Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (2024)

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Turn baked apples into a savory side dish as they are stuffed with an easy sausage stuffing recipe for a delicious and gorgeous addition to dinner or even for Thanksgiving.

Turn baked apples into a savory side dish as they are stuffed with an easy sausage stuffing recipe for a delicious and gorgeous addition to dinner or even for Thanksgiving. Use any kind or color of apple you like. A combination of red and gold delicious with Granny Smith apples makes a colorful presentation. Hollow the apples and stuff with homemade stuffing, or use a simple store-bought mix. Apples are baked until tender. This a unique side dish for Thanksgiving!

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (1)

Stuffing is a serious business in my family. We have no less than four different stuffings at Thanksgiving. Everyone likes something different. I have a preference for a sausage stuffing recipe with apples. Turn the tables at Thanksgiving dinner this year and put the sausage stuffing in the apples!

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (2)

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Baked Apples with Stuffing

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Baked Apples with Stuffing Ingredients:

  • Prepared stuffing – you can use a boxed mix or make homemade like the Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing Recipe. The stuffing can be made ahead of time.
  • Various firm apples like Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious.
Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (5)

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Prepare the Stuffing

You can use any stuffing you like. I am a big fan of homemade slow cooker stuffing. But there is nothing wrong with using a box-stuffing mix. We use one every year and dress it up a little.

First, swap out the water for chicken broth. You can use a box, can, or homemade chicken broth. The broth adds more flavor to the stuffing than just water.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (7)

Second, saute fresh onions and celery in some butter to add to the stuffing mix. Add some sausage to the pan and brown it. You can use Italian sausage and breakfast sausage. We have used both, and they are delicious. The sage breakfast sausage is great in the stuffing.

I would normally add apples to the stuffing and then bake the entire thing in a dish. But this time, we stuffed the apples instead.

Stuff and Bake the Apples

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (8)

You want to choose firm apples so they stay intact during the baking. A combination of different colored apples also makes for a pretty side dish. Start by slicing off the very top of each apple. Don’t slice too far down. Just enough to take off the stem.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (9)

Next, use a spoon or a melon baller to remove the core of each apple.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (10)

Then scoop the stuffing mixture into the apples and place in a baking dish. A high-sided dish will help the apples stay standing up while baking. To keep the stuffing from drying out while baking, drizzle a little more broth over the stuffing in each apple and add a little broth to the bottom of the baking dish.

I didn’t cover the apples, but you could if you want to ensure the dressing stays moist.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (11)

Bake for about 30 minutes – less if you want firmer apples and more if you want them falling apart. Look how colorful these apples are as a side dish!

Baked stuffed apples are perfect for a weeknight dinner of baked chicken or on your Thanksgiving table. Grab some extra apples and serve these withOne Pan Sauteed Chicken and Apples for your main dish andPecan Caramel Slow Cooker Baked Apple Recipe for dessert.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (12)

We also have madeBaked Squash with Stuffing if you prefer a more savory dish!

Yield: 6-12 apples

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (13)

Turn baked apples in to a savory side dish as they are stuffed with an easysausage stuffing recipe for a delicious and gorgeous addition to dinner or even for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon oil or butter
  • 1 celery stalk, diced
  • 1/4 cup finely diced onion
  • 1/2 package sausage
  • 1 box stuffing mix
  • 1 1/4 cup Swanson's UNSALTED Chicken Broth (or the same amount of water called for on the instructions for the stuffing)
  • 6-12 apples such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a medium or large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the onion and the celery and cook until softened, abut 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook thoroughly making sure to break it up into crumbles. Remove from heat.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together stuffing mix and sausage mixture. Add Swanson's chicken broth in the same amount as water is called for on the stuffing mix instructions. Mine called for 1 1/4 cups of water and I used 1 1/4 cups of chicken broth.
  4. Stir the mixture together so that the stuffing is soft and moist. Feel free to add a little more broth if needed. Set the mix aside.
  5. Prepare the apples: Slice the very top of the apples off.
  6. Use a spoon or a melon baller to carefully scoop out the entire core of the apple.
  7. Repeat this for every apple.
  8. Spoon stuffing in to the apples and place in a high sided baking dish.
  9. Once all the apples are stuffed and in the dish, carefully pour an additional 1/4-12 cup of broth over the apples. Add another 1/4 cup to the bottom of the dish.
  10. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the apples are softened but not falling apart. If you don't want the stuffing to brown, cover the dish while baking.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 166Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 82mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 6gSugar: 24gProtein: 1g

