This flavorful Sausage Stuffing made with chicken sausage, celery, onions, herbs and French bread is my go-to Thanksgiving stuffing recipe for this year-again!
This recipe takes the traditional stuffing you know and love and amps it up with flavorful chicken or turkey sausage, caramelized vegetables, and aromatic herbs. It’s a dish that’s hearty, versatile, and destined to steal the spotlight on the table. Not only that but is not a dietary killer. The chicken or turkey sausage keeps it lighter, and healthier.
Get a good Zone 2 ride in before dinner and you can enjoy a second helping without the guilt. 🙂
Ingredients
- 14 ounces whole wheat French bread or baguette, crusts removed (weight after crust is removed)
- 2 tablespoons whipped butter, or dairy-free butter
- 1 1/2 cups diced yellow onion
- 1 3/4 cups diced celery, about 4 celery stalks
- 13 ounces fresh sweet Italian sausage, chicken or turkey, casing removed
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 3 cups reduced sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
- salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- cooking spray
How To Make Sausage Stuffing
- Cut the bread into 1/2-inch cubes. Spread the bread out on a sheet pan and let it dry overnight – OR – place the baking sheet in a 350°F oven and bake about 20 minutes, or until the bread is dried out. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a large baking dish with oil.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
- In the same pan over medium heat, cook the sausage, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sausage to the bowl with the onion/celery mixture.
- Add the bread, sage and thyme to the bowl with the sausage/onion mixture and stir to combine. Add the chicken broth and stir to evenly coat the bread. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and stir to mix well.
- Transfer to the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, gently stir. Continue baking until golden, about 30 to 35 minutes more. Serve immediately.
Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
