Cheese & Bacon Stuffing
Transform your Thanksgiving table with this irresistible sausage stuffing! Savory sausage, smoky bacon, gooey gouda, and hearty country bread come together with aromatic celery and onion to create a dish that’s bursting with flavor. This rich, crowd-pleasing recipe is a holiday showstopper you won’t want to miss.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 3 cups diced onion
- 2 ½ cups diced celery
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh sage
- ½ lb sweet or spicy bulk Italian sausage
- 12 cups bread cubes (about 1 large artisan country loaf cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 3 cups turkey stock
- 1 large egg beaten
- 8 oz smoked gouda cheese cut into ¼-inch cubes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- Spread the bread cubes out on two baking sheets. Bake the bread until it is dry and beginning to toast, 45-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the heat to 350°F.12 cups bread cubes (about 1 large artisan country loaf cut into 1-inch cubes)
- Working in batches, cook the bacon in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until it is browned and crisp on both sides. Once cooked, chop the bacon into bite-sized pieces and set it aside. Drain the remaining bacon grease into a bowl. Measure 4 tablespoons back into the skillet. If needed, supplement with butter to achieve 4 tablespoons.8 slices bacon
- Heat the grease over medium and add the onion, celery, salt, and black pepper. Cook until they are soft and the onion is translucent, 4-6 minutes. Add the minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage, and sausage. Break the sausage into small pieces and cook until it is fully browned, 6-8 minutes. Remove from the heat.3 cups diced onion, 2 ½ cups diced celery, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme, 1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary, 2 tbsp chopped fresh sage, ½ lb sweet or spicy bulk Italian sausage
- In a large bowl, combine the dried bread cubes, chopped bacon, cooked sausage mixture, turkey stock, beaten egg, and cheese. Stir together and pour it into the prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake in the 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top begins to brown and is slightly souffléd, 20-30 minutes.3 cups turkey stock, 1 large egg, 8 oz smoked gouda cheese
Video
Notes
Cook the vegetables in the bacon grease. This imparts a solid taste for the vegetables, building complex flavoring in the dish.
Dry the bread in the oven instead of overnight at room temperature. The oven allows it to dry thoroughly, reaching the center of the bread and making for better stuffing.
If possible, use homemade turkey stock. It provides the most flavor, soaking into the bread. This also complements the flavors of any turkey dish that may be part of a larger meal.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 353kcal