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Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing

October 16, 2023 by Lindsay 38 Comments

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This Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing is hearty enough for a meal but also makes a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

This Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing is hearty enough for a meal but also makes a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

**Originally published 10/2014. Updated 10/2023**

Hi Friends-

Would you believe me if I told you that this sausage stuffing recipe used to be my least favorite part of Thanksgiving?

I avoided it for years for no good reason other than I wasn’t a very adventurous eater and it wasn’t until I was an adult that I discovered how delicious my mom’s Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing actually is.

Sausage Stuffing Recipe

In the photos for this post and when I make this recipe, I use chicken sausage because it’s what I almost always have on hand.

However, the original recipe calls for regular pork sausage so you can definitely use that. Just sub 1 pound of pork sausage for the chicken sausage and make sure to cook it all the way through.

Wild Rice and Sausage Stuffing

This stuffing is a bit non-traditional and it may seem intimidating if you’re not familiar with wild rice but I promise it’s worth a try. I buy the 4oz packages of Reese Wild Rice and am able to find them in most grocery stores so I try to make sure I always have some in my pantry. I’ve also used this Wild Rice Blend from Lundberg.

If you happen to buy a larger bag of wild rice and need help using the rest of it, here are 15 Healthy Wild Rice Recipes to try!

If you’re not sure how to cook wild rice, you can try:

  • How To Cook Wild Rice
  • Perfect Instant Pot Wild Rice

This Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing boasts heartiness suitable for a main course, while also serving as a delectable side dish perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

How To Make Wild Rice Sausage Stuffing

This stuffing recipe comes together quickly with just a few simple steps:

  • Cook wild rice according to package directions.
  • Saute leeks in butter.
  • Add sausage, apples and dried cranberries.
  • Add cooked rice, fresh parsley and stale bread cubes.
  • Slowly add some broth to moisten the bread and voila! Ready to serve.

Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe

So here’s how you make it:

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Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe

This Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing is hearty enough for a meal but also makes a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Print Recipe

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4 from 1 review

This Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing makes the perfect holiday side dish but is also hearty enough to enjoy as a meal on its own.

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup leeks, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium apple apple, chopped
  • 4 chicken sausages, halved & sliced (or sub 1 pound ground pork sausage)
  • 1 tsp McCormick’s grill seasoning
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup Craisins
  • 1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced
  • 3–4 cup stale bread, cubed
  • 1/2 – 2/3 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Cook rice according to package directions.
  2. Saute the leeks in the butter until soft.
  3. Add the apple, sausage, Craisins and seasonings and saute 5 minutes more. (If using ground sausage, cook until sausage is cooked all the way through)
  4. Stir in the cooked rice, parsley and bread cubes until well combined.
  5. Slowly add broth until all of the bread is moistened.
  6. Cook until heated through and serve warm.

Did you make this recipe?

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Pretty easy and super delicious! Feel free to customize with your favorite kind of sausage. And don’t leave out the leeks! They add a mellow yet unique flavor that pairs well with the rest of the ingredients.

Sausage Stuffing FAQs

Is this sausage and wild rice stuffing for turkey?

I do not cook this stuffing inside the turkey but you could if you want to. Just make sure if you’re using pork sausage that you cook that first before putting it into the turkey so that you’re certain it cooks all the way.

How to make wild rice stuffing with sausage and mushrooms?

This recipe does not call for mushrooms but you could certainly add them. Just slice them up and saute them when you add the sausage, apples and cranberries!

Gluten-free sausage and wild rice stuffing recipe

To make this stuffing recipe gluten-free, you have a few options. Either use gluten-free bread, or sub the bread for something like roasted sweet potatoes. And make sure your sausage is gluten-free if necessary.

Wild rice stuffing vs bread stuffing

This stuffing is unique in that it uses both wild rice and bread. This lends itself to more traditional bread stuffing, but the wild rice adds some added chewiness, which I love.

Other sausage stuffing recipes?

