Description
This savory sourdough stuffing combines crisp sourdough cubes, sweet apples, and earthy celery for a holiday side dish that’s both nostalgic and crowd-pleasing. It’s easy to prepare, packed with flavor, and perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any festive gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 lb sourdough bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 10 cups, day-old or slightly stale)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 large tart apple (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped (or 1 tsp dried sage)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Spread sourdough cubes on a large baking sheet and toast for 15-20 minutes until crisp but not browned. Let cool.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced onion and chopped celery; cook for 6-8 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
- Add diced apple and minced garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until apple is slightly softened and garlic is fragrant (do not let garlic brown).
- Stir in chopped parsley, sage, and thyme. Cook 1 minute to release flavors. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer toasted sourdough cubes to a large mixing bowl. Pour sautéed veggie mixture over bread and toss gently to coat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together broth and eggs until blended. Pour evenly over bread-vegetable mixture.
- Let mixture rest for 5-10 minutes so bread absorbs liquid. Stir gently again.
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spoon stuffing mixture in, pressing lightly but not packing tightly.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15-20 minutes until top is golden and slightly crispy.
- Check doneness: edges should be golden, center set but moist. If too wet, bake 5-10 minutes more uncovered.
- Let stuffing cool for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and stuffing to set.
Notes
Use day-old bread for best texture. For gluten-free, use gluten-free sourdough. For vegan, swap butter for olive oil or vegan butter, use vegetable broth, and omit eggs or use flaxseed egg. Add dried cranberries, pecans, or mushrooms for festive variations. If stuffing is too dry, drizzle with warm broth and bake a few minutes longer. If too wet, bake uncovered until desired texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of recipe (about 1 cup)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: stuffing, sourdough, holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, apple, celery, vegetarian, easy, crowd-pleaser