Bake This Easy Sage Pecan Apple Sausage Stuffing For Thanksgiving!
Make sage sausage stuffing – it’s the best part of a Thanksgiving spread!
For most, Thanksgiving dinner is all about the turkey – but for me, it’s all about the homemade side dishes like sausage stuffing!
There’s something so comforting about a casserole dish full of buttery fluffy stuffing, and this tried and true recipe using sage sausage has been a personal favorite of mine as a family tradition for generations. If you were to come to my house for Thanksgiving, this is exactly what my husband and I make every year!
Sometimes stuffing can be kind of plain, but this one has so much flavor! It features the classic butter, celery, and onion combo but also includes chopped apples and pecans for added crunch.
Jimmy Dean sage sausage is a must for this recipe idea and trust me, the results are so tasty!
I am thankful for just how EASY and affordable this stuffing is to make.
If you are bringing a dish to a family event this year, volunteer for this one! I usually end up buying the cubed stuffing from the store, but I know many make their own, which is great too. We prefer stuffing made in a separate casserole dish instead of inside the turkey so I guess this is technically a dressing, not a stuffing.
P.S. I spent under $15 for ingredients to make sausage stuffing, so this is a budget-friendly option as well!
Tips for making the best sage sausage stuffing:
- The sage sausage I use can be found with the breakfast sausage and bacon in the store. Sometimes the sage variety sells out quickly during the holidays. If that’s the case, just buy the regular flavor and add a couple of teaspoons of dried sage, or 1/4 cup fresh sage to it while cooking the sausage in the skillet.
- The chopped nuts and apples are optional but really do add some good texture to the stuffing! I use either chopped pecans or walnuts and love the result.
- Meal prep idea: Prepare the bread cubes, sausage, and vegetables a day ahead and then finish by baking it right before Thanksgiving dinner.
Sage Sausage Thanksgiving Stuffing
yield: 10 SERVINGS
prep time: 15 MINUTES
cook time: 40 MINUTES
total time: 55 MINUTES
This savory stuffing features hearty sage sausage with pecans and apples for a must-try holiday side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (such as Jimmy Dean sage sausage)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 celery ribs, chopped
- 2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 16 oz. cubed seasoned stuffing
- 1 green apple chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 2 cups chicken broth
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2
Crumble and brown the sausage in a skillet on the stove on medium heat. Drain if necessary. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate and set aside.
3
In the same skillet, melt the butter on medium heat and sauté the chopped onion and celery until soft.
4
Use a spoon to combine the stuffing mix, poultry seasoning, cooked sausage, apples, nuts, and the cooked onion and celery mixture into a large casserole dish.
Note: I combined everything right in a large casserole dish, but it may be easier to use a large bowl or stockpot to stir everything first.
5
Pour the chicken broth over the mixture and gently stir.
6
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees covered with foil and another 10 minutes uncovered. Serve warm.
Hooray for this easy holiday staple! Break out the elastic waist pants and have some more sausage stuffing! 😂
I love how the top gets brown and a little crispy, and it smells so great too! This has me even more excited for Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Somehow stuffing tastes even better leftover, and is awesome on top of a turkey sandwich too, YUM!
What’s your favorite type of stuffing or dressing?
Don’t forget to make caramelized bacon and green beans as another easy side dish!
You have to use stuffing bread for stuffing!! You rip it up and let it get stale overnight and it will make this or any stuffing recipe so much better!! Trust me. Those cube things are the reason I hate the consistency/texture of most people’s stuffing. 🤢
This sounds delicious! I’m going to try it! Thank you! 😋😋😋
Thanks! I hope you enjoy 💕🙌