Description
This Easy Cranberry Stuffing recipe combines traditional holiday flavors with a delightful twist of fresh apples, dried cranberries, and nuts baked to golden perfection. It’s a moist, flavorful side dish that perfectly complements any roasted meat or festive meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Produce
- 1 small red onion (diced)
- 1 celery rib (chopped)
- 1 green apple (finely chopped)
- 1 red apple (finely chopped)
Dried Fruit & Nuts
- 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup dried raisins
- 1 cup pecans (roughly chopped)
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
Staples & Seasonings
- 1/2 cup butter (cubed)
- 12 cups seasoned stuffing cubes
- 2 cups cooked wild rice (or wild rice mix)
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the stuffing.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, melt the cubed butter over medium heat. Add the diced red onion and chopped celery, cooking and stirring for 4 to 5 minutes until they become tender and fragrant.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the seasoned stuffing cubes, finely chopped green and red apples, cooked wild rice, dried cranberries, dried raisins, roughly chopped pecans, dried parsley, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper to the pot. Toss everything together to combine well.
- Add Broth: Stir in enough chicken or vegetable broth—between 1 1/2 to 2 cups—to achieve your desired stuffing moisture level.
- Bake Stuffing: Transfer the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, spread evenly and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle slivered almonds on top once out of the oven for added crunch and garnish, then serve warm as a perfect side dish for your meal.
Notes
- You can substitute vegetable broth to make the recipe vegetarian.
- For extra savory flavor, consider adding sautéed mushrooms or fresh herbs like sage.
- If you prefer a nut-free version, omit pecans and almonds or replace with seeds.
- Use gluten-free stuffing cubes if a gluten-free dish is desired.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper, depending on broth used.
- Leftover stuffing can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cranberry stuffing, holiday stuffing, baked stuffing, thanksgiving side dish, wild rice stuffing, easy cranberry stuffing
