Morgan Howard’s Apple, Sausage, & Pecan Stuffing Recipe

Crisp and sweet, apples are autumn’s favorite fruit.

Apples are a healthy snack on their own, but when paired with a steaming bowl of oatmeal, a vibrant chicken salad, or a spoonful of your go-to nut butter, they provide energy to fuel your day. And, they do keep the doctor away! Apples are loaded with fiber and vitamin C (especially in the skins), and they contain antioxidants that lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Morgan Howard's Apple, Sausage, & Pecan Stuffing

Recipe by Morgan Howard
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: SideCuisine: American, Autumn
Servings

10-12

servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb.

      chicken or turkey Italian sausage

    • Olive oil, for sautéing

    • 1

      stick butter

    • 1

      large onion, diced

    • 4

      stalks celery, diced

    • 2 cups

      tart apples, diced (about 2 medium-size Granny Smith apples)

    • 1 1/2 cups

      chicken stock, plus more if needed

    • 4-5 Tbsp.

      fresh sage, sliced thin (or 2 Tbsp. dried sage)

    • 1/2 cup

      fresh parsley, chopped

    • 2 Tbsp.

      salt

    • 1 Tbsp.

      pepper

    • 3 cups

      day-old Italian or French bread, cut into coarse chunks

    • 3 cups

      day-old multigrain bread, cut into coarse chunks

    • 1 1/2 cups

      pecans, coarsely chopped

    Directions

    • Preheat oven to 350°.

    • Brown sausage in skillet with olive oil. Set sausage aside in large mixing bowl.

    • Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onions, celery, and a pinch of salt and sauté for 10-15 minutes. Turn up heat to medium-high, then add apples and cook for 3-5 minutes.

    • Add 1 1/2 cups chicken stock to the onion/apple mixture and bring to a simmer. Turn down heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add sage, parsley, salt, and pepper.

    • Add apple mixture to mixing bowl with sausage along with the bread pieces and pecans. Stir gently and add more chicken stock if needed to form stuffing mixture – the mixture should be moist, but not sopping wet.

    • Grease a large casserole dish and pour stuffing mixture in. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes, adding more chicken stock occasionally if needed.

    • For a crispy topping, broil 2 minutes at the end of the cook time. Serve and enjoy!

    Did you know?

    • You need approximately 36 apples to make one gallon of apple cider. Time to start picking!
    morgan howard

    For Morgan Howard, of Hixson, cooking serves as a creative outlet. “I am constantly coming up with new dishes that my family will enjoy,” she says. “We have a big garden, so I’m always trying to find a use for fresh produce in our dishes!”

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