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

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.

Is a jazz apple good for baking? ›

For cooked applications, it depends on the dish: Its hard, crunchy texture softens but stays nicely intact in apple crisp yet won't break down enough in applesauce. Sweet-tart, crisp Jazz apples are great for snacking and baked applications like apple crisp, where their firmer flesh won't turn to mush.

Is it better to freeze stuffing cooked or uncooked? ›

It is safe to freeze uncooked stuffing; however, the ingredients must be combined, put into a shallow container, and frozen immediately. To use it, do not thaw before cooking. Cook from the frozen state until the stuffing reaches 165°F.

Should I freeze stuffing raw or cooked? ›

Stuffing. Most stuffing recipes can be made ahead and frozen for up to three months. As a general guide, it's best to shape uncooked stuffing into balls, open-freeze on a tray and then transfer to a freezer bag. You can bake from frozen, adding 10 minutes to the cooking time.

What are the top 5 apples for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

Why are Jazz apples so expensive? ›

JAZZ™ apples are sometimes nicknamed Lawyer apples among growers due to their strict cultivation requirements as a club or managed variety. Club varieties provide companies with complete control over the branding, cultivation, pricing, and release of modern apple cultivars.

What apple is closest to a Jazz Apple? ›

It is hard and crisp but juicy. The colour is flushes of red and maroon over shades of green, yellow and orange. Jazz is a close relative of the Kanzi apple, which is easier to bite and has a more delicate sweet-tart taste.

How long can you freeze sausage stuffing? ›

Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The stuffing can be assembled up to a day ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake; follow the baking instructions in the recipe. It can also can be frozen after baking, tightly covered, for up to 3 months.

How do you reheat frozen sausage stuffing? ›

Heat the oven to 350°F and transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe dish (or, you can keep it in the dish that it was originally cooked in). If it seems dry, you'll want to add a splash of broth. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake again until crisp, 15–20 minutes.

How long can you keep cooked sausage meat stuffing 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 reheat cooked sausage stuffing? ›

The Fastest Way: Microwave

This is my husband's tried-and-true method — nothing glamorous, but it heats the stuffing well. Be sure to add a little broth or butter to your stuffing before reheating to prevent drying out. Transfer stuffing to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a piece of parchment paper.

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