Are you ready for the best homemade Easy Apple Stuffing recipe to serve at your holiday or Thanksgiving dinner? Sensationally savory and buttery stuffing made with hearty bread chunks, crisp apples and fresh herbs. A delicious turkey dressing you don’t want to miss out on this fall!
Sweet & Savory Apple Stuffing
If your family is anything like mine, we all know who the real star of the show is at Thanksgiving dinner. It’s not the turkey – it’s the stuffing! I know, I know; technically stuffing is stuffed inside the bird, while dressing is made in a baking dish. Whichever way you spin it, this easy homemade stuffing recipe is a winner!
Every year I make this perfect apple stuffing/turkey dressing and every year there’s a battle for who gets the last serving. Luckily, it’s just as easy enough to make for everyday dinners, too – someone needs to keep the peace around here!
This homemade apple stuffing recipe is so simple, and so very delicious. You really can’t go wrong: savory and buttery, easy apple stuffing made with hearty bread chunks, crisp apples and fresh herbs. You can dress it up or leave it as is, serve it as a holiday side dish or alongside a weeknight roast, and this dressing never disappoints. Make way for the best ever recipe for Sweet & Savory Apple Stuffing!
What You’ll Need
This recipe for apple stuffing is just loaded with the good stuff! The key ingredient besides the apples (obviously) is the dried bread cubes. These can be store bought or homemade, just make sure they’re properly dry! The rest of the ingredients are fresh and seasonal. Here’s the short list of what you’ll need:
- Bread Cubes: I use the Unseasoned Bread Cubes from Pepperidge Farms, but you can make your own homemade bread cubes for stuffing, too! See my Tips for Success section below.
- Apples: Chopped and peeled, or with the skins left on for added texture (my preferred choice!)
- Fresh Parsley: Finely chopped.
- Butter: A few tablespoons of unsalted butter.
- Onion: Diced yellow onions work best for this recipe.
- Celery: Thinly sliced.
- Salt & Pepper: To taste.
- Chicken Broth: Low sodium chicken broth lets you control the amount of salt in the stuffing recipe.
- Sage: Freshly chopped sage for extra flavor in the broth.
What Kind of Apples Should I Use?
What are the best apples to use for stuffing, you ask? First, you want some sweetness. Next, you need a crunchy, crisp texture. Both of these things combined are what bring a perfect balance to savory apple stuffing! For this reason my favorites are Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith apples because of their sweet-tart flavor and firm texture.
How to Make Apple Stuffing
Are you ready for the easiest stuffing recipe ever? I don’t think there’s anything better than an apple stuffing that’s simple to make and just as incredibly delicious at the same time! Follow these steps for 5-star Thanksgiving stuffing that you’ll be inspired to make year-round.
Prep: First, preheat the oven to 350F.
Season the Apples & Bread Cubes: In a large, heat-resistant bowl, toss the bread cubes and apples with the chopped parsley. Set this aside for now.
Cook Off the Onions: In a large skillet, melt the butter and add in the onions and celery. Season with salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat until the veggies are soft and tender.
Add the Broth: Pour in the chicken broth, add the chopped sage and let the mixture come to a boil before removing it from the heat.
Combine With the Bread Cube Mixture: Pour the hot mixture over the seasoned apples and bread cubes and mix everything together until the cubes are evenly coated and moist.
Divide the Stuffing & Bake: Set aside a few cups of the unbaked stuffing to use if you’ll be stuffing the turkey. Transfer the rest of the stuffing to a greased baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes. Serve the dressing hot, fresh from the oven!
Tips for Success
The below are a handful of tips to maximize this stuffing recipe:
- Use Stale Bread: Fresh bread will become soggy, so it’s important to use stale bread that’s been completely dried out for your stuffing bread cubes. To jumpstart the process, buy pre-cut bread cubes from the supermarket or ask your local bakery for a loaf of yesterday’s bread.
- Make Your Own Bread Cubes: Bread cubes for stuffing are actually so easy to make at home! (It’s a super way to repurpose stale bread, too). Let a loaf of bread sit to dry out a few days before making the stuffing, otherwise cut the bread into cubes, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, and toast the cubes in the oven at low heat until the bread is completely dried out. Tada, fresh bread cubes!
- Make It Gluten Free: You can swap out traditional bread cubes for gluten-free cornbread, like my Light Skillet Cornbread. Just remember to let it dry out, too!
- Cook Your Stuffing Add-Ins: Any additions to the stuffing recipe, including celery and onions, should be cooked in butter or a little oil before they’re added into the stuffing, since they won’t cook as thoroughly when baking.
- Use Fresh Herbs: The best flavors and smells for this stuffing come from fresh herbs! Add them in later in the process to avoid overcooking.
- Stuff Your Turkey After It’s Cooked: Concerned about overcooked turkey and undercooked stuffing? Fill your bird after both are cooked completely in order to put your mind at ease.
