Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing

Recipe courtesy Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh

Show: Party Line with the Hearty BoysEpisode: Thanksgiving

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (78)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(78)

Cook Time:
30 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
8 to 10 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 30 min
Total:: 55 min

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Ingredients

1 pound mild bulk breakfast sausage
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups sliced leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned well (about 2 large leeks)
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped
1 cup chopped celery with leaves
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 cup dried cranberries, rehydrated in boiling water for 15 minutes and drained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
6 cups boxed bread cubes (croutons)
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 to 3 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Saute the sausage in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, crumbling coarsely with the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage and drippings to a large bowl. Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, apples, celery and poultry seasoning to the skillet and saute until the leeks are soft, about 8 minutes. Mix in the drained cranberries, sage and rosemary. Add the mixture to the sausage, then mix in the croutons and parsley. Next add the chicken stock a little at a time until the stuffing is very moist. Be sure not to overdo it; it shouldn't be mushy. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a casserole dish. (The stuffing can be made to this point 2 days before Thanksgiving, refrigerated.)

Bake in a 14-inch oval or 9 by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish and place, uncovered, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the top is crispy and the center piping hot. Remove and serve immediately.

*Cook's Note: If stuffing a turkey, the stuffing must be cold before being placed in the bird.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing
Jeffrey New York, NY 01-19-2010
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Best stuffing ever
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe is absolutely amazing. I didn't have any leeks on hand, so I used some scallions and regular onion instead, and... that was still delicious. Also, I made mine with real bread instead of croutons, getting a baguette and cornbread stale beforehand, and that was a really good idea. The mix of the two kinds of bread is excellent. Also, DEFINITELY make this recipe with fresh sage and parsley, NOT dried. The fresh herbs are amazing and really give it some amazing flavor.Read more
recipe Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing
Gina Bayonne, NJ 11-29-2009
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Versatile and delicious
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The flavors in this recipe are so complimentary and versatile that there is a lot of room for error and/ or variation. For... instance, I used potato bread cubes, and didn't realize that they were soft cubes. Surprisingly, I figured that I would have to reduce the stock or it would be soggy. I only used 1 cup of broth out of the recommended 3 cups, and that was even too much. The bread cubes were on the mooshy side of moist. But I dried it out in the oven, I also used Jones' sage sausage, so I reduced my fresh sage to 1 tablespoon. Three leeks worked well for me since I like onion to be a dominant flavor. Leeks are mild so I might use yellow onions next time. No matter what I did differently to this recipe by accident or purpose, everyone loved it. My husband always says, "I'm not a stuffing guy." Well that all changed today. He ate a platter on his own while walking in and out of the kitchen. He was hooked and so am I! Now I don't have any leftover stuffing!Read more
recipe Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing
Sherrill Westminster, MD 11-28-2009
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Wow!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have never quite been able to match the traditional stuffing that I love of my mom's because she doesn't measure... ingredients. I decided to go out on a limb and try something different. My husband, who loves oyster dressing, said this recipe rivals oyster dressing. It was fabulous, I almost overate. The fresh herbs really make a difference.Read more
recipe Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing
Katherine Macomb, MI 11-27-2009
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A huge hit!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

We made this for Thanksgiving this year and fed it to people who have eaten nothing but "Stovetop" brand stuffing for 40... years. They all loved it! Definitely going in the keeper pile. Only thing changed was shallots instead of leeks because we couldn't find nice leeks. Read more
recipe Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing
thomas rochester, MA 11-27-2009
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Was the only Thanksgiving dish with almost no leftovers.
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

For 8 adults and 5 kids,I tripled the recipie,used homemade croutons,and changed the liquid component to equal parts broth... and half and half,with 3 beaten eggs,but followed the recipie exactly,otherwise. This easily could have been a main course. They loved it ! Could not be better!Read more
recipe Sausage, Dried Cranberry and Apple Stuffing
Jonathan Brooklyn, NY 11-26-2009
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Great Stuffing...
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this for the family on thanksgiving and no one could put it down. My dad said it was the best he ever had (we had to... take the bowl from him so he wouldn't eat it all).Read more