Butternut-Apple-Bacon Sweet Thanksgiving Stuffing
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
My play on breadless Thanksgiving stuffing. Wow, this one was a hit!
Dana:
Ingredients
  • Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
  • 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced (or about 4 cups pre-cut)
  • 2 apples, peeled and diced
  • ½ package bacon, cut into lardons (think bacon bits!)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • ½ tsp minced garlic
  • ½ c chopped dried dates
  • 3 Tbsp pure apple cider
  • a few leaves of fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 large sprig fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp dried marjoram (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon salt + pepper, to taste
  • (optional) 2 Aidell's chicken apple sausages, diced
Directions
  1. Directions
  2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  3. Toss the butternut squash and apples with one tablespoon melted coconut oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread out a baking sheet, and roast until tender but not mushy, about 20-25 minutes.
  4. When you put the squash in the oven, measure out and combine all your herbs/spices in a small bowl. Set aside.
  5. In a large cast iron skillet, sauté the bacon until it starts to crisp up. Add your onion and garlic and cook over medium-low heat until very soft and slightly caramelized (about 10 minutes.)
  6. Remove the squash and apples from the oven. Using a wooden spoon, fold them into the cast iron with the onions and bacon. (If you’re going to add in the chicken apple sausage, now would be the time to stir those in).
  7. Add the apple cider, dried fruit, herbs, salt, and pepper, and give it a few stirs.
  8. Turn the heat to low and cook for an additional 5 minutes so the flavors come together or return to the oven and cook an additional 5-10 minutes.
Notes
- MAKE AHEAD TIP: You can finish cooking the entire dish a couple hours ahead of time (think: Thanksgiving madness), then instead of popping the skillet back in the oven or letting it warm together, take it off the heat. Allow to cool, transfer to an oven-safe dish then refrigerate up to a few hours. Heat up in the oven on 350 for about 25 minutes and serve!
- You can also substitute sweet potatoes or any other winter squash for the butternut squash. I've used a combination of banana squash and butternut and it was great!
Recipe by Dana Monsees Nutrition at https://www.realfoodwithdana.com/squash-apple-bacon-thanksgiving-stuffing/