Apple, Sausage, Bacon, and Mushroom Stuffing

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound pork sausage
• 1/2 pound bacon
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, sliced
• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 apples, cored and diced
• 1 (4 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pound dry bread cubes

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a large baking dish.

Place the beef, sausage, and bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Mix in the onion, celery, and mushrooms. Season with parsley, sage, and thyme. Cook and stir until meats are evenly browned. Mix in apples and water chestnuts, and continue cooking 5 minutes. Drain grease.

Mix butter, broth, soup, and applesauce into skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in the bread cubes until evenly moist. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Bake covered 45 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking 15 minutes, until lightly browned.