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
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
Next, use a spoon or a melon baller to remove the core of each apple.
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.
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 with One Pan Sauteed Chicken and Apples for your main dish and Pecan Caramel Slow Cooker Baked Apple Recipe for dessert.
We also have made Baked Squash with Stuffing if you prefer a more savory dish!
Savory Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing
Turn baked apples in to 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.
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
- 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.
- Add the sausage to the skillet and cook thoroughly making sure to break it up into crumbles. Remove from heat.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare the apples: Slice the very top of the apples off.
- Use a spoon or a melon baller to carefully scoop out the entire core of the apple.
- Repeat this for every apple.
- Spoon stuffing in to the apples and place in a high sided baking dish.
- 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.
- 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:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 166Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 82mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 6gSugar: 24gProtein: 1g