Southern Italian Thanksgiving Stuffing

Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 75 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

This Southern Italian Thanksgiving stuffing recipe includes Italian sausage, pancetta, sage, French bread, cornbread, pine nuts, Parmesan, and mozzarella.

Ingredients

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

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a deep 9x13-inch baking dish or roasting pan.
2 Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, Add sausage; cook and stir until crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.
3 Transfer sausage to a large bowl.
4 Meanwhile, heat pancetta and olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat until it begins to brown. Stir in celery and onions; cook until onions soften and turn translucent, about 8 minutes.
5 Stir in garlic; cook until aroma mellows, about 3 minutes.
6 Transfer onion mixture to the bowl with sausage.
7 Add French bread, cornbread, pine nuts, rubbed sage, poultry seasoning, and salt; stir to combine. Add chicken broth and mozzarella cheese; stir until bread absorbs broth and stuffing is combined.
8 Transfer stuffing to the prepared baking dish; pack in. Dot butter over top. Cover dish with aluminum foil.
9 Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes; uncover dish and continue baking until top turns golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Sprinkle with fresh sage and shaved Parmesan cheese; serve.