Thanksgiving is so close and I can’t wait! Although, just like last year, all of this Thanksgiving recipe-testing is giving me some holiday food fatigue. Am I allowed to say that as a food blogger?
Too late. But it’s true, I’ve been doing Thanksgiving a month in advance. Actually, there are two food bloggers in our home, so we are both up to our necks in stuffing, pies, casseroles, desserts, you name it.
Thankfully, and because we are simply buried in projects, we are ordering our turkey this year. I can’t believe I just admitted that! It’s true though. We will make everything else. But this will allow us to relax a bit and gear up for the most important part of the evening … watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles. It’s tradition . . . the movie.
But when that time comes and I’m called to make something, this is what I’m making. Just like last year—this Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffing. It’s awesome. Centered around a generous amount of rustic bread, it’s complimented by the sweetness of roasted butternut squash, which is the perfect offset to the rest of the savory ensemble.
Of course you can adapt this all kinds of ways, replace the heavy cream for chicken stock to make a lighter version of this stuffing, swap out the butternut squash for mushrooms, add nuts for crunch and flavor, use cornbread instead of the rustic bread featured in the recipe here, add in some wild rice. Now, see what I mean? This recipe is super adaptable, so tweak it to what you like.
Butternut Squash Stuffing
Ingredients
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
4 cups butternut squash, cubed to ½ inch (about 2 lbs.)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups chopped leeks
1 1/2 cups chopped celery (3 to 4 stalks)
1 cup coarsely chopped fennel (about half of 1 medium)
Heat oven to 400°F. Place butternut squash on a bake sheet in single layer. Drizzle olive oil on top and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Roast until tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl to cool.
Melt butter in heavy bottom large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, celery, and fennel. Cook for 8 minutes. Add sausage. Cook until vegetables are tender and sausage is cooked through, breaking up sausage while cooking, about 10 minutes. Add all herbs; stir and cook 1 minute longer. Add to bowl with butternut squash. DO AHEAD: This portion can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, cover, and chill.
Heat oven to 350°F. Divide bread between 2 rimmed baking sheets. Bake until bread is crusty but not hard, reversing sheets after 5 minutes, 10 to 12 minutes total. Transfer to very large bowl and cool.
Butter 13x9x2-inch baking dish. In a bowl, whisk together salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Add chicken stock and eggs; whisk to combine. Pour 1 cup of liquid over bread and vegetable mixture tossing to combine evenly and adding more liquid by 1/4 cup as needed if dry. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish.
Bake stuffing uncovered until cooked through and brown and crusty on top, 60 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.
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haha, loved reading this! and nothing wrong with ordering the turkey!!! I love that you guys have a family holiday tradition! and I LOVE this stuffing! love the butternut squash + sausage combo! delicious!!!!
HOW DID I NOT KNOW YOU CAN ORDER TURKEY? That is seriously legit. But not as legit as this stuffing. Butternut squash and sausage are my love language, and I want all of this! Pinned!
Oh Matt, this looks so delicious! Who cares if you don’t cook your own turkey, as long as this is on the table. I’m a sucker for butternut squash, so I can’t imagine anything better to go in a stuffing. And bring on the heavy cream!
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If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.
9 comments to " Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffing "