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    Make It Skinny Please » Recipes » Side Dishes » Cornbread Stuffing Muffins recipe

    Published: Nov 14, 2021 by Toni Dash · 17 Comments

    Cornbread Stuffing Muffins recipe

    Weight Watchers Points5
    Calories: 188kcal
    Carbs: 22g
    Protein: 8g
    Fats: 7g
    Jump to Recipe

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    stuffing muffins with title overlay

    Cornbread Stuffing Muffins are everything you love about stuffing or dressing baked in a muffin tin for delicious muffin size servings. Full of Italian turkey sausage, onion, celery, dried cranberries, apple and more.

    stuffing muffins with title overlay
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    Many people feel like stuffing is the best part of Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe is no different. Full of homey flavors perfect for the holiday and still delicious to serve with leftover turkey. It's easy enough for a side dish anytime (think with roasted chicken).

    The leftover stuffing is just as good. Great served with our turkey breast roast, air fryer green beans or maple air fryer carrots and don't forget the skinny pumpkin pie!

    Jump to:
    • What is a Stuffing Muffin?
    • What makes this skinny?
    • Recipe Ingredient Notes
    • How to make Stuffing Muffins - Step-by-Step
    • How to make it ahead
    • Pro Tips
    • How to Store
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More recipes you'll love!
    • WW Personal Points
    • Recipe

    What is a Stuffing Muffin?

    It's stuffing that is baked in a muffin tin to make individual servings of stuffing in muffin form instead of a big batch. It's a fun presentation and perfect for portion control. Everyone gets their own (or two) and it's unexpected.

    stuffing muffins in a muffin tin

    What makes this skinny?

    • The biggest thing is the portion control. With a traditional stuffing recipe you really can't gauge how much you are eating. With stuffin' muffins you know exactly how much.
    • Making the cornbread with non-fat milk
    • Using fat-free chicken broth or stock
    • Only 1 tablespoon of butter used for the entire recipe and no olive oil
    • Almost 3 cups of fresh vegetables and fruit included
    • Lean Italian turkey sausage versus regular higher fat pork sausage

    Recipe Ingredient Notes

    stuffing muffins labelled ingredients

    Prepared Cornbread. You'll need 12-ounces of prepared cornbread cut into ½-3/4 inch cubes. Consider using cornbread that is more savory than sweet for fewer calories.

    The nutritional info and WW Personal Points are based on using non-fat milk when preparing the cornbread (if the recipe calls for milk). Regular or gluten-free cornbread can be used.

    Italian Turkey Sausage. We used Jennie-O Italian Style turkey sausage. It's an all natural sausage and usually found in the freezer section.

    Onion. We used yellow onions but red onions or white onions may be used.

    Apple. You'll use half and apple and Honeycrisp is a variety we love for strong apple flavor. Tart apples are another great choice. Any apple will work. Dice the apple into small pieces for better mixing with the other ingredients.

    Chicken stock or chicken broth. Use fat-free.

    How to make Stuffing Muffins - Step-by-Step

    STEP 1. Dry out the cornbread

    Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place the corn bread cubes in a single layer on a rimmed sheet pan (photo 1). Bake for 15 minutes or until the cubes are dried out and golden brown in color.

    Allow to cool.

    stuffing muffins recipe steps 1-4

    STEP 2. Sauté

    Using a non-stick large skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, cook the turkey Italian sausage (photo 2). Crumble sausage into small pieces while cooking.

    Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and allow to cool. Discard any liquid rendered in cooking.

    Add the melt butter to the same skillet over medium heat (photo 3) . Sauté the onion, celery and apple for 5 minutes (photo 4). Scrape up any browned bits of turkey while cooking.

    Add the cranberries, sage, salt and pepper (photo 5). Stir and cook 2 more minutes (photo 6). Remove the vegetable mixture from heat and allow to cook for a few minutes.

    stuffing muffins recipe steps 5-8

    STEP 3. Combine ingredients

    In a large bowl combine the cornbread, sausage, vegetables and ¼ cup of Italian parsley (photo 7-8). Stir to fully combine.

