Hearty Caramelized Onion, Apple, and Sausage Stuffing: The Ultimate Thanksgiving Side Dish
This Caramelized Onion, Apple, & Sausage Stuffing recipe offers a delicious twist on the classic holiday side dish, perfect for your Thanksgiving table or any festive gathering. It’s generously packed with savory sausage, sweet and tangy caramelized onions, crisp apples, fragrant fresh herbs, and plump dried cranberries, creating a truly warm and comforting accompaniment to any meal. Best of all, this impressive dish is incredibly easy to prepare and can even be made ahead of time, allowing you to enjoy a stress-free holiday!
As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, it’s truly the season for indulging in ALL. THE. FOOD. And what better way to celebrate than with comforting, homemade dishes that bring everyone together?
Thanksgiving holds a special place in our hearts, especially for my husband, who absolutely adores this holiday. There’s nothing quite as rewarding as spending the month leading up to it, perfecting and cooking his most beloved dishes. The joy on his face, that little wiggle dance he does when he tastes something truly delicious – it’s pure magic.
Cooking for others is always a passion of mine, but seeing that silly grin spread across his face when he eats his favorite Thanksgiving foods is simply unmatched. It’s a joy that inspires me to ensure he gets all the delicious holiday fare he could ever desire, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but throughout the season.
Behold the glory of being married to a food blogger – every day can be a holiday feast!
Out of all the stuffing recipes I’ve crafted over the years, this caramelized onion, apple, and sausage stuffing truly stands out as the best one yet. While I absolutely cherished the vibrant flavors of the green chile cornbread stuffing I made last year, when it comes to a classic holiday feel, I’ll always gravitate towards a more traditional stuffing. This recipe masterfully combines the beloved elements of a conventional stuffing but elevates it with layers of incredible flavor.
Imagine this: sweet and deeply savory caramelized onions, tender yet slightly tart apples, plump dried cranberries, hearty French bread, robust sausage, and a fragrant medley of fresh herbs. Each spoonful is an explosion of texture and taste – a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and herbaceous notes. It’s more than just a side dish; it’s a giant casserole dish of pure, unadulterated Y-U-M, destined to become a new favorite at your holiday table.
Table of Contents
This Recipe’s Must-Haves
To prepare this amazing stuffing, having the right kitchen tools can make the process smooth and enjoyable. You’ll be chopping a significant amount of apples, onions, and bread, so a sharp chef’s knife and a sturdy cutting board are absolutely essential. They’ll ensure your ingredients are uniformly sized, which is key for even cooking and a beautiful presentation.
One crucial step is toasting the bread cubes. For this, a spacious half sheet baking pan will be your best friend. Spreading the bread in a single, even layer allows it to dry out properly and develop a light golden crispness, preventing your stuffing from becoming soggy once all the wonderful flavors are combined and baked.
When it comes to mixing all those delicious components together, you’ll need the largest mixing bowl you own. This recipe yields a generous amount of stuffing, so a big bowl ensures you have ample space to combine everything thoroughly without making a mess, allowing all the ingredients to be evenly distributed and coated.
Finally, for baking and serving, I highly recommend using an oval casserole dish with a capacity of at least 2 ½ to 3 quarts. My personal favorite is a Le Creuset dish; not only are they renowned for their quality and durability, but their elegant design also allows them to go straight from the oven to your Thanksgiving table, making serving a breeze and adding a touch of rustic charm to your spread.
More Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes to Explore:
Looking to round out your holiday meal? Don’t miss these other fantastic Thanksgiving side dish ideas:
- Chook Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Green Chile Cornbread Stuffing
- Bacon Cranberry Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Cheesy Herb Individual Potato Gratin
How To Make Homemade Sausage Stuffing
Crafting this homemade sausage stuffing is a straightforward process that builds layers of flavor with each step. From toasting the bread to caramelizing the onions, each stage is designed to ensure a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Follow these simple steps to create a truly unforgettable side dish for your holiday feast.
Toast the Bread Cubes
The journey to the perfect stuffing begins with the bread. You’ll want to start by cubing your bread (French or sourdough works wonderfully here) into uniform 1-inch pieces. Then, spread these cubes in an even layer on a large baking sheet. This initial toasting step in the oven is absolutely critical – it’s what dries out the bread, preventing your stuffing from becoming a soggy, unappetizing mess. A good toast ensures the bread cubes will absorb all the flavorful liquids and juices without losing their structure, resulting in that delightful crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside texture that everyone loves. Bake until they are lightly golden brown and perfectly crisp, setting the foundation for a truly great stuffing.
