simple leek & cranberry stuffing for the holidays

Leek & Cranberry Stuffing

Table of Contents

I can’t believe that the holiday season is upon us! With Thanksgiving only a couple weeks away and Christmas close behind I know that there are lots of holiday meals and family gatherings being planned. There are some recipes that just say holiday to me and one of those is definitely stuffing. I love stuffing so much but unfortunately, my husband does not feel the same way. Insert sad face here. However, pretty much everyone else feels differently about this leek and cranberry stuffing recipe.

Leek & Cranberry Stuffing

leek and cranberry stuffing

Since the holidays are pretty much the only time I get my favorite side dish all year, you can bet I always volunteer to make it for any family dinner. That way I can make sure that I’ll have it the way that I like it–with leeks. No standard onion and celery will be found in my stuffing! Cranberries and diced apples give this simple recipe a bit of an unexpected and sophisticated flavor as well.

Leeks are one of my favorite vegetables and I add them to any recipe I can–they just add so much flavor to any standard dish! If you’ve always been a simple, box-mix kind of stuffing chef, don’t feel overwhelmed. It is actually really easy to make delicious stuffing from scratch and this recipe is a great place to start. The dried cranberries in this leek and cranberry stuffing provide the perfect amount of sweet tang. You can also add diced apples to this stuffing to mix it up even more. Pretty much any kind of sweeter apple variety will work (I typically go for a Fuji or Gala) and I definitely recommend adding it!

4.84 from 6 votes
Leek & Cranberry Stuffing
Leek & Cranberry Stuffing
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
 
An simple and delicious twist on a traditional stuffing recipe.
Author: Justine Young
Ingredients
  • 12 oz . of stuffing or bread cubes
  • 1 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
  • 2 leeks chopped
  • 1 cup of dried cranberries
  • 1/2 chopped red onion optional
  • 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1-2 small apples chopped (optional)
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in a large skillet and add in leeks (and onion, if using). Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft.
  2. Pour over stuffing in a large bowl, stir in chicken broth. Add in dried cranberries.
  3. Grease a 9x13" baking dish and fill with stuffing. Cover with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes at 350°, then uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.
Recipe Notes

You may also opt to stuff your turkey. Just fill the turkey cavity with stuffing and bake your turkey according to directions.

What is your favorite holiday recipe? What do you have to have or else it doesn’t feel like a holiday dinner?

Leek & Cranberry Stuffing