Apple Sausage Croissant Stuffing Recipe

Chunky, buttery croissant pieces will take your dressing next level.

Let’s be honest: for many of us, the stuffing or dressing is the highlight of holiday dinner. Often it even outshines the turkey. I usually make a cornbread stuffing studded with dried cranberries and nuts, but this time I wanted something different. Enter the croissant. Its rich, buttery layers become crisp at the edges while staying tender inside when baked, making croissants an exceptional base for a dressing. Trust me — they lend incredible texture and flavor.

If you already have a favorite family stuffing, go ahead and make both. Serving a second pan means more variety and more chances to please everyone at the table. And no one will complain about extra dressing.

croissant dressing

Croissant and Sausage Dressing


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: Jess Pryles
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: serves 810 1x
Print Recipe

Ingredients


Units


Scale

6 large croissants
1 lb breakfast sausage
3 stalks celery, diced
1 onion, diced
2 Granny Smith apples, cored and diced into 3/4-inch cubes
2 tablespoons fresh chopped sage
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3 tablespoons seasoning (use your favorite poultry or savory blend)
1 cup chicken broth
4 oz butter, melted


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Heat a skillet over high heat and add the breakfast sausage. Break it up with a wooden spoon and cook until fully browned, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked sausage to a bowl, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
  3. Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the diced celery and cook 2–3 more minutes until the celery softens.
  4. Using a serrated knife, cut the croissants into large chunks at least 1 inch thick and place them in a large mixing bowl.
  5. Add the cooked sausage, sautéed onion and celery, diced apples, chopped sage, pecans, seasoning, chicken broth and melted butter to the bowl.
  6. Toss gently with a large spoon or your hands so everything is evenly combined and coated. Transfer the mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  7. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, until the top is golden brown and slightly crisp. Serve warm.

Notes

This dressing can be assembled a few hours ahead and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. If you prefer a moister dressing, add a splash more chicken broth before baking.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to hear how it went! Tag me on Instagram at @JessPryles.