Sausage Stuffing Bites

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, we all are face to face with the Leftover Problem. Well have no fear, I have the perfect solution for all the leftover stuffing. These Sausage Stuffing Bites are perfect to use leftover stuffing to make! They can be used for an appetizer at your Friendsgiving celebration. You can also make them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake and serve them. They are perfect for parties and family gatherings during the holidays.

Ingredients

Sausage Stuffing Bites

• 2 boxes Savory Herbs Stuffing or 2 cups leftover stuffing
• ½ pound of hot Italian sausage
• ½ pound of mild Italian sausage
• Sea salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• ½ cup of mozzarella cheese or shredded cheese cheddar
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries, minced
• 2 beaten eggs

Gravy Dipping Sauce

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 
• ¾ stick of butter
• 3 to 4 cups chicken broth 
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt 
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, more to taste 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

Brown the sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add the garlic and cranberries, mix and cook for 5 minutes. 

While the sausage is cooking, cook the stuffing.  

Once sausage and stuffing is cooked, combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix with your hands. Do not ocean out the sausage pan, we will use the drippings for the gravy. 

Using a cookie scoop, (or hands) scoop the sausage balls onto a baking pan lined with parchment paper. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes, till they are browned on top.

While sausage stuffing bites are cooking, make the gravy dipping sauce. 

Over medium heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle on half the flour and stir so that the butter soaks it all up, then add more little by little. Stir it around and cook it for another minute or so, then pour in the broth, stirring constantly.

Cook the gravy, stirring frequently, until it thickens. (This may take a good 10 to 12 minutes.) Sprinkle in the salt and pepper and continue cooking until very thick and luscious. If it gets too thick too soon, just splash in another 1/2 cup of broth or more if needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Place dipping sauce in a serving bowl and serve with Sausage Stuffing Bites

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Cauliflower Stuffing

Here’s a healthier stuffing for those of you looking to cut out some carbs this Thanksgiving!

It has all the stuffing flavors just instead of bread, I used cauliflower!

Cauliflower has stood in for carbs plenty of other times, so why not with stuffing? Of course you need to like roasted cauliflower to enjoy it, but it still has all the things you want in great stuffing.

It has the same spices and delicious add-ins that you’d expect, it’s nice and soft, and it totally has that comfort food factor. It’s actually so easy to make that I will definitely make it outside of the holiday season. Believe it or not, it’s simple enough even for a busy weeknight.

Ingredients

• 1 Head of Cauliflower
• Olive Oil 
• 1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter unsalted
• 1 Lb Breakfast Sausage casings removed
• 1 Large Onion finely chopped
• 4 Cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1 Fennel Bulb finely chopped
• 4 Celery Stalks finely chopped
• 1/2 Cup White Wine dry
• 1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon Sage finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon Thyme finely chopped
• 2 1/2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
• ½ cup Grated Fontinella cheese or Parmesan cheese 

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Chop cauliflower into florets and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, or until the cauliflower softens and begins to brown slightly.

While the cauliflower bakes, cook the sausage.

Add the sausage to a large skillet. 

Break up the sausage with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Cook until no longer pink. 

Place sausage on a paper towel-lined plate.

Wipe the skillet out with a paper towel but leave some of the grease and bits. 

Add butter to the skillet and melt, stirring constantly so it doesn’t brown. 

Add chopped onions, garlic, fennel, and celery. Sprinkle it with salt and  pepper. Cook in butter until they’re soft and lightly browned (around 10 minutes). 

Add wine to skillet and bring to a boil. 

Cook until no wine is left — about 5 minutes. 

Add cheese, parsley, sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

In a casserole dish, combine sausage, cauliflower, and veggies and stir to combine. 

Place them in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. If you want the tops a little crispy, turn the broiler on for 5 minutes.