Bacon Pecan Stuffing

It’s almost that time folks, it’s almost Thanksgiving. Are you ready?  Do you have favorite family recipes that you make year after year? This Bacon Pecan Stuffing is one of those recipes for my family. I have made some variation of this stuffing for the past 20 years! I have tried it with cornbread, I have tried it with cornbread and bread cubes, but everyone seems to prefer straight bread stuffing…..

I usually stuff my stuffing into the turkey, isn’t that why it’s called stuffing?  Dressing…stuffing…call it what you like, it’s a Thanksgiving staple in just about every household…..

This year I thought I would try something different, and I forgot to take pictures of the stuffing last year. 😉  So I cut the recipe in half, added eggs to make sure it stays moist,  and baked it in an 11 x 7 baking dish…..

It worked like a charm!!  Well the stuffing worked, the turkey photos turned out worse than last years. 🙁  I will try again on Thanksgiving and see if I can get some decent photos!!

To make this stuffing, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place the dried bread cubes {homemade or from the grocery store} into an extra-large bowl…..

Okay, those aren’t really cubes, but they work.  Set the bowl aside and melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onions, celery, thyme, sage, salt and pepper…..

Cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.  Pour over the bread cubes…..

Return skillet to stove and pour in the chicken stock to heat…..

Scrape up all the bits while it’s heating.  Add the bacon, pecans, and beaten eggs to the bowl…..

Gently stir to combine.  Pour in the chicken stock and again gently stir to combine.  Pour mixture into a baking dish…..

and bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown.  Then serve…..

As I mentioned above, I cut the recipe in half.  If you are stuffing a turkey you can double the recipe {minus the eggs}, and stuff the cavities of the turkey before cooking.  Mix 1 or 2 eggs with the remaining stuffing mixture {depending on how much you have left} and bake following the instructions. The size of your turkey will determine how much stuffing you will need.

You can also double the recipe and bake in a 9 x 13 baking dish if you just want more stuffing. Don’t you just love options? hehehe

Don’t forget the Mashed Potatoes:

Do you stuff your turkey, or do you bake the stuffing on the side?

Enjoy!!

Bacon Pecan Stuffing

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Serves	8
Prep time	15 minutes
Cook time	30 minutes
Total time	45 minutes
Meal type	Side Dish

This is my favorite Bacon Pecan Stuffing that I have been making for the past 20 years.

Ingredients

• 8 Cups dried bread cubes
• 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 Stalks celery, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 and 1/2 Cups organic chicken stock (or homemade)
• 2 Large eggs (lightly beaten)
• 4 Slices uncured, sulfite free bacon (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
• 1 cup toasted, chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread cubes in an extra-large bowl, set aside.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the onions, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.

Pour vegetable mixture over bread cubes in bowl.

Return skillet to heat and add the chicken stock to heat.

Add the bacon, pecans, and beaten eggs to the bowl. Gently stir to combine.

Pour stock over bread mixture and gently stir to combine.

Pour mixture into an 11 x 7 baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown.

Note

To stuff a turkey: Double recipe {minus the eggs} and stuff turkey cavities before cooking.  Mix any leftover stuffing with 1 or 2 eggs and bake as listed above.

This recipe will be partying at these link parties!