Cheesy Sausage and Sage Stuffing

In search of a cozy and comforting fall dish, I came across this Bon Appétit recipe. Its author describes it as a kind of stuffing-strata-gratin hybrid. It reminds me most of a strata, but with a fall-flavored twist. Rich sausage, sharp white cheddar, earthy sage, and tangy sourdough—bound together with eggs and half-and-half—make for a decadent, yet simple dinner. My family loved it, even the leftovers the next day.

A few notes: as the recipe suggests, this stuffing would be terrific as a Thanksgiving side dish. And, for the vegetarians in your life, simply swap the sausage for a ground knock-off meat. To that end, Gimme Lean ground faux meat would do the trick.

The following recipe is courtesy of Bon Appétit, but baked and loved by me.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more

1 medium boule sourdough, cut into 1-inch pieces (9–10 cups), dried out overnight

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage, casings removed

2 large onions, finely chopped

3 celery stalks, chopped

¼ cup finely chopped sage

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1 cup dry white wine

2 large eggs, beaten to blend

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

2 cups half-and-half

1 pound aged cheddar, grated (about 5 cups), divided

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300°. Butter a shallow 13x9" baking dish and a large piece of foil. Place 9 cups bread in a large bowl.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook sausage, stirring occasionally and breaking into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, 7–10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with bread.

Place onions, celery, sage, and 2 Tbsp. butter in same skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until onions are golden brown and soft, 10–12 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost completely evaporated, about 5 minutes; scrape into bowl with bread and sausage.

Whisk eggs and broth in a medium bowl until smooth, then pour over bread mixture. Pour in half-and-half and add 3 cups cheese; toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to prepared baking dish and cover with foil, buttered side down. Bake until a paring knife inserted into the center comes out hot, 40–50 minutes.

Heat broiler. Uncover stuffing and top with remaining cheese. Broil until top is golden and bubbling, about 4 minutes. Let sit at least 10 minutes and up to 30 before serving.

Do Ahead: Stuffing can be assembled 1 day ahead; cover with foil and chill. Stuffing can be baked (but not broiled) 3 hours ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature until ready to broil.

Alison