Southern Italian Thanksgiving Stuffing

Description

This is the best Thanksgiving stuffing I have ever had. With a mix of Southern-style cooking and Italian flavors it brings all great tastes together. I got this recipe from my mom last year after everyone gave it amazing reviews!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds bulk Italian sausage
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 ounces pancetta bacon, diced
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 7 large stalks celery, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups day-old French bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 3 cups crumbled cornbread
  • 1 ½ tablespoons rubbed dried sage
  • 1 ½ tablespoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
  • 1 ounce shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a deep 9×13 inch baking dish or roasting pan.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the sausage. Cook and stir until the sausage is crumbly
  3. evenly browned
  4. and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Place the browned sausage into a large mixing bowl.
  5. Meanwhile
  6. heat the olive oil and pancetta in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the pancetta begins to brown
  7. stir in the onions and celery
  8. and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent
  9. about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic
  10. and cook another 3 minutes until the aroma of the garlic mellows.
  11. Scrape the onion mixture into the bowl with the crumbled sausage. Add the French bread
  12. cornbread
  13. dried sage
  14. poultry seasoning
  15. salt
  16. and pine nuts; stir well. Pour in the chicken broth and mozzarella cheese; stir until the chicken stock has been absorbed by the bread and the stuffing is evenly mixed. Pack the stuffing into the prepared baking dish
  17. and dot the butter overtop. Cover with aluminum foil.
  18. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes
  19. then remove the foil
  20. and continue baking until the top has turned golden brown
  21. about 15 minutes more. Sprinkle with the fresh sage and shaved Parmesan cheese to serve.

Prep Time: 45 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs

Servings: 12

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