Description
A cozy, one-pan dinner that combines savory Italian sausage, crisp apples, and herbs with stale bread. This recipe mimics traditional Thanksgiving stuffing but comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 6 cups day-old bread, cubed (about 300g)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
- 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
- 1½ cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: ½ cup dried cranberries, ¼ cup chopped pecans, 1 cup diced celery
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. If using fresh bread, cube it and toast on a baking sheet for 10 minutes until dry. Let cool.
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sausage and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon, then remove sausage and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add garlic, sage, and thyme, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add diced apples to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Add the dried bread cubes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together warm chicken broth, heavy cream, and eggs. Pour this mixture over the bread and sausage.
- Sprinkle in nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Gently toss everything together to combine without breaking up the bread cubes.
- Remove skillet from heat, cover, and let rest for 5 minutes to allow bread to absorb liquid.
- Optional: For a crispy top, transfer to a baking dish and broil for 2-3 minutes, or crisp the bottom in the skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes.
- Serve warm directly from the skillet.
Notes
Use stale bread for best texture; if using fresh bread, toast it first. Warm the broth and cream before adding to prevent the bread from becoming tough. Do not over-stir to avoid mushy texture. This recipe does not freeze well due to the bread and dairy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: fall recipes, sausage stuffing, apple stuffing, one pan dinner, quick weeknight meals, comfort food, easy dinner, autumn cooking