Recipe: Apple Sausage Stuffing

Ingredients

1 loaf crusty whole grain or sourdough bread, cubed (about 16-20 ounces or 6-7 cups cubed)
3 tablespoons butter
½ medium yellow or white onion, peeled and diced
3 medium stalks celery, diced
½ pound ground Italian sausage
2 medium crisp apples, skins on, cored and diced
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 ½ teaspoons coarse salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2-3 cups unsalted chicken stock
2 large eggs
4-5 leaves fresh sage, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned and crisp, then let cool.
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add the onion and celery, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until slightly soft.
Add the Italian sausage to the skillet and cook until almost browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add the diced apples and sauté until the sausage is fully browned and the apples are slightly soft.
Transfer the sausage mixture to a large bowl and add the toasted bread, poultry seasoning, salt, black pepper, 2 cups of stock, eggs, and sage.
Stir until well combined and the bread starts to soften; add more stock if the mixture seems dry.
Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F, coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray, and transfer the stuffing mixture into the dish.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until set, checking that the center reaches at least 165 degrees F.
Let cool slightly before serving.

Servings

Calories

233

Total fat

Total carbohydrates

31g

Total protein

10g

Sodium

520mg

Cholesterol

54mg