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Sausage and Apple Stuffing with Walnuts

This comforting stuffing combines the savory flavors of pork sausage with sweet apples and crunchy walnuts, making it a perfect side dish for any occasion.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Holiday, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 6500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Stuffing Base
  • 2 sticks butter, divided
  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 bags dried cornbread stuffing mix (14 to 16 oz each) Recommended: Arnold's
Filling Ingredients
  • 1 lb pork sausage, bulk Use bulk sausage for better mixing.
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 medium apples, cored and sliced
  • 2 to 3 cups homemade giblet stock or low-sodium canned chicken broth

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large pot, melt 2 sticks of the butter in the 2 cups water. Stir in the dry cornbread stuffing mix until it is evenly combined. Set aside.
  2. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the bulk pork sausage and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
  3. In the same pan, melt the remaining butter. Add the onion, garlic, celery, thyme, and sage. Cook until the onion is translucent and celery is crisp-tender.
  4. Stir in the chopped walnuts and sauté for 1 minute. Then add the sliced apples and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
  5. Mix the cornbread stuffing base with the cooked sausage and the vegetable mixture.
Baking
  1. Spread the stuffing in a 10 x 15 x 2-inch pan. Moisten with giblet stock, then cover the pan with foil.
  2. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 15 minutes more, until lightly browned.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze cooled stuffing for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or microwave with added broth or water to keep moist.