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)

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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!

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Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing Recipe with Fresh Herbs (10)

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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

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

No matter where you fall, getting a head start on what can be prepared before the big day is essential. One question that always crops up: Can you make stuffing ahead of time? The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

Can you freeze stuffing? ›

Like we said, you can also freeze stuffing after it's baked. This option is better for freezing leftovers rather than prepping ahead. If you happened to make too much stuffing, you can portion the leftovers into food storage containers and pop in the freezer to enjoy during the days to come.

What is sausage stuffing made of? ›

A mixture of sage, sausage, onion, garlic, and celery lends this stuffing classic flavor.

What is stuffing made of in Christmas dinner? ›

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.

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.

Should you put an egg in stuffing? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency. Seasonings: This turkey dressing recipe is seasoned with salt, pepper, rubbed sage, and garlic powder.

Is it better to freeze stuffing cooked or uncooked? ›

It is safe to freeze uncooked stuffing. Ingredients can be combined, put into a shallow container, and frozen immediately. To use it safely, do not thaw it before cooking.

Can you freeze stuffing with sausage meat? ›

Add the mixture to the bowl with the sausage; add the bread cubes, and toss to coat. Let the bread-sausage mixture cool to room temperature. Transfer it to a resealable plastic bag, label and date, and freeze for up to 2 weeks.

Can you make stuffing the day before and reheat? ›

YES! This stuffing is baked to golden perfection the day before the big meal. You store it in the fridge overnight and then simply warm it in the oven before dinner. Baking it twice allows the flavours to meld even more so this side dish is sure to be a star at the table.

How much water do you put in sausage before stuffing? ›

Add at least 1 oz. of water per pound of meat to aid in the stuffing process. This aid in mixing the meat with the seasoning and will ease the stress put on the gears of your meat mixer and sausage stuffer. Try experimenting with liquids other than water when mixing your next batch of sausage.

What kind of bread do you use for stuffing? ›

Breads such as sour dough, French bread or Italian loaves are for the best bread for stuffing. Their soft-but-sturdy interiors are the perfect texture for stuffing. The pieces retain their shape without crumbling.

Why use a sausage stuffer? ›

You will be surprised how easy it is to stuff your seasoned ground meat into sausage casings with a sausage stuffer. You can use your meat grinder with stuffing tubes to stuff your sausages, but a sausage stuffer is easier to control, especially if you are doing large batches of sausage.

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 is the difference between stuffing and filling food? ›

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.

Can you refrigerate uncooked stuffing overnight? ›

Do not refrigerate uncooked stuffing. If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.

How do you keep stuffing moist when reheating? ›

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.

Will bread dry out overnight for 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. Or, if you're short on time, you can use the oven method for a quick and easy way to dry.

Can I stuff my turkey with stuffing the night before? ›

Do not stuff whole poultry and leave in the refrigerator before cooking. If stuffing whole poultry, the ingredients for the stuffing can be prepared ahead of time. Keep wet and dry ingredients separated and chill. Mix wet and dry ingredients just before putting stuffing into a casserole or filling the bird's cavity.

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