Stuffing Muffins (with Apple and Pancetta)
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Feb 24, 2025 Every dish is better when served in cute individual portions. Cornbread Stuffing Muffins with Apple and Pancetta are no different. They are easy to pick up and crispy around the edges. Who doesn’t love that?
I’ve been making Stuffing Muffins at Thanksgiving for years. What started out as a solution to my lack of 9 X 13 baking dishes has become a house-hold sensation. Not only does each person get a perfect portion of stuffing, but every single serving has the toasted edges that provide crunchy contrast to an otherwise soft dish.
Plus Cornbread Stuffing Muffins with Apple and Pancetta are cute, and cuteness matters.
You can make stuffing muffins with any variety of stuffing, yet I’m sharing MY favorite stuffing recipe. This mix of cornbread, white bread, fresh herbs, crispy pancetta, toasty pecans, and sweet apples is a stuffing-lovers dream. BIG bold flavors enveloped in a moist buttery texture… Mmmmmmm. It goes perfect with the Apple Cider Turkey Gravy I made earlier this week.
Make stuffing as you normally would, then simply pack it into well buttered muffin tins and bake. To remove the muffins, run a butter knife around the edges and pop them out.
Serving Suggestions
These individual easy stuffing muffins should be paired with all of your favorite holiday dishes! These adorable portions of stuffing are easily served and go especially well with Thanksgiving favorites like Spatchcock Smoked Turkey or Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, along with the best sides like Scalloped Sweet Potatoes and Roasted Butternut Squash!
For dessert, definitely try my Pecan Pie Bars or Apple Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting!
Stuffing Muffins Recipe
Ingredients
- 7 cups cornbread cubes about 3/4 inch, store-bought is fine
- 7 cups crustless firm white sandwich bread cubes about 3/4 inch
- 1/2 cup butter divided
- 6 ounces diced pancetta
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 large crisp apple peeled and chopped
- 1 cup pecan pieces
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 4 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 4 teaspoons dried rubbed sage
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 large eggs beaten
- 2 cups low-salt chicken broth
Instructions
- Cut and lay bread cubes out the day before to dry. (Or dry them out in the oven for 5 minutes before starting.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Put the bread cubes in a large bowl.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and sauté until brown. Then add the onions and cook to soften—2-3 minutes. Add the apples and soften another 3-5 minutes. Finally add the herbs and pecans. Toss and remove from heat.
- Add 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper; stir to blend. Add vegetable mixture to bread and toss.
- Whisk the eggs and broth together and pour over the bread mixture. Toss and let it stand 5 minutes.
- Generously butter twelve nonstick muffin cups. Spoon 1/2 cup of stuffing mixture into each muffin cup. Press to compact. Mound another 1/2 cup of remaining stuffing mixture over stuffing in each muffin cup, pressing to hold shape. Bake muffins until golden, about 22-25 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Using small knife, loosen muffins and pop out of pan.
Notes
Nutrition
By the way, Thanksgiving is TOMORROW… if you happened to forget.
If you’ll be running to the market later this evening to gather all your ingredients, here are a few recipes that could really help a last-minute cook:
Roasted Cornish Game Hens (Ahem, you don’t have time to thaw a turkey. *wink*)
Pomagranate Apple Cranberry Relish (Have you picked up on my apple theme?)
Bourbon Hazelnut Sweet Potatoes
Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Frosting
More Thanksgiving Recipes from the Web:
Wild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries Bacon and Pecans ~ TidyMom
Crispy Lemon Brussels Sprouts ~ What’s Gaby Cooking
Balsamic Glazed Roasted Squash ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
I’ve come back to this recipe every year since 2013. Thank you!
Made this last year…Amazing! Everyone raved over them. And they freeze wonderfully, too! One problem. I can’t remember if I used the cornbread or all store bought seasoned white bread cubes. I have never seen cornbread cubes sold where I live, only the crushed cornbread stuffing mix, so know I didn’t use them. Can I substitute the cornbread stuffing cubes for the crumbly cornbread stuffing mix, and if so, would I need to adjust the amount of broth? (Thinking the finely chopped cornbread mix will absorb more liquid.) I wrote a note on my print out from last year saying “use 3- 31/2 cups broth if using all store bought dried cubes.” Ugh! Thanks!
These look delicious! Can I sub vegetable broth for chicken broth as I’m a vegetarian?
I constantly spent my half an hour to read this blog’s articles
or reviews every day along with a mug of coffee.
Great idea (you just got a new loyal reader)!
Just made these and they were a big hit. I added a little more apple and some celery, and due to a last minute shopping issue, I had to use pre-packaged stuffing from a bag, but an extra cup and a half of stock seemed to balance it out nicely.
thanks!
Oh!!! Stuffing is my absolute favorite thing, and these look amazing!!! I think I’m going to try them this year.
Thanks for sharing!
I am doing a round-up of Thanksgiving Stuffing recipes on my Friday Five – Thanksgiving Stuffing addition and I featured your recipe over at Feed Your Soul Too. – http://www.feedyoursoul2.com/2013/11/friday-five-thanksgiving-stuffing-addition.html
Yes! I’m all about individual portions too. This looks delicious, as always, and your words make me smile, yet again. I hope you have a blessed week and a wonderful season of joy and food and fun.
Individually sized. Clever. GREG
A magical pairing! I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!
I could seriously do Thanksgiving all over again with these :)
What a wonderful idea to stuff muffins…and individual portions do look good besides satisfying the ego of having the cake and eating it too ;-)