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (14)
Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

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

Is it okay to make stuffing a day ahead of time? ›

The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

Can I freeze cooked sausage stuffing? ›

If you're freezing leftover stuffing that has already been cooked, make sure to freeze it within 24 hours of making it. You don't need much equipment to freeze stuffing—just be sure to have some resealable freezer bags or airtight freezer-safe containers on hand.

What is stuffing made of in Christmas dinner? ›

We've got classic sausagemeat versions with fruit and nuts, plus vegetarian and vegan alternatives. For other favourite stuffing recipes, check out these chestnut stuffing recipes. The veggies and vegans in your life will thank you for choosing one of these vegetarian stuffing recipes.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's all about personal preference. If you want a sturdier dressing, eggs can help do that. I don't use eggs in this recipe, though, because I like a lighter, more crumbly texture in my dressing.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

16 egg substitutes
  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. Fruit puree will help bind a recipe in a similar way to applesauce. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

Can you prepare uncooked stuffing ahead of time and refrigerate? ›

If you don't plan on stuffing the bird, but preparing the dressing as a side dish, you can prepare uncooked stuffing ahead of time as long as you freeze the stuffing immediately after mixing the wet and dry ingredients. USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing.

How wet should stuffing be before baking? ›

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.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

Because stuffing is an excellent medium for bacterial growth, it's important to handle it safely and cook it to a safe minimum internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer. Here are some common ques- tions consumers ask. Stuffing should not be prepared ahead.

Is it better to freeze stuffing, cooked or uncooked? ›

If you want to prepare your stuffing in advance of Thanksgiving, freezing it uncooked will ensure it stays nice and moist.

What's the best way to reheat sausage stuffing? ›

Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish (or, you can keep it in the dish that it was originally cooked in). If it seems dry, you'll want to add a splash of broth. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

What is stuffing called when it's not in a turkey? ›

Stuffing and dressing are commonly used as different names for the same thing—a dish consisting of bits of bread (or other starchy things) and various seasonings. The dish can be made by stuffing it (hence the name) inside a turkey or other bird that will be roasted, or by baking or cooking it separately.

What is British stuffing made of? ›

Stuffing consists of a mixture of savoury ingredients such as breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, nuts, sausagemeat and onion which are bound together with egg or liquid to form a semi-solid mixture. It is usually cooked with roast meat such as chicken, pork or lamb and is served as an accompaniment to the sliced, cooked meat.

What's the difference between stuffing and filling? ›

Although most people in America debate on whether the dish should be called stuffing or dressing the people of Pennsylvania call it filling. Essentially filling is the same as stuffing or dressing. The name suggests that it will fill something like stuffing does.

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.

Does stuffing mix have eggs? ›

Most commercial stuffing brands use animal products like milk, egg whites, butter, and chicken broth to bind the stuffing together. Some brands also use cornbread, which uses egg in the mixture. Homemade is the way to go if you want to incorporate only plant-based ingredients in your vegan stuffing mix.

What makes stuffing unhealthy? ›

Nutrition Notes

Stuffing is essentially bread, salt, and butter, so it probably comes as no surprise that it isn't the healthiest food served on Thanksgiving.

Why do people add eggs to everything? ›

Eggs are a perfect emulsifier and binder so work really well to make many dishes cohesive,” she continues.

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