Description
This Easy Sausage Stuffing Recipe combines savory Italian sausage with fresh herbs, aromatic vegetables, and dried cranberries, creating a flavorful and moist stuffing perfect for holiday meals or comforting dinners. With a simple stovetop preparation and oven baking, this dish is straightforward to make and yields a deliciously satisfying side.
Ingredients
Meat
- 1 pound ground mild Italian sausage
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 3 celery stalks (diced)
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh sage
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
Other Ingredients
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 (12 oz) bag herbed stuffing mix
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9 or 9×13 inch casserole dish thoroughly with non-stick spray and set it aside for later use.
- Cook Sausage: In a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat, add the ground mild Italian sausage. Cook for about 5 minutes to help render out some of the fat from the sausage, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add Vegetables and Herbs: Add the diced onion, diced celery, minced rosemary, sage, and thyme to the skillet with the sausage. Stir everything together to combine evenly.
- Sauté Until Cooked: Continue cooking the mixture over medium heat until the sausage is fully cooked through with no pink remaining and the vegetables have softened, approximately 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Add Cranberries and Stock: Stir in the dried cranberries followed by the chicken stock. Heat the mixture, maintaining medium heat until the stock is warmed through and slightly absorbed by the ingredients.
- Add Stuffing Mix: Turn off the heat. Gradually pour the dried herbed stuffing mix into the skillet, stirring to combine all ingredients thoroughly and evenly.
- Transfer and Bake: Transfer the stuffing mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until the top is slightly browned and crispy.
Notes
- Use mild Italian sausage for a balanced flavor, but spicy sausage can be used for a kick.
- Fresh herbs provide the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted using 1 teaspoon each.
- Ensure the sausage is thoroughly cooked to a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
- For added crunch, sprinkle toasted nuts or extra celery on top before baking.
- This stuffing can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if baking cold.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
