Bacon Apple Stuffins (Stuffing Muffins)

Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without the classic side dishes we all know and love. Last week I shared with you a great make-ahead recipe for classic mashed potatoes. 

This week I'm sharing another familiar classic recipe with a clever twist. What do you call stuffing that's been baked in a muffin tin? Stuffins, of course! As strange as it may sound, stuffins are a great way to serve this classic side-dish at your next Thanksgiving gathering. By scooping your favorite stuffing recipe (like the one I'm sharing today) into a greased muffin tin, what comes out of the oven are beautiful single portions of stuffing that are perfectly golden brown and toasted on top with a moist tender interior. These are the best kind of muffin tops to eat on Thanksgiving Day! 

The recipe I like to use for my stuffins calls for crisp bacon. The rendered bacon fat is used to sauté finely diced onions and celery until they are soft seasoned with salt and pepper. From there, I like to layer the flavors by re-adding the bacon and chopped apples. Thanksgiving stuffing wouldn't be complete without adding sage and thyme. This recipe also calls for using eggs, which bind everything together so they hold their shape. This is also a good recipe to have the kids help with. They can add ingredients, stir, and scoop stuffing into the muffin tins. Not only will they love having helped with the Thanksgiving meal, but they will also love the time spent together creating special memories.