Caramelize the Onions
Caramelized onions are the secret weapon in this stuffing recipe, adding a profound depth of sweet and savory flavor that truly elevates the dish. While the process of caramelizing onions requires a little patience on the stovetop, it is undeniably worth every minute. The natural sugars in the onions transform through slow cooking, creating a rich, golden-brown hue and an incredibly complex, sweet, and umami taste that beautifully complements the savory sausage and tart apples. Simply cook the finely chopped onions in butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they reach that deep, glorious caramelization. This slow transformation is the key to unlocking their full flavor potential.
Cook Vegetables and Apples
Once your caramelized onions are gloriously golden and set aside, you’ll use the same pan to cook down the remaining celery, apples, and fresh herbs. This technique allows the vegetables and fruit to absorb any residual caramelized onion flavor, further enriching the stuffing. The celery adds a subtle crunch and earthy note, while the apples (Granny Smith for tartness and Red Delicious for sweetness) bring a delightful fruity balance. Cooking them until softened releases their aromas and integrates their flavors beautifully. Once tender, remove them from the pan and combine them with your toasted bread and those magnificent caramelized onions.
Brown the Sausage
Continuing our multi-layered flavor approach, you’ll brown the sausage in that very same pan. This allows the sausage to crisp up and release its delicious fats, which will then infuse the entire stuffing mixture. Break the sausage down into small chunks as it cooks, ensuring it’s completely cooked through and beautifully browned. Once done, drain any excess fat – this prevents the stuffing from being overly greasy – and add the cooked sausage to your bowl with the toasted bread, caramelized onions, apples, and celery. The savory sausage is a cornerstone of this stuffing, providing hearty texture and a rich, robust flavor profile.
Combine and Stir
With all your flavorful components prepared, it’s time to bring them together. In that large mixing bowl, gently combine the toasted bread, caramelized onions, cooked vegetables, apples, sausage, chicken stock, and dried cranberries. Use a large spoon or your hands to mix everything thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. This step is crucial for ensuring every bite of stuffing is packed with every wonderful flavor and texture. Be careful not to overmix, as you want to maintain some integrity in your bread cubes.
Bake to Perfection
Finally, transfer your perfectly mixed stuffing into your chosen baking dish. Spread it evenly, ensuring a consistent layer for optimal baking. Bake in a preheated oven until the stuffing is heated through, bubbly around the edges, and the top has achieved a beautiful, golden-brown crispness. The aromas filling your kitchen at this stage will be absolutely irresistible. Serve it warm, and watch as this hearty, flavorful stuffing becomes the star of your holiday table. Its combination of textures and tastes makes it an unforgettable part of any festive meal.
What Sausage Is Best For Stuffing?
When it comes to selecting the perfect sausage for this delightful stuffing recipe, you have a fantastic opportunity to tailor the flavor profile to your preference: sweet or spicy! In our household, we often lean towards the vibrant kick of spicy Italian sausage. Its inherent heat introduces an exciting additional layer of complexity to the stuffing, beautifully complementing the savory notes of the herbs, the tartness of the apples, and the sweetness of the caramelized onions. This dynamic interplay of flavors creates a truly memorable dish.
However, if you or your guests prefer a milder palate, or if you simply enjoy a different kind of warmth, sweet Italian sausage is an equally wonderful choice. It brings a subtle sweetness and aromatic blend of spices that harmonizes perfectly with the other ingredients, creating a comforting and flavorful stuffing without any added heat. You could also experiment with sage sausage for an even more traditional holiday flavor, or even a mild breakfast sausage. The key is to use a high-quality sausage with casings removed for easy crumbling, ensuring a delicious outcome every time.
Tips for the Perfect Stuffing
Achieving the perfect stuffing is all about balance and technique. Here are a few additional tips to ensure your Caramelized Onion, Apple, and Sausage Stuffing is absolutely flawless:
- Don’t Over-Soak the Bread: While you want the bread to be moist, over-soaking it can lead to a mushy stuffing. Toasting the bread first helps it absorb the right amount of liquid without becoming soggy.
