Easy Apple Cranberry Stuffing

This semi-homemade Cranberry Stuffing will be the highlight of your Thanksgiving dinner or any special occasion. Using boxed stuffing mix along with a few special ingredients such as cranberries and apples, give this easy stuffing gourmet flavor that tastes homemade!

Why This Cranberry Stuffing Recipe Works

Stuffing (sometimes called dressing) is a simple dinner side dish, that's made with small pieces of bread, onion, celery, spices, and herbs. It is commonly flavored with sage, especially for Thanksgiving.

It can cook on its own or it's sometimes used to fill the cavity in poultry. In this way, the stuffing serves the dual purpose of helping to keep the meat moist while adding to the mix of flavors of the stuffing and the turkey.

This Cranberry Almond Stuffing is how my Mom makes stuffing every year.  It's my favorite side dish at holiday meals.  I love the savory flavors and the moist yet firm texture.  The ingredients that my mom includes in the dressing make it extra special and different than your run-of-the-mill stovetop stuffing.

About The Ingredients

This cranberry stuffing recipe requires a few simple ingredients. Here's a look at a few of the highlights but you can find the full list and quantities of each in the recipe card.

• Dried cranberries: I suggest using dried cranberries in this recipe rather than fresh. The fresh can become bitter if not prepared correctly. Dried cranberries are the best option for more consistency in the flavor.
• Boxed stuffing mix: This recipe uses boxed stuffing, so it is semi-homemade, but just as tasty as the real deal.  You can use any brand of stuffing mix you enjoy. Look for the one that's seasoned with herbs. Another option is using our made-from-scratch stuffing recipe. It's AMAZING and results in a perfectly moist but firm texture - so if you want to use that recipe as your base rather than a stuffing mix it would be delicious and impressive.
• Apples: Green apples work perfectly! They aren't too sweet and have a nice texture after cooking.
• Butter: Adds more rich flavors to the sauteed vegetables but you can certainly replace it with olive oil or another type of neutral cooking oil if you prefer.
• Veggies: Cook up some onion and celery to add more texture and flavor to the boxed stuffing and make it taste more homemade.
• Almonds: We're using almonds but walnuts or pecans also work well with the flavor and texture of the dish.
• Chicken Stock: Adds more flavor than simply using water. If you want to make vegetarian stuffing swap it for veggie broth.

Stuffing Variations

• Cranberry sausage stuffing: Brown your favorite ground pork sausage to use for stuffing. Make sure to drain it well and mix it in at the same time you add the cranberries and almonds.
• Cornbread cranberry stuffing: It's easy to make this variation by grabbing the cornbread variety of boxed stuffing mix.

How To Make Cranberry Stuffing

Here's a look at the simple steps for making a semi-homemade stuffing.

1. Chop the apple, onion, and celery into small pieces.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven.
3. Add the apple, onion, and celery and saute until they're tender.
4. Toss in the stuffing mix, dried cranberries, and almonds.

5. Add the chicken broth and gently toss to combine.
6. Add the seasonings.
7. Transfer the cranberry stuffing mixture to a 9x13 baking dish and bake for about 40-45 minutes.  Of course, you can stuff this inside of your bird if you prefer.
8. Serve it up as a side dish to poultry.

What to Serve with Cranberry Apple Stuffing

I love using this semi-homemade recipe during a big meal like Thanksgiving dinner because it allows me to focus more of my efforts on pie and turkey.

• Thanksgiving Turkey and Trimmings: Serving this up for Thanksgiving will make your life a tiny bit easier! It's great with all types of turkey whether you're serving smoked turkey, fried turkey, or brining a turkey instead. Don't forget the homemade cranberry sauce, Instant pot mashed potatoes, and green beans with bacon and brown sugar.
• Weeknight Meals: You don't have to wait for the holidays, this dish is also a great addition to your weekday chicken dinner. Serve it with this slow cooker bone-in chicken or herb roasted chicken.
• Other Side Dishes: Add a simple side dish to complete your meal such as this parmesan zucchini, raspberry jello salad, or roasted Brussels sprouts.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover cranberry stuffing in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.

When you're ready to serve thaw it out in the fridge overnight. Transfer it to a baking dish and add some additional broth to add some moisture. Cover it with foil and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350° F or until it's heated all the way through. You can also heat individual portions in the microwave.

Expert Tips

• Choosing the Stuffing Mix. Any brand or type will work so be sure to choose your favorite! We will be adding other ingredients to make it taste better but it's an important building block so make sure it's good.
• Adjust the Moisture. You can add more liquid to the stuffing if you prefer your stuffing a bit more moist. We recommend adding water rather than more broth as the additional broth may make it too salty.
• Stuffing Your Bird? Wait to do this right before you're planning to cook it!

Recipe FAQs

Other Holiday Side Dish Recipes You Might Enjoy

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