries if you prefer)
- 2-3 cups chicken broth (depending on how well you toasted the bread)
- 1/2 teaspoon sage, dried
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 pinch red chili flakes
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt & pepper
How To Make sausage bacon apple stuffing
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Step 1Heat oven to 350F. Cut your loaf of bread in half and place on baking sheet to toast nicely golden. -
Step 2As bread is toasting, in a skillet saute your bacon till crisp.
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Step 3Remove to a paper-lined plate, and reserve your drippings.
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Step 4Add your sausage to the same skillet and break apart. Cook until all pink has disappeared.
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Step 5Remove to a plate and set aside.
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Step 6Return the reserved bacon drippings to the skillet and add your diced onion.
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Step 7Saute until onion is just starting to soften.
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Step 8Bread should be toasted nicely. Remove from oven. When cool enough to handle, cube the bread and add the cubes into a large bowl.
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Step 9Add your diced apples.
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Step 10Add the rest of your ingredients including your spices, and mix well until all ingredients have been incorporated.
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Step 11Add your chicken broth. Depending on your size bread, it could take either 2-3 cups.
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Step 12Using a 13 x 9 pan spray with nonstick spray. Pour the stuffing mixture and spread evenly.
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Step 13Bake at 350F for 45-55 covered. Uncover the last 20 minutes or so to crisp a little ontop.
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Step 14You can serve from the pan, or place in a pretty bowl to bring to the table. Sit back, and get ready for compliments!!
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