If you’re looking for more sausage stuffing recipes, try:

  • Easy Sausage and Herb Stuffing
  • Mom’s Sausage Stuffing
  • Best Ever Sausage Stuffing
  • Best Ever Wild Rice Stuffing
  • Wild Rice Sausage Stuffing

With its satisfying heartiness, this Sausage and Wild Rice Stuffing can stand as a meal on its own or shine as a delightful side dish for your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast.

Thanksgiving recipes

Need more Thanksgiving recipes? Try these:

Lightly sweetened and bursting with tart fresh cranberries, these Cranberry Corn Muffins are the perfect dinner side dish. Serve them with a hearty chili or make a batch for your holiday dinner.

Cranberry Corn Muffins

These Cranberry Corn Muffins are lightly sweetened and bursting with tart fresh cranberries. They make the perfect dinner side dish. Serve them with a hearty chili or make a batch for your holiday dinner.

Grab the recipe!
Sweet Potato Apple Cranberry Crumble on a Thanksgiving plate

Sweet Potato Apple Cranberry Crumble

This Sweet Potato Apple Cranberry Crumble is the perfect addition to your holiday dinner. Make it for a quick and easy Thanksgiving side dish or pop it in the oven while eating and serve it with ice cream for dessert!

Grab the recipe!
This Fresh Cranberry Sauce is simple to make, ready in 15 minutes and tastes great on everything from turkey to oatmeal! Make a batch and enjoy on your favorite breakfast, lunch, dinner and holiday recipes!

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

This fresh homemade cranberry sauce is an easy and delicious way to add some fresh fall flavor to your meals! Make it for Thanksgiving and use the leftovers as a topping for waffles, oatmeal and sandwiches.

Grab the recipe!
leftover turkey white bean soup 2 copy

Leftover Turkey and White Bean Soup

This Leftover Turkey and White Bean Soup is perfect for transforming holiday leftovers into a new meal. Or make it with chicken any time of year!

Grab the recipe!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

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Filed Under: Dinner, Side Dish Tagged With: Apple, Bread, Butter, Chicken Broth, Chicken Sausage, Cranberry, Rice

About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Arman @ thebigmansworld says

    October 14, 2014 at 3:28 AM

    I’ve never heard of a stuffing with sausage- this looks delicious! I think stuffing is the best part of any roasted bird 😉

    Reply
    • lindsay says

      October 14, 2014 at 7:45 AM

      what? really? we grew up on sausage and stuffing and eggs and well anything that involved meat and carbs. Dang linz, looks good!

      Reply
  2. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

    October 14, 2014 at 5:10 AM

    I used to hate stuffing too! Until I went GF and started making my own gf vegan stuffing! Now I van get enough and make it every year!

    Reply
  3. Dan says

    October 14, 2014 at 5:18 AM

    I grew up on apple and sausage stuffing. Love it! A guggestion for leeks: One of my go-tos is to quickly sautee them in butter or oil, then coat them in mustard. Very French and good hot or cold.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:26 AM

      oooh i’ll have to try that!

      Reply
  4. Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says

    October 14, 2014 at 7:12 AM

    yum!! I was the opposite. All I used to eat was the stuffing! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Kirtley @The Gist of Fit says

    October 14, 2014 at 7:17 AM

    Isn’t it weird when you finally ‘mature’ and realize how awesome your mom’s cooking was? Haha. I don’t love stuffing, like you once, so I should give this a shot.

    Reply
  6. Tina Reale Yoga says

    October 14, 2014 at 8:06 AM

    This looks soooo good!

    Reply
  7. JEnnifer F says

    October 14, 2014 at 8:11 AM

    Looking at that dressing and the FINALLY having a cooler morning in Austin this morning officially has me in the mood for fall and thanksgiving!

    Reply
  8. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says

    October 14, 2014 at 8:43 AM

    It’s definitely getting to be that time of year for comfort food. I’ve never used wild rice in stuffing but love the idea!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:25 AM

      Thanks Jeanette! It’s a fun twist for something different!

      Reply
  9. Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says

    October 14, 2014 at 9:07 AM

    This stuff sounds amazing and I love the added sweetness from the apple! Delish!

    Reply
  10. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

    October 14, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    This sounds so good!

