Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (2024)

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Turn baked apples into a savory side dish as they are stuffed with an easy sausage stuffing recipe for a delicious and gorgeous addition to dinner or even for Thanksgiving.

Turn baked apples into a savory side dish as they are stuffed with an easy sausage stuffing recipe for a delicious and gorgeous addition to dinner or even for Thanksgiving. Use any kind or color of apple you like. A combination of red and gold delicious with Granny Smith apples makes a colorful presentation. Hollow the apples and stuff with homemade stuffing, or use a simple store-bought mix. Apples are baked until tender. This a unique side dish for Thanksgiving!

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (1)

Stuffing is a serious business in my family. We have no less than four different stuffings at Thanksgiving. Everyone likes something different. I have a preference for a sausage stuffing recipe with apples. Turn the tables at Thanksgiving dinner this year and put the sausage stuffing in the apples!

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (2)

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Baked Apples with Stuffing

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Baked Apples with Stuffing Ingredients:

  • Prepared stuffing – you can use a boxed mix or make homemade like the Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing Recipe. The stuffing can be made ahead of time.
  • Various firm apples like Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious.
Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (5)

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Prepare the Stuffing

You can use any stuffing you like. I am a big fan of homemade slow cooker stuffing. But there is nothing wrong with using a box-stuffing mix. We use one every year and dress it up a little.

First, swap out the water for chicken broth. You can use a box, can, or homemade chicken broth. The broth adds more flavor to the stuffing than just water.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (7)

Second, saute fresh onions and celery in some butter to add to the stuffing mix. Add some sausage to the pan and brown it. You can use Italian sausage and breakfast sausage. We have used both, and they are delicious. The sage breakfast sausage is great in the stuffing.

I would normally add apples to the stuffing and then bake the entire thing in a dish. But this time, we stuffed the apples instead.

Stuff and Bake the Apples

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (8)

You want to choose firm apples so they stay intact during the baking. A combination of different colored apples also makes for a pretty side dish. Start by slicing off the very top of each apple. Don’t slice too far down. Just enough to take off the stem.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (9)

Next, use a spoon or a melon baller to remove the core of each apple.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (10)

Then scoop the stuffing mixture into the apples and place in a baking dish. A high-sided dish will help the apples stay standing up while baking. To keep the stuffing from drying out while baking, drizzle a little more broth over the stuffing in each apple and add a little broth to the bottom of the baking dish.

I didn’t cover the apples, but you could if you want to ensure the dressing stays moist.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (11)

Bake for about 30 minutes – less if you want firmer apples and more if you want them falling apart. Look how colorful these apples are as a side dish!

Baked stuffed apples are perfect for a weeknight dinner of baked chicken or on your Thanksgiving table. Grab some extra apples and serve these withOne Pan Sauteed Chicken and Apples for your main dish andPecan Caramel Slow Cooker Baked Apple Recipe for dessert.

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (12)

We also have madeBaked Squash with Stuffing if you prefer a more savory dish!

Yield: 6-12 apples

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (13)

Turn baked apples in to a savory side dish as they are stuffed with an easysausage stuffing recipe for a delicious and gorgeous addition to dinner or even for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon oil or butter
  • 1 celery stalk, diced
  • 1/4 cup finely diced onion
  • 1/2 package sausage
  • 1 box stuffing mix
  • 1 1/4 cup Swanson's UNSALTED Chicken Broth (or the same amount of water called for on the instructions for the stuffing)
  • 6-12 apples such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a medium or large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the onion and the celery and cook until softened, abut 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook thoroughly making sure to break it up into crumbles. Remove from heat.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together stuffing mix and sausage mixture. Add Swanson's chicken broth in the same amount as water is called for on the stuffing mix instructions. Mine called for 1 1/4 cups of water and I used 1 1/4 cups of chicken broth.
  4. Stir the mixture together so that the stuffing is soft and moist. Feel free to add a little more broth if needed. Set the mix aside.
  5. Prepare the apples: Slice the very top of the apples off.
  6. Use a spoon or a melon baller to carefully scoop out the entire core of the apple.
  7. Repeat this for every apple.
  8. Spoon stuffing in to the apples and place in a high sided baking dish.
  9. Once all the apples are stuffed and in the dish, carefully pour an additional 1/4-12 cup of broth over the apples. Add another 1/4 cup to the bottom of the dish.
  10. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the apples are softened but not falling apart. If you don't want the stuffing to brown, cover the dish while baking.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 166Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 82mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 6gSugar: 24gProtein: 1g

Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (14)
Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

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.

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.

Can I freeze cooked sausage stuffing? ›

If you're freezing leftover stuffing that has already been cooked, make sure to freeze it within 24 hours of making it. You don't need much equipment to freeze stuffing—just be sure to have some resealable freezer bags or airtight freezer-safe containers on hand.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

16 egg substitutes
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. Fruit puree will help bind a recipe in a similar way to applesauce. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

How do you keep stuffing moist when cooking? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

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.

How wet should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Can you use week old bread for stuffing? ›

In fact, using stale bread and fresh bread will both leave you with equal amounts of mush. The longstanding tip to use old, stale bread for the perfect stuffing is actually a myth. Letting bread go stale doesn't actually dry it out. After sitting out on your counter, bread goes through the process of retrogradation.

What white bread is best for stuffing? ›

#1: White Sandwich Bread

Texture: Because of its small hole structure but fluffy texture, it was the best at absorbing liquid and butter, gaining a very pleasing, steamy bread pudding-like texture.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

How long does stuffing with sausage last in the fridge? ›

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.

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.

Why use an egg as a thickener? ›

Creamy desserts such as crème brûlée also benefit from eggs' ability to emulsify and produce smooth, satiny, hom*ogeneous mixtures. Their ability to hold up to four times their weight in moisture makes eggs a good thickener for sauces, custards and curds. The proteins in eggs coagulate or set at different temperatures.

Why do we need to apply egg yolk in some dressing? ›

You can use boiled egg yolks in scratch-made dressings or whisk them into store-bought dressings for the ultimate creamy upgrade. Boiled egg yolks can thicken a dressing without breaking or clumping while creating a silky consistency that thoroughly coats your salad ingredients.

What makes stuffing unhealthy? ›

Stuffing is not strictly a healthy food, because it is typically high in calories, fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates. 1 But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, All foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation.

Why do people add eggs to everything? ›

Not only do eggs add an element of creamy indulgence, there's even some science behind their joy. “Eggs are a perfect emulsifier and binder so work really well to make many dishes cohesive,” she continues.

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