    Whisk the egg into the chicken stock (photo 8). Pour onto the stuffing muffin mixture and stir to fully combine. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.

    stuffing muffins recipe steps 9-12

    STEP 4. Make muffins

    Spray 12 regular-size muffin cups in a muffin pan with non-stick spray. Use a large cookie scoop to evenly distribute the stuffing mixture between the prepared muffin cups (photos 9-11). If needed push down on the top of the mixture so it all fits.

    STEP 5. Bake

    Bake for 30-35 minutes until the stuffing is fully warmed through and the top is golden and crispy (photo 12). Remove from oven.

    Allow to sit in the muffin pan for 15-20 minutes before removing from the pan.

    To remove muffins gently, run a pliable small spatula or dining knife around the edge of the muffin cavity and lift out using a fork underneath the bottom. Serve warm or at room temperature.

    stuffing muffins with sliced turkey

    How to make it ahead

    To avoid the stress of holiday cooking you can prepare some of the recipe the day before.

    1. Toast the cornbread, allow to cool and store at room temperature in an airtight container.
    2. Cook the sausage and vegetables. Allow to cool slightly and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    3. The day of serving combine the cornbread, sausage mixture, fresh parsley and proceed with the recipe.

    NOTE: because part of the stuffing ingredients has been chilled cooking time may need to be lengthened.

    Pro Tips

    Cut the vegetables and apple into small pieces. The muffins will hold together best if the onion, celery and apple are cut into small pieces. Think small chop.

    The cornbread may crumble. Depending on what type of cornbread you use you may find there is some crumbling when mixing the stuffing. No worries! When the stuffing muffins bake everything will combine whether it's cubed or crumbled.

    For moister muffins: the muffins will be moist but if you really like very moist stuffing use 2 cups of chicken stock instead of 1 ¾ cups. Monitor baking so they are cooked through.

    How to Store

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-40 seconds or until warmed through.

    stuffing muffins with sliced turkey and green beans

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I freeze stuffing muffins?

    Yes. Allow them to fully cool and place in a freezer-safe airtight container. Adding parchment paper between layers. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw in the refrigerator.

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    WW Personal Points

    To load the recipe ingredients into your WW app, log in to the WW app, then click the button below. The recipe will automatically populate with your WW Personal Points values.

    The recipe ingredients can also be manually added in the Create Recipe feature. If you change any of the ingredient types or amounts be sure to update the details in your app.

    CLICK HERE FOR WW PERSONAL POINTS

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    Recipe

    stuffing muffins with sliced turkey

    Cornbread Stuffing Muffins

    Weight Watchers Points5
    Click to track Weight Watchers Points
    Moist, flavorful Cornbread Stuffing Muffins are full of turkey Italian sausage, dried cranberries, apples and more. The perfect portion size servings and a welcome surprise.
    5 from 131 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 stuffing muffins (1 muffin per serving)
    Calories: 188kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 12 ounce cornbread cut into ½-¾ inch cubes
    • 1 pound turkey Italian sausage
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 cup diced celery
    • 1 cup diced onion
    • ½ cup peeled diced apple suggest honeycrisp
    • ⅓ cup dried cranberries
    • 1 teaspoon dried sage
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ cup Italian parsley
    • 1 egg
    • 1 ¾ cups fat free chicken broth

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the cornbread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes or until the bread is dried out and golden on the outside.
      Allow bread to cool and turn oven temperature up to 375 degrees.
    • Spray a large non-stick skillet with cooking spray and brown the turkey sausage. Crumble into small pieces as it cooks. Cook fully. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and allow to cool.
      Discard any cooking liquids from the pan.
    • Melt the butter into the same skillet. Add the onion, celery and apple and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
    • Add the cranberries, sage, salt and pepper. Stir together and cook 2 additional minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool a few minutes.
    • In a large bowl combine the cornbread, sausage, vegetables and ¼ cup Italian parsley. Stir to fully combine.
    • Whisk the egg into the chicken stock. Pour into the muffin mixture and stir to fully combine. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.
    • Spray a 12 cavity muffin pan with non-stick spray. Using a large cookie scoop, scoop the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Push the mixture gently so it all fits.
    • Bake for 30-35 minutes until the stuffing is fully warmed through the top is golden and crisp. Remove from oven and allow to cool 15-20 minutes before removing from the pan.