    Reply
  11. Dana @ fresh simple five says

    October 14, 2014 at 10:01 AM

    I used to avoid stuffing as a kid too and now I can’t believe how many years of deliciousness I missed out on – haha! This recipe sounds great. I enjoy reading about other variations of stuffing and people’s holiday meal traditions. Don’t know about you, but our family pretty much eats the same dishes every year!

    Reply
  12. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

    October 14, 2014 at 10:04 AM

    This would be DELISH with some vegan “sausage.” Thanks to you I am now EXTRA excited for the holidays coming up and all of the good food 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:25 AM

      yesss. love thanksgiving food 🙂

      Reply
  13. Alyssa @ The Healthy RD says

    October 14, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    Definitely checking out the vegegarian version! I’ve never heard of sausage in stuffing either!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:25 AM

      hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  14. Chelsea says

    October 14, 2014 at 10:14 AM

    This looks awesome! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  15. Joanna @Makingmine says

    October 14, 2014 at 11:17 AM

    I’m with you on the “late to the stuffing party.” I really didn’t give it a chance until I hosted my own Thanksgiving and made it myself. Maybe I just needed to see (and smell, and taste test) the process.

    This recipe looks amazing! I’m filing it away just in case I end up hosting this year again!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:25 AM

      woohoo! happy eating!

      Reply
  16. Tiff @ Love, Sweat, & Beers says

    October 14, 2014 at 11:44 AM

    I’ve heard of stuffing with sausage, but I’ve never tried it. I can seriously go ape on some stuffing though. Leftovers aren’t safe around me when Thanksgiving comes!

    Reply
  17. Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

    October 14, 2014 at 11:45 AM

    i’ve never liked stuffing but this looks great and has all ingredients that i love so i pinned it and am going to try it! thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:24 AM

      hope you love it!

      Reply
  18. Danica @ It's Progression says

    October 14, 2014 at 2:48 PM

    I’ve never liked (traditional) stuffing either, especially since I saw the process to make it as a kid haha
    This recipe I could totally get behind though – it looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:24 AM

      yay! let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  19. Bre & Ree says

    October 14, 2014 at 3:07 PM

    Stuffing is my absolute favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner! Thanks for sharing!
    ~Bre

    Reply
  20. Angela @ HonestlyAngela says

    October 14, 2014 at 6:39 PM

    Yum! Can’t wait to try this. It is totally different than my family’s traditional stuffing, but it looks amazing!

    Reply
  21. Danielle @ It's a Harleyyy Life says

    October 14, 2014 at 6:57 PM

    this looks delicious! (:

    Reply
  22. Matt @ Runner Savvy says

    October 14, 2014 at 8:16 PM

    Looks delicious!

    Reply
  23. Alex says

    October 15, 2014 at 5:15 PM

    I ate way too much stuffing one thanksgiving in high school and it took me a long time to jump aboard the train again-but I have. This looks delicious. A must make this thanksgiving for sure.

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:18 AM

      woohoo! enjoy!

      Reply
  24. Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says

    October 15, 2014 at 5:18 PM

    Oh man I love stuffing! So funny you used to avoid it! I’ve never had stuffing with another meat inside of it though…usually it’s stuffing that’s been inside a large bird! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lindsay says

      October 16, 2014 at 11:18 AM

      yeah i still can’t get on board with the stuffing cooked inside the turkey….but this is a good replacement for me 🙂

      Reply
  25. heather @french press says

    October 19, 2015 at 10:12 AM

    stuffing is my absolute favorite part of the thanksgiving meal! and this looks like a great one

    Reply
  26. Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says

    October 24, 2016 at 7:20 AM

    I’m sooooo pinning and probably making this to share for Thanksgiving! Will likely use gluten-free bread. Such a good recipe!

    Reply
  27. Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says

    October 24, 2016 at 8:41 AM

    I love adding leeks in stuffing. Looks so good! 🙂

    Reply
  28. Laura says

    October 24, 2016 at 5:56 PM

    Love this healthier stuffing recipe for Turkey Day!

    Reply

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Lindsay Livingston The Lean Green Bean Healthy Living Tips and Tricks

I'm a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

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