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Perfect Crowd-Pleasing Sausage Apple Stuffing Muffins

crowd-pleasing sausage apple stuffing muffins - featured image
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These individual stuffing muffins combine savory sweet Italian sausage, tart Granny Smith apples, and herby brioche for the perfect crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside side dish. A make-ahead friendly recipe that’s always the star of the holiday table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf (16 ounces) day-old brioche bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 celery stalks, finely diced
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing the muffin tin
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter (for topping, optional)
  • Flaky sea salt (for topping, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Position the rack in the center of the oven. Generously grease a 12-cup standard muffin tin with softened butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Cut the day-old brioche into 1/2-inch cubes. Spread them on a large baking sheet and toast in the preheating oven for 8-10 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until lightly golden and dry. Remove and let cool.
  3. While the bread toasts, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked sausage to a plate, leaving about 2 tablespoons of rendered fat in the skillet.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the 4 tablespoons of butter to the skillet with the remaining sausage fat. Once melted, add the diced onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5-6 minutes.
  5. Stir in the diced apples and cook for another 3-4 minutes until they soften slightly but still hold their shape. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the toasted bread cubes, cooked sausage, and the cooked vegetable-apple mixture. Toss gently with your hands or a silicone spatula to distribute everything evenly.
  7. In a separate medium bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk together the chicken broth, beaten eggs, fresh parsley, sage, thyme, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until fully incorporated.
  8. Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the bread mixture. Gently fold everything together until all the bread cubes are evenly moistened. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
  9. Divide the stuffing mixture evenly among the 12 greased muffin cups. Pack each one firmly but not compressed, mounding slightly above the rim.
  10. If using, brush the tops of each muffin with melted butter and sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt.
  11. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the tops are deeply golden brown and crispy to the touch, and the edges are visibly browned and pulling away slightly from the sides of the tin.
  12. Remove the muffin tin from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for 5-7 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edges of each muffin to loosen them, then carefully lift them out. Serve warm.

Notes

The secret to perfect texture is using day-old brioche and toasting the bread cubes before mixing. Do not over-soak the bread; let the mixture rest for 10 minutes after adding liquid to assess moisture. Pack muffins firmly but gently. Let them rest 5-7 minutes after baking before unmolding. For make-ahead: assemble completely, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking, adding 5-10 minutes to baking time. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffing muffins, sausage apple stuffing, Thanksgiving side dish, holiday stuffing, make-ahead stuffing, individual stuffing, brioche stuffing

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/perfect-crowd-pleasing-sausage-apple-stuffing-muffins/