Sausage and Apple Stuffing is the ultimate combination of savory and sweet, bringing warmth, texture, and bold flavor to any holiday table. This dish goes beyond the traditional bread stuffing by adding the richness of sausage and the subtle sweetness of apples. It’s hearty, comforting, and absolutely packed with flavor, perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any cozy fall or winter meal.
What makes this stuffing so special is the contrast in textures and flavors. The savory sausage brings a rich, meaty depth while the apples offer bursts of sweetness that brighten every bite. Combined with cubes of toasted bread, sautéed onions, celery, and aromatic herbs like sage and thyme, it creates a well-balanced dish that feels both familiar and elevated.
This stuffing is more than just a side dish. It often becomes a favorite part of the meal, with guests going back for seconds or even thirds. The sausage adds heartiness, making it feel substantial enough to enjoy on its own, while the apples keep it from feeling too heavy. It’s that perfect bite where comfort food meets a little something special.
Beyond the holiday table, Sausage and Apple Stuffing is a fantastic side for any roasted meat, from chicken to pork to turkey. It pairs wonderfully with gravy, cranberry sauce, or roasted vegetables, rounding out the meal with warmth and satisfying flavors. Some even enjoy the leftovers for breakfast the next day, crisped up in a skillet with a fried egg on top.
It’s also a highly customizable dish. Use sweet or spicy sausage depending on your preference, choose tart apples like Granny Smith for more contrast, or add extras like toasted nuts, dried cranberries, or mushrooms for even more depth. The foundation is sturdy but flexible, allowing you to make it your own.
Whether served at a big holiday feast or as part of a comforting Sunday dinner, Sausage and Apple Stuffing is one of those dishes that feels like a warm hug. It’s the perfect balance of flavors that celebrates the best of the season, savory, sweet, and completely satisfying.
Ingredients
- 1 lb sausage bulk, mild or hot
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 2 cups apples peeled and chopped
- 12 cups bread cubes dried
- 1 tsp sage dried
- 1 tsp thyme dried
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped fresh
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- to taste Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned, crumbling it as it cooks. Drain excess fat.
- Add the celery and onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until vegetables are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped apples and cook for another 3 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread cubes, sausage mixture, sage, thyme, and parsley.
- Pour the chicken broth and melted butter over the stuffing mixture, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the stuffing to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrition
It’s ok I guess. Mine turned out a little dry, not sure if I did something wrong?? Too much bread maybe?
Wasn’t really impressed, too many apples for my taste. I prefer a more savory stuffing.
I actually love the sweetness the apples bring! Maybe try using less apples or a different fruit next time? 😊
Why do we need so much butter? Is this a healthy dish? I doubt it.
I thought it was too much butter too! Tried it with less butter, still good but not as rich. 🍏
Butter makes it taste better! Every dish isn’t healthy, gotta enjoy sometimes. 😋
Easy peasy! Just like mom used to make. Bring back memories.
I thought this would be better than my mom’s recipe. But it wasn’t. Sry, just being honest!
Don’t worry, everyone has different tastes! Maybe try adjusting the ingredients next time?
Your mom’s must be really great then! Sometimes recipes just don’t compare. Did you try adding more spices?
Sausage and apples? Mmm, sounds fancy! But my kids didn’t eat it. They are picky.
I replaced sausage with veggie sausage and it still turned out amazing!
Very delicious! Made it with leftover sausage and it was a hit! Will make again for sure. 😍
5 stars! I made this on a whim and it was a hit at the dinner table.
Sounds good but I don’t trust apple in stuffing. Isn’t that too sweet?
I’m glad it turned out well for you! This recipe is a family favorite. 👍
This stuffing is soooo good! I made it for Thanksgiving, and everyone went crazy over it. Very easy to follow the recipe. 5 stars!
Looks good, but what if I don’t like sausage? Could you use chicken instead? Wonder if it would taste the same…
I tried this stuffing too! It was amazing at our Thanksgiving too. Everyone loved it! I used different apples tho, still turned out great!
Very easy to follow, but I feel like it needs something more. Maybe some garlic or something spicy?
Delicious! Used chicken sausage instead. Turned out great!
Honestly, I was skeptical about the apples in stuffing. But it turned out pretty tasty! Just not sure if I would do the apples again.
This recipe is super easy! I didn’t have sage, so I used rosemary instead. Still turned out yummy! Will make again! 4 stars.
This is bomb! Gonna make it for Christmas too! High five!
Christmas? Really? Isn’t that a bit much? 🤔
Sounds delicious! I might try adding some nuts for crunch! 👍
I tried this recipe, but it was way too salty for my taste. I think less salt next time.
I thought it was perfectly seasoned! Maybe you just used too much salt when you added it? Just a thought!
Absolutely delicious! The apples add a great sweetness to it. Will make again for sure!
Y’all call this stuffing? I prefer mine with just bread and seasonings. This is too fancy for my taste. 2/5
Yummy in my tummy! 😋
Right? It’s super delish! 😍
I dunno… sausage and apples? Seems kinda weird, don’t ya think?
This stuffing is just delicious! I tried it for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it.
Way too many ingredients, just stick to plain bread and broth or something.
Why do people put apples in stuffing? Isn’t that a dessert thing? Didn’t taste right to me.
OMG, I can’t believe how good this was. The flavor combo is like a hug for your mouth! Will make again!
I totally agree! This recipe is amazing! It’s like a party in your mouth. Can’t wait to make it again too!
This stuffing really brought my family together for Thanksgiving! Thanks for sharing!
I’m not sure about adding apples. Isn’t stuffing supposed to be savory? Didn’t like it much.
Umm.. is 12 cups of bread too much? I just used half of that and it was plenty. But otherwise, it was alright. 3 stars I guess.
Yeah, I think 12 cups is a lot for anyone! I only used 8 and it turned out fine. Glad you still enjoyed it though!
This stuffing is amazing! The apples add a sweet touch, and my family loved it. Definitely a 5 out of 5!
I totally agree! I’ve made this twice already, and everyone keeps asking when I’ll make it again. So good!
I don’t understand how this could work. Sausage and apples? Seriously? I tried it and it was just okay at best. 2/5.