Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (2024)

by Melissa 22 Comments

This stuffing recipe is so easy. Sausage, apples and cranberry combined with fresh herbs and buttery toasted bread crumbs!

Stuffing Recipe Easy

This stuffing recipe only takes a few minutes to prep and couldn’t be easier to pull together. I use fresh apples, dried cranberries and browned sausage to bring store bought bread crumbs to life. For this recipe, I have aways used unseasoned bread crumbs. I just discard the dried seasoning packet. Last time I was at the store, they only had seasoned breadcrumbs and it turned out great too! So I think it’s ok to use what is available, just adjust added salt as needed.

Sauté the onions and celery in a large sauté pan. Then add sausage, breaking up as it browns. Stir in fresh herbs, apples and cranberries and get ready for your house to smell like Thanksgiving! I think it’s the fresh sage that really reminds me of the holidays!

Next, stir in breadcrumbs and stock. Top with melted butter and bake covered until stock is absorbed, then uncovered until lightly toasted.

This can easily be made ahead and baked right before serving. Just allow extra time for baking since it will be chilled from the refrigerator. I also have a slow cooker stuffing recipe if you need to free up space in the oven during a holiday meal.

Easy Thanksgiving Stuffing Tips

Prepare stuffing up until baking 1-2 days ahead of time and refrigerate to cut down on day-of prep.

Use fresh herbs for that traditional Thanksgiving flavor.

You can use any kind of apple – Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or Honey Crisp work really well!

Stuffing Recipe Easy

5 from 19 votes

Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (7)

Print

Stuffing Recipe Easy - Cranberry Sausage Apple Stuffing

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

55 mins

Course:Dinner

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Thanksgiving

Servings: 11

Ingredients

  • 2tablespoonsof olive oil
  • 1medium onion diced
  • 2stalks of celery diced
  • 1poundof sausage
  • 1teaspoonof salt
  • freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 2tablespoonsof fresh sage minced
  • 2teaspoonsof fresh rosemary minced
  • 2tablespoonsof fresh flat leaf parsley chopped
  • 1large golden delicious apple cored and diced
  • 3/4cupsof dried cranberries
  • 2cupsof turkey or chicken stock
  • 6cupsof dry unseasoned bread cubes
  • 4tablespoonsof melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large sauté pan, heat onions and celery over medium heat until softened. Add sausage, breaking up as it browns. Once sausage is cooked through, season with salt, pepper and stir in fresh herbs. Then stir in diced apples, cranberries, bread crumbs and stock.

  2. Transfer stuffing mixture to a 9x13 baking pan that has been sprayed with non stick cooking spray, drizzle melted butter over stuffing mixture and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 25 minutes covered, then for another 20 uncovered until stuffing is lightly toasted. Sprinkle with additional fresh herbs before serving.

This is one of our traditional Thanksgiving family recipes and I think you are going to love it!

More Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

Easy Pecan Pie

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Slow Cooker Stuffing Recipe

5 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights

Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (10)

My five FAVORITE recipes for busy families!

  • Quick to make
  • Light on your budget
  • Easy to clean-up
  • and...most important...absolutely DELICIOUS

Previous Post: « Easy Pecan Pie Recipe

Next Post: Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (11)Katie

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (12)
    This looks like the most delicious stuffing recipe! I can’t wait to try it! It’s going to be a hit!

    Reply

  2. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (13)wilhelmina

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (14)
    I am glad I didn’t wait until Thanksgiving to try this stuffing, it is way too delicious to only serve once a year!

    Reply

  3. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (15)Katie

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (16)
    I love the addition of the apple and cranberry to this. The whole family did too!

    Reply

  4. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (17)Kimberly

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (18)
    Perfection! Absolutely nothing beats homemade stuffing!

    Reply

  5. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (21)Lisa

    What type of sausage do you use?

    Reply

    • Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (22)Melissa

      Breakfast sausage.

      Reply

  6. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (23)Krissy Allori

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (24)
    I loved this stuffing recipe. The best part is that it really is easy to make. The cranberries give that little burst of sweet that I love.

    Reply

  7. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (25)Matt

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (26)
    You had me at sausage, apples, and cranberry! Seriously awesome stuffing recipe! 🙂 Thanks so much!

    Reply

  8. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (27)Stephanie

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (28)
    Such a great stuffing recipe! I really loved the apples and cranberries in it!

    Reply

  9. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (29)Suzy

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (30)
    I’ve seen lots of stuffing recipes around but I really love the idea of adding apples and cranberries! Trying this for the holidays!

    Reply

  10. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (31)Eden

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (32)
    This stuffing was so good!! I love the cranberries in it and it turned out super moist! LOVE!!

    Reply

  11. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (33)Lisa

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (34)
    I just made this and OMG this is amazing!!! I could only find the seasoned bread cubes and I used sweet Italian sausage. This is now my go to stuffing! I have to work on Thanksgiving tomorrow (I’m a nurse) and I’m bringing in a huge tray of this for our potluck meal!

