The best parts of Thanksgiving are the classic side dishes. This homemade, lighter apple sausage stuffing lets you enjoy a favorite comfort food without feeling overindulgent.
Apple Sausage Stuffing for Thanksgiving
Large apple pieces and savory crumbled sausage mingle with chewy bread to create a comforting stuffing that’s perfect for the holidays. As it bakes, warm herbal aromas fill the kitchen, making it a seasonal favorite that highlights late-fall apples.
This dish is a classic Thanksgiving side and a great way to showcase ripe apples harvested in the fall.
Ingredients
The full recipe is in the printable card below. Gather these ingredients before you start:
- Cubed sandwich bread (white and whole wheat)
- Chicken sausage (tube-style that crumbles easily)
- Olive oil
- Celery, diced
- Garlic, minced
- Yellow onion
- Gala apples, peeled and diced
- Dried sage
- Dried thyme
- Salt and pepper
- Chicken broth
- Eggs
- Dried cranberries (optional)
Kitchen Tools Used
Basic tools needed:
- Large mixing bowl
- Skillet
- 9×13-inch casserole dish
What Type of Apples Are Best For Stuffing?
For a balanced savory-sweet flavor, choose an apple that isn’t too tart or overly sweet. Gala apples work well here, offering a pleasant balance that complements the herbs and sausage without overpowering them.
What Type of Sausage Is Best?
Chicken sausage keeps the dish lighter while still providing good flavor. Choose tube-style chicken sausage that can be crumbled in the skillet (not linked sausages). Pork sausage is also an option if you prefer a richer flavor.
Best Bread for Homemade Stuffing
Sandwich bread works well—use a mix of white and whole wheat if you like. The other ingredients provide most of the flavor, so no specialty bread is required. For extra texture, you can add torn French bread or baguette pieces.
Should you make stuffing inside the turkey?
I recommend baking the stuffing separately in a casserole dish. Cooking stuffing inside the turkey slows the bird’s cooking time and can make timing more complicated. If you prefer to stuff the turkey, add the stuffing partway through the turkey’s cook time so it reaches a safe temperature.
How Long to Cook Apple Sausage Stuffing
Cooking time depends on method:
- Outside the turkey: 50–55 minutes at 350°F
- Inside the turkey: about 1–2 hours, depending on turkey size and oven
- Slow cooker: High for 30 minutes, then low for 3–4 hours
More Stuffing Ideas
Customize the recipe to suit your family’s tastes. Try one of these additions:
- Chopped walnuts for crunch
- Raisins for extra sweetness
- Dried parsley for a fresh herbal note
How to Make Apple Sausage Stuffing Ahead of Time
Make this stuffing a day or two in advance to save time on the holiday. Steps to prepare ahead:
- Cook and crumble the sausage in a skillet, then transfer to a bowl.
- Use the same skillet to sauté the celery, onion, garlic and apple until softened.
- Combine the toasted bread cubes, cooked sausage, sautéed vegetables and apples in a large bowl.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13 baking dish.
- Refrigerate up to two days or freeze up to two weeks.
- When ready to bake, bring the dish to room temperature, add any egg and broth mixture if not already combined, then bake as directed.
A Healthier Apple Sausage Stuffing Side Dish
This version of stuffing offers some benefits compared with heavier traditional recipes:
- Lower in fat when made with lean chicken sausage
- Nut-free
- Contains vitamin C from the apples
- Provides protein from the sausage and eggs
More Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Round out your holiday menu with other lighter dishes that still deliver on flavor.
- Cranberry Quinoa Salad
- Healthy Apple Cinnamon Bread
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Healthier Apple Sausage Stuffing
This lighter apple sausage stuffing highlights classic Thanksgiving flavors while keeping the dish balanced and satisfying.
Cook: 45
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 10 heaping cups cubed sandwich bread (half white, half whole wheat)
- 1 lb chicken sausage (tube-style that crumbles)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium Gala apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tsp dried sage
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut bread into 1-inch pieces and spread on a baking sheet.
- Toast the bread for 10–15 minutes, until lightly browned and slightly crisp. Keep the oven on.
- When cooled, transfer toasted bread to a large bowl.
- Brown the chicken sausage in a skillet until cooked through; transfer sausage and drippings to the bowl with the bread.
- In the same skillet, heat olive oil and sauté celery and onion for about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and apple chunks and cook another 3–5 minutes, until apples are softened.
- Pour the apple-vegetable mixture over the bread and sausage.
- Sprinkle in sage, thyme, salt and pepper.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and chicken broth.
- Pour the egg-broth mixture over the bread mixture and stir to combine.
- Mix until the bread is evenly coated—moist but not soggy. Add a bit more broth if it seems too dry.
- Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch pan and bake uncovered for 50–55 minutes, until golden brown.
- Optional: sprinkle dried cranberries on top after baking.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
Category: thanksgiving, nut-free, dinner
Method: bake
Cuisine: American