Add-In Ideas
One of the many perks that makes this simple apple stuffing recipe the best is that it’s the most wonderful base for adding all kinds of extras! I like to add them in when cooking the onions and celery so the flavors have a chance to really develop. Here are some suggestions for tasty stuffing add-ins:
- Chopped pork sausage or bacon (name a better culinary pairing than apple and pork – I’ll wait.)
- Walnuts, pecans
- Cranberries or raisins
- Turkey giblets
- Jalapeños and red peppers (for a South of the Border kick)
- Cheddar, gouda, or Monterey Jack cheeses
- Mushrooms, kale
- Seasonal squash or pumpkin
- Grated orange zest (trust me, it works!)
Serving Suggestions
This savory apple stuffing pairs just as great with a Thanksgiving turkey as it does with everyday dinners. Try these suggestions for meal pairings:
- Roast Turkey with Maple Gravy
- Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
- Tender and Juicy Pork Loin Roast
- Garlic and Rosemary Balsamic Roasted Pork Tenderloin
You can also serve this stuffing at your holiday table alongside other delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes.
How to Store and Reheat Stuffing
The best way to store leftover, cooked stuffing is separate from the turkey, in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the stuffing in the oven before serving, making sure the internal temperature reaches a safe 165F. Don’t refrigerate uncooked stuffing!
Can I Freeze This?
If you really want to maximize the shelf life of your stuffing leftovers, freeze them in freezer-safe, airtight containers or resealable freezer bags. Stuffing can be frozen when cooked or uncooked, and can be kept frozen for up to 2 months.
More Easy Stuffing Recipes
If stuffing is the star of your holiday table also, here are more easy recipes to try:
- Traditional Stuffing
- Cheesy Italian Sausage Stuffing
- Keto Sausage & Cauliflower Rice Thanksgiving Stuffing
- Sweet Potato and Cranberry Stuffing
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Easy Apple Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bag (12-ounces) Unseasoned Bread Cubes (I use Pepperidge Farms)
- 3 cups chopped red apples (you may peel the apples, but I find it to taste better with the peel – it also adds to the texture)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 yellow onion , diced
- 2 cups sliced celery
- salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 tablespoon chopped sage
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine bread cubes, apples and parsley in a large heat-resistant mixing bowl; set aside.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add onions and celery; season with salt and pepper and continue to cook for 4 minutes, or until tender.
- Add chicken broth and chopped sage; bring mixture to a boil.
- Remove mixture from heat and add to bread cubes mixture; mix until thoroughly combined and evenly moist.
- *Transfer the mixture to previously prepared baking dish. (see notes for stuffing the Turkey)
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I have been looking for more uses for our bumper crop of apples this year and this wonderful-looking stuffing recipe appeared! Thanks for sharing it, I can’t wait to give it a dry run before Thanksgiving!
Would this work if i make it a day in advance before cooking?
Hi!! Yes, you can definitely do that, but I find that the texture isn’t quite the same when reheated. I prepare mine right up to the step where it goes into the oven. I then let it cool down to room temp and put it in the fridge. I pop it out of the fridge the next day for about an hour or two, to come to room temp, and then put it in the oven to cook. I hope this helps.
How many servings are in this recipe?
Hi Alexandra!! That should say 8 Servings – I just fixed it. Thanks for letting me know that it wasn’t up there!!
After I originally left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now
on every time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment.
There has to be a way you can remove me from that service?
Thanks a lot!
Hi! So sorry about that! Can you tell me on what post you left that comment?
How did you just make stuffing look SO good? I love the addition of apples!
I knew you would come thru – Ok potatoes recipe secured – now the dressing (hope you don’t mind if I put in a few dried cranberry)
I’m the only one that likes creamed onions so I’ll make a few.
NOW TIME IS GETTING SHORT – WHERE’S THE TURKEY!!
JUST LOVE YOU GAL..
You always make my day!! Thank YOU for all the support and encouragement! XOXO
I am one of those food bloggers who is behind the times and probably will get my stuff done for next year right around the holiday. Hehe. I have not made a turkey or anything else remotely Thanksgiving. I’m skipping right to cookie exchange. LOL
Seriously, your stuffing recipe looks delicious! I’m glad you’re organized so I can borrow some of your recipes this Thanksgiving!
YUM! I love love love this flavor combo, and I love these photos (like that’s a shock) 🙂 BEAUTIFUL!
JUST made stuffing with apple and it is the BOMB! Yours looks absolutely gorgeous (per usual) and I love that you used store bought bread crumbs – we could all use a shortcut or two on Thanksgiving 🙂
I could eat stuffing every day! I’d give up my turkey for extra stuffing. This apple version looks fantastic!
I love sage and this looks so good!!
I vote to call it stuffing but to not put it inside the bird!! 🙂