    Reply

  12. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (35)Michelle

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (36)
    Made it for Thanksgiving! I used hot Italian sausage and it was delicious! Thanks for posting this one!

    Reply

  13. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (37)Lisa

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (38)
    My family RAVED about this stuffing at Thanksgiving 🙂 I used more like 10 cups of bread cubes (and, thus, extra broth)…it was amazing

    Reply

  14. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (39)Katie

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (40)
    I love the addition of cranberry and apple in this stuffing! It adds the perfect amount of sweetness to it. We love it!

    Reply

  15. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (41)Natalie

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (42)
    The addition of apples & cranberries take this stuffing to a new level!! Adding this to our Thanksgiving menu!

    Reply

  16. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (43)April

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (44)
    This stuffing is SO GOOD. The perfect addition to Thanksgiving.

    Reply

  17. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (45)Kristen

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (46)
    This stuffing was so good, I could not stop eating it and neither could my family. I will definitely have to make it again.

    Reply

  18. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (47)Lori

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (48)
    This is our GO TO stuffing every year. It’s a crowd pleaser!!! Last year I made this recipe and halved it completely to make one regular meat version and one meat-less version (used Impossible Brand fake pork) and it came out wonderful! My non-meating eat sisters loved it! The whole house smells like a holiday. It’s a must make every year for our Thanksgiving table. I love that I can make it in the slow cooker and free up the stovetop too.

    Reply

    • Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (49)Melissa

      Such a great idea! Thank you for taking the time to share!

      Reply

  19. Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (50)Dani

    Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (51)
    I absolutely LOVE this stuffing, and make it every year. Only a couple of us even like stuffing, but I make the whole batch each year just so I can enjoy all the leftovers myself. This recipe is what has lead me to slowly take over a lot of the cooking for Thanksgiving, and I can’t recommend it enough.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

How do you spice up a bland stuffing? ›

Dried Spices

Keep things easy with a dash of paprika or a sprinkle of cayenne. Or, totally change your stuffing mix with a spice blend like Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, poultry seasoning, adobo or Lawry's.

Can I mix up my stuffing the night before? ›

Absolutely. Most Thanksgiving stuffing recipes can be made at least partially in advance since: A) They're easily assembled a day or two ahead of Thanksgiving Day; and B) They're often baked using a two-step process (once covered with foil to cook through, then uncovered to achieve a crispy top).

What is sausage stuffing made of? ›

Sausage Stuffing Ingredients

Butter: Cook the vegetables in a mix of butter and sausage drippings. 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.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread.

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.

Can I use thyme instead of sage for stuffing? ›

Another cousin of the mint family, thyme adds earthy, floral, and peppery notes to a dish. When subbing sage with thyme, use a one-to-one ratio.

Are you supposed to cook the stuffing before putting it in? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

What is a substitute for poultry seasoning in stuffing? ›

Dried Sage

Sage is a common holiday flavor used to season stuffing as well as roast vegetables. When using sage as a poultry seasoning substitute, use half as much as you normally would for poultry seasoning.

How wet should stuffing be before cooking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Can I refrigerate stuffing overnight before baking? ›

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

Should I leave bread out overnight for stuffing? ›

If you use soft, fresh bread, you'll ultimately wind up with a soggy, mushy 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.

Why does the casing of sausage keep breaking when stuffing? ›

The casing may have been overstuffed. When. making links, you should only stuff sausage about 3/4. full.

Do you use the blade when stuffing sausage? ›

Spacer Plates are 2-hole plates, primarily used with a stuffing tube to stuff casings. When used for this purpose remove the grinding knife. Spacer plates can only be used with bell shaped stuffing tubes.

What is Christmas stuffing made of? ›

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.

What does adding an egg to a recipe do? ›

Eggs play an important role in everything from cakes and cookies to meringues and pastry cream — they create structure and stability within a batter, they help thicken and emulsify sauces and custards, they add moisture to cakes and other baked goods, and can even act as glue or glaze.

What can I use instead of egg to bind stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

How are eggs used as a binder? ›

A whole egg coagulates at about 156°F (69°C). Eggs can act as binding agents. As their proteins set, eggs bind ingredients together giving strength and stability to meatloaves, casseroles and baked goods. Eggs are used to coat foods with crumbs, flour, etc.

What does adding egg to bread do? ›

besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rob Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 6766

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rob Wisoky

Birthday: 1994-09-30

Address: 5789 Michel Vista, West Domenic, OR 80464-9452

Phone: +97313824072371

Job: Education Orchestrator

Hobby: Lockpicking, Crocheting, Baton twirling, Video gaming, Jogging, Whittling, Model building

Introduction: My name is Rob Wisoky, I am a smiling, helpful, encouraging, zealous, energetic, faithful, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.