Bread Stuffing with Pears, Bacon and Caramelized Onions
With sweet and savory elements, this hearty stuffing complements a holiday turkey perfectly.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Recipe Created By: Pear Bureau Northwest
Featured In: Tennessee Home & Farm
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Recipe Created By: Pear Bureau Northwest
Featured In: Tennessee Home & Farm
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
- 10 cups bread cubes, dry and unseasoned
- 8 ounces bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 ¼ pounds frozen pearl onions, thawed and blotted dry
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 firm, ripe Bosc or Anjou pears, peeled, halved lengthwise, cored, and cut into ¾-inch dice
- 3 large ribs celery, chopped
- ⅔ cup fresh parsley, minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh sage, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- freshly ground pepper
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 4 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Coat a deep 9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan with butter.
- Place the bread cubes in a very large mixing bowl.
- In a 10-inch saute pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, drain the bacon and add to the bread. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pan, reserving the extra.
- Add the onions to the pan and saute over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until soft and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the sugar over the onions and saute, stirring constantly , until the onions turn golden and the edges caramelize, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add to bread mixture.
- Return the pan to medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of reserved bacon fat and swirl to coat pan. Add the pears and celery and saute, stirring frequently until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the parsley, thyme, sage, salt and a few grinds of pepper and saute 1 minute longer.
- Add this mixture to bread mixture and stir to combine. Add the beaten eggs and stock to the bowl. Mix well.
- Place the stuffing in the prepared pan and bake, uncovered, until top is lightly browned and crusty, about 1 hour.
Tips & Notes
This stuffing is great for leftovers. It tastes just as delicious when re-heated.