    Notes

    Nutritional info: the nutritional calculation is for 1 stuffing muffin. 
    Pro Tips
    Cut the vegetables and apple into small pieces. The muffins will hold together best if the onion, celery and apple are cut/chopped into small pieces. 
    The cornbread may crumble. Depending on what type of cornbread you use you may find there is some crumbling when mixing the stuffing. No worries! When the stuffing muffins bake everything will combine whether it's cubed or crumbled.
    For moister muffins: the muffins will be moist but if you really like very moist stuffing use 2 cups of chicken stock instead of 1 ¾ cups. Monitor baking so they are cooked through.
    How to Store
    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-40 seconds or until warmed through.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 718mg | Potassium: 183mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 297IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 4mg
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutritional Coach and certified Weight Loss Specialist, writer/blogger, photographer, chief recipe developer and creator of Make It Skinny Please. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her slimmed down recipes using real food ingredients bring excitement to the dining table and never taste like 'diet food'. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Comments

      5 from 131 votes (116 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Courtney says

      November 22, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      Could you omit the turkey sausage? I realize you may lose some of the flavor, but my family is plant based and the Turkey is probably enough for us 😄

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        November 22, 2022 at 3:28 pm

        First I should say I've only made the recipe as written so am only guessing. The turkey sausage helps hold the ingredients together so omitting that might both reduce the volume but also lessen the 'muffins' staying together and alter the overall flavor. I think if I were serving this for Thanksgiving I'd want to make a test batch before making it on the day to serve in case omitting a main ingredient left a less appealing result.

        Reply
    2. Shadi says

      November 10, 2022 at 8:56 am

      5 stars
      I Just tried this recipe and my family loved it. It was so easy and the flavors were fantastic.

      Reply
    3. Katherine says

      November 10, 2022 at 8:52 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great way to serve up cornbread stuffing! SO much flavor in them.

      Reply
    4. Tavo says

      November 10, 2022 at 8:18 am

      5 stars
      Delicious muffins! I tried them yesterday and I am definitely making them again for Thanksgiving!

      Reply
    5. Dana says

      November 10, 2022 at 8:16 am

      5 stars
      Perfect for entertaining a large crowd! We made a test batch and loved them! Will be using this recipe for TG this year. Thank you!

      Reply
    6. Gloria says

      November 10, 2022 at 7:40 am

      5 stars
      Stuffing is the best part of the holiday meal. I will make these ALL year long. What a great idea.

      Reply
    7. Lauren Michael Harris says

      November 16, 2021 at 7:14 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great idea! I was just planning my recipes for Thanksgiving and thinking I may not have enough baking dishes, but this is an awesome solution and such a fun way to serve stuffing!

      Reply
    8. Beth Sachs says

      November 16, 2021 at 7:01 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious stuffing recipe. Great with Turkey at Christmas.

      Reply
    9. Edie says

      November 16, 2021 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea! Stuffing is my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner and these are delicious. Such a fun change up.

      Reply
    10. Elizabeth says

      November 16, 2021 at 6:07 am

      5 stars
      Love this!! My family loves stuffing, and they went crazy for these muffins. Will definitely make again!

      Reply
    11. Danielle Wolter says

      November 16, 2021 at 5:07 am

      5 stars
      I am just loving this idea for thanksgiving! It's a great way to have stuffing 🙂

      Reply
    12. nancy says

      November 15, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      5 stars
      what a great recipe idea and perfect for the holidays toO!

      Reply
    13. Betsy says

      November 15, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      5 stars
      How brilliant is this?!? Love this! Perfect portions of delicious dressing! Making this again soon - probably Thanksgiving!!

      Reply
    14. Kara says

      November 15, 2021 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      My favorite part of the stuffing has always been the crunchy parts on the top. This recipe gave me plenty of crunchy sides. So good!!

      Reply
    15. Kristyn says

      November 15, 2021 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea!! Combining two delicious sides into one makes it even better! Totally going to do this for my family!

      Reply
    16. Lara says

      November 15, 2021 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      Great idea! Will be making this again for the festive season!

      Reply

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I'm a Certified Nutrition Coach and NASM certified Weight Loss Specialist. I'm excited to share Classic Recipes made more calorie friendly using real food!

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