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    Home » Side Dish

    Published: Dec 4, 2023 by Kadee

    Easy Apple Cranberry Stuffing

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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!

    Cranberry stuffing in a white braiser atop a wire cooling rack.
    Jump to:
    • Why This Cranberry Stuffing Recipe Works
    • About The Ingredients
    • Stuffing Variations
    • How To Make Cranberry Stuffing
    • What to Serve with Cranberry Apple Stuffing
    • How to Store and Reheat
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Other Holiday Side Dish Recipes You Might Enjoy
    • Let's Be Besties!
    • Semi-Homemade Apple Cranberry Stuffing

    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.

    Ingredients needed to make cranberry stuffing on the table.
    • 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.
    A collage of images showing chopping the vegetables, melting the butter, cooking the vegetables, and adding the stuffing mix.
    1. Add the chicken broth and gently toss to combine.
    2. Add the seasonings.
    3. 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.
    4. Serve it up as a side dish to poultry.
    A collage of adding the chicken broth, seasonings, putting the stuffing in the oven and after in a serving bowl.

    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!
    A ¾ angle of cranberry stuffing in a white braiser with cranberries and rosemary to the side.

    Recipe FAQs

    What's the difference between stuffing and dressing?

    The technical difference is how they're cooked. According to most dictionaries, stuffing is defined as “a mixture used to stuff another food, traditionally poultry, before cooking.”  Dressing is cooked in a pan outside of the turkey cavity. These days, the terms are used interchangeably.

    Is it safe to eat stuffing that has been cooked inside of the bird?

    According to the USDA, you should not make the stuffing or stuff your turkey or other poultry in advance. It's ok to prep the dry and wet ingredients for the stuffing in advance and store them in the fridge.

    Mix everything together just before spooning the stuffing mixture into the turkey. When stuffing, spoon the stuffing in loosely - about ¾ cup of stuffing per pound. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, because heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.

    The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

    If the stuffing is inside whole poultry, take the poultry out of the oven and let it stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing. Refrigerate cooked poultry and stuffing within 2 hours. For meat containing small amounts of stuffing (for example: stuffed pork chops, veal breasts, or chicken breasts), meat and stuffing may be left intact when refrigerating the leftovers.

    A close up of semi homemade stuffing garnished with rosemary.

    Other Holiday Side Dish Recipes You Might Enjoy

    • Sweet potato casserole with pecans in an oval baking dish. There is a silver spoon inserted.
      Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
    • gravy in a gravy boat next to a turkey
      How to Make Turkey Gravy
    • Creamy, cheesy potatoes casserole in a white dish with serving spoon.
      Cheesy Potatoes Casserole
    • sweet potatoes baked on white baking sheet with cold spatula
      Baked Candied Sweet Potatoes

    Let's Be Besties!

    If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave us a comment below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else we’re getting up to!

    Almond cranberry stuffing in a white braised.

    Semi-Homemade Apple Cranberry Stuffing

    You'll love using this semi-homemade recipe during a big meal like Thanksgiving dinner because it'll allow you to focus more of your efforts on pie and turkey.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: dinner, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 292kcal
    Author: Kadee & Desarae

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • ½ onion diced
    • 1 apple diced or shredded
    • 4 celery ribs diced
    • 28 ounces boxed herb stuffing mix
    • ½ cup sliced almonds
    • 1 cup dried cranberries
    • 1 teaspoon ground sage
    • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 32 ounces chicken broth *sub vegetable broth for vegetarian
    • 16-32 ounces water depending on how moist you like your stuffing

    Instructions

    • Saute onions, apples and celery in butter until tender in a large pot.
    • Turn off heat, add almonds, cranberries, apple, stuffing mix, sage, rosemary, and salt and pepper.
    • Stir in chicken broth. If you prefer a more moist stuffing - add a bit of water.
    • Transfer to a greased 9x13 casserole dish and bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees.
    • Can be stuffing inside of a turkey if desired.

    Notes

    • 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!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 1005mg | Potassium: 308mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 8.1mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2.3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @OhSoDelicioso or tag #ohsodelicioso!

    SaveSave

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suzanne says

      November 10, 2024 at 10:36 am

      Do you cover the dish while baking or bake uncovered? I don't want to dry it out in the oven.

      Reply
      • Kadee says

        November 11, 2024 at 8:17 am

        This is completely personal preference. If you want a really moist stuffing, you can cover. If you want a stuffing with crispy edges, they do not.

        Reply
    2. Chris says

      December 22, 2023 at 4:20 pm

      How far in advance can I make this stuffing.

      Can I make it on Friday night and stuff the turkey Monday morning?

      Reply
      • Kadee says

        December 22, 2023 at 5:19 pm

        I would not recommend making it that far in advance. Maybe the night before? The longer it is stored in the fridge the dryer it will become.

        Reply
    3. Linda Mersing says

      February 19, 2020 at 8:54 am

      This recipe sounds amazing. I love the size and taste of stuffing baked in muffin cups. Would there be changes to baking time and if so, what would your suggestions be?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kadee says

        February 19, 2020 at 11:24 am

        I love making them in a muffin pan! I would suggest baking them for about 20 minutes or until the edges start to brown.

        Reply
    4. Kate says

      November 04, 2018 at 4:13 pm

      Can you make this ahead and reheat for dinner?

      Reply
      • Kadee says

        November 06, 2018 at 2:45 pm

        Yes - make it up, put it in the fridge and then bake before dinner!

        Reply
    5. Erin V says

      August 14, 2018 at 7:38 am

      5 stars
      stuffing's always been my favorite part of thanksgiving- stoked to give this one a try this year!!!!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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