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easy Belgian waffle thanksgiving dressing

Easy Thanksgiving Belgian Waffle Stuffing (The Ultimate Holiday Dressing)

A delicious Thanksgiving side dish made with toasted Belgian waffles, sausage, dried cranberries, and fresh herbs. This sweet and savoury Belgian waffle stuffing is a wonderful alternative to traditional bread stuffing, with a wicked texture and the cozy, comforting scent of butter and herbs.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Comfort Food, In Season, Side Dish, Sunday Dinners
Cuisine Fusion
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 12 large Belgian waffles toasted and chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 stick salted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups celery diced
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh sage
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 3/4 lb sausage meat

Instructions
 

  • Toast the Belgian waffles according to the package instructions. Allow them to cool, then chop them into approximately 1-inch pieces.
    toasted and chopped belgian waffles for thanksgiving dressing
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the celery, onion, thyme, sage, parsley, salt and black pepper. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until everything softens.
    butter for the base of thanksgiving dressing
  • onion, celery, thyme, parsley and sage simmering in butter as the base for thanksgiving dressing
  • black pepper and salt added to herbs in making belgian waffle stuffing for thanksgiving
  • Add the marjoram and dried cranberries and stir well. The kitchen will have that cozy, comforting scent, making you hungry immediately, even if you just ate.
    marjoram and dried cranberries in thanksgiving stuffing with belgian waffles
  • Add the chicken stock, bring everything to a boil, and simmer for 5 minutes.
    chicken stock is added to the herbs to fortify the flavor of the finished thanksgiving dressing
  • Place the prepared Belgian waffle pieces in a large bowl. Add the uncooked sausage meat, breaking it up between the Belgian waffle pieces. You can precook the sausage if you want, but this is going into an oven where the meat will fully cook. I dislike getting grainy pieces of sausage, so I never precook it. I used pork, but you can use turkey or any version you prefer.
    pork sausage is added to the prepared belgian waffles for making thanksgiving dressing
  • Pour the chicken stock mixture over everything and mix well to combine. The toasted waffles will absorb the lovely flavours of the infused chicken stock, becoming soft and plump at the same time.
    combining all the ingredients for making thanksgiving stuffing
  • Let it sit for a few minutes, then give it a final mix. If it's overly dry, consider adding a bit more chicken stock.
    combine all the ingredients for the belgian waffle stuffing for thanksgiving
  • Transfer everything to an oven-proof dish and place it into a preheated 375°F oven.
    thanksgiving stuffing going into the oven
  • Bake uncovered on the middle rack for 30-40 minutes, or until the sausage is fully cooked and the stuffing is heated through. if the top is getting overly dark, you can lightly tent the baking dish with foil.
    thanksgiving dressing made with toasted belgian waffles
  • Have you ever made dressing or stuffing with Belgian waffles? Leave me a comment below, and I welcome you to watch the video below, where I go through all the steps of making this delicious Thanksgiving Belgian waffle stuffing.
    easy thanksgiving dressing recipe
  • Did you get a chance to make the Herb Roasted Turkey I shared last week? How about the Smoked Turkey or the Jerk Turkey recipes?

Video

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can I use Belgian waffles instead of bread for Thanksgiving stuffing?

Absolutely! Belgian waffles are a delicious alternative to traditional bread or cornbread. Their slight sweetness blends beautifully with the savoury sausage, fresh herbs, cranberries, and chicken stock. They also absorb the lovely flavours of the stock while becoming soft and plump.

Can I use turkey sausage instead of pork sausage in Belgian waffle stuffing?

Yes. I used pork sausage, but you can use turkey sausage or any variety you prefer. The recipe works with either option.

Should I precook the sausage before adding it to stuffing?

You can precook the sausage if you prefer. However, I add mine uncooked because the stuffing will bake in a 375°F oven for 30-40 minutes. The sausage cooks along with everything else. I also find that adding it uncooked gives me the texture I prefer.

Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh herbs for waffle stuffing?

Fresh herbs are what I recommend for this recipe, especially the thyme, sage, and parsley. I used dried marjoram, but kept the other herbs fresh. They contribute to the wonderful aroma and flavour that make this stuffing so appealing.

How do I keep Belgian waffle stuffing from becoming too dry?

The chicken stock helps the toasted waffles absorb moisture and flavour. After combining everything, let the mixture sit for a few minutes before giving it a final mix. If it appears overly dry, add a little more chicken stock.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!