- Taste as You Go: Adjust seasoning throughout the process. Taste the caramelized onions, the cooked vegetables, and even a small piece of the mixed stuffing before baking to ensure the salt, pepper, and herbs are just right.
- Even Distribution is Key: Take your time to thoroughly mix all the ingredients. Every spoonful should contain a delightful medley of bread, sausage, apples, and onions.
- Customization is Encouraged: Feel free to experiment with different types of apples (like Honeycrisp for more sweetness) or add other dried fruits such as dried apricots or figs for another layer of sweetness and texture. A sprinkle of pecans or walnuts could also add a lovely crunch.
- Achieve a Crispy Top: For that irresistible crispy top, you can bake the stuffing uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes, or even briefly under the broiler (watch carefully!) once it’s heated through.
Make-Ahead and Storage
One of the best features of this Caramelized Onion, Apple, and Sausage Stuffing is its make-ahead potential, which is a huge bonus during busy holiday preparations. You can assemble the entire dish, minus the final bake, up to a day in advance. Simply follow all the instructions through step 7 (combining all ingredients and mixing well). Transfer the mixture to your baking dish, cover it tightly with foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When you’re ready to bake, let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before placing it in the oven, and then follow the baking instructions, adding a little extra time if needed to ensure it’s heated through.
Leftovers, if there are any, can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply warm individual portions in the microwave or place the covered baking dish in a 300˚F oven until heated through. For a crisper texture, uncover for the last few minutes of reheating in the oven. This stuffing also freezes well for up to 2-3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
For an even deeper dive into the world of stuffing, learn more about the best bread for stuffing here to ensure your stuffing is truly exceptional!
If you’re looking for another unique take on sweet potatoes for your holiday spread, these cheesy hasselback sweet potatoes are guaranteed to impress and delight your taste buds.
And for the star of the show, the turkey, you simply must try a smoked turkey for an incredibly flavorful and juicy bird! If you’re short on time but still want a succulent turkey, consider skipping the traditional brine and opting for a quick and effective turkey injection recipe instead.
Don’t forget dessert! Complete your Thanksgiving feast with a tasty and elegant treat like my Bourbon Caramel Apple Galette.
Caramelized Onion, Apple, & Sausage Stuffing
10 minutes
1 hour 5 minutes
1 hour 15 minutes
Equipment
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Half Sheet Pan
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Large Mixing Bowls
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Stoneware Baking Dish (2.5-3 Quart)
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Large Saute Pan or Dutch Oven
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Sharp Chef’s Knife and Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 16 cups 1-inch bread cubes from 1 1/2 pound loaf of day-old white or sourdough bread
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 medium yellow onions finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1 Granny Smith apple unpeeled, cored and large-diced
- 1 Red Delicious apple unpeeled, cored and large-diced
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp freshly chopped sage leaves
- 3/4 lb sweet or spicy Italian sausage casings removed
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 300˚F (150°C).
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Spread the bread cubes in a single, even layer on a large sheet pan. Bake for 7 minutes, or until they are nicely toasted and lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and transfer the toasted cubes into a very large mixing bowl.
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Increase the oven temperature to 350˚F (175°C).
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In a large sauté pan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and shimmering, add the finely chopped yellow onions. Cook them down, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes until they are beautifully caramelized and a deep golden brown.
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Remove the caramelized onions from the pan and add them to the large bowl with the toasted bread cubes. Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in the same pan. Once melted, add the diced celery, apples, fresh parsley, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped sage. Cook until the celery has softened, typically 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add this mixture to the bread and onions in the large bowl.
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Using the same sauté pan, cook the Italian sausage (casings removed) for approximately 10 minutes. Make sure to break up the sausage with a fork as it cooks until it is browned and completely cooked through. Drain any excess fat from the sausage and then add the cooked sausage to the bread, vegetables, and apples in the large bowl.
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Pour the chicken stock and dried cranberries into the bread mixture. Using a large spoon or your hands, mix everything thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and evenly distributed throughout the stuffing.
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Transfer the stuffing mixture into a 2 1/2 to 3-quart baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
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Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the stuffing is piping hot in the middle. Serve warm and enjoy!
Thanksgiving, American
Side Dish, Holiday