Description
Savory gravy-stuffed stuffing muffins blend comfort and creativity in one irresistible bite. Crispy edges, rich center, and holiday magic merge to deliver a crowd-pleasing side dish you’ll crave long after the meal ends.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1/2 pound sausage (Italian or breakfast sausage)
- 2 large eggs
Bread and Seasonings:
- 6 cups bread cubes (or stuffing mix)
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Liquid and Aromatics:
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Create a robust gravy by sautéing sausage in butter over medium-high heat until thoroughly browned (5-7 minutes).
- Incorporate flour to develop a roux, cooking for 2 minutes to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Add green onions and briefly toast for aromatic enhancement.
- Gradually whisk milk into the mixture, stirring until smooth and thickened.
- Season gravy with cayenne, salt, and pepper, then transfer to a bowl.
- Chill gravy for at least 2 hours until it reaches a dense, spreadable consistency.
- Preheat oven to 400°F and position a baking pan on the lowest rack.
- Generously grease a 12-cup muffin tin with butter.
- Melt butter in a saucepan and sauté onion and celery until translucent (4-5 minutes).
- Introduce poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper to the vegetable mixture.
- Pour chicken broth into the pan and bring to a rapid boil.
- Combine bread cubes with parsley, sage, and thyme in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour boiling broth over bread, ensuring thorough moistening.
- Incorporate eggs and mix until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Generously fill muffin cups with stuffing mixture, creating high mounds.
- Carefully create a central cavity in each muffin, leaving a 1-inch base.
- Fill each cavity with chilled gravy (approximately 2 tablespoons).
- Cover gravy completely with additional stuffing.
- Brush muffin tops with melted butter for golden crispiness.
- Bake for 20 minutes until surface turns golden brown.
- Allow muffins to rest and cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Select high-quality bread like sourdough or artisan loaves for richer, more complex flavor profiles.
- Ensure gravy is properly chilled before stuffing to prevent soggy muffin centers and maintain structural integrity.
- Customize stuffing with additional herbs like rosemary or thyme for deeper aromatic complexity.
- Make vegetarian version by replacing sausage with mushrooms and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg