Description

This Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe is a flavorful and hearty side dish perfect for holiday meals or any comforting dinner. It features a blend of wild rice cooked in chicken broth, combined with crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, garlic, onions, celery, fresh sage, toasted pecans, and dried cranberries, creating a delicious balance of savory and sweet flavors with a satisfying nutty crunch.

Ingredients

Scale

Rice and Broth

1 cup wild rice blend
2 1/2 cups chicken broth

Meat and Butter

3 slices bacon, diced
2 tablespoons butter

Vegetables and Herbs

1 pint mushrooms, washed, stemmed, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
3 tablespoons fresh sage

Nuts and Fruit

1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

Cook the Rice: Add the wild rice blend and chicken broth to a pot. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot tightly and cook for 30-35 minutes or according to your rice package instructions until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
Cook the Bacon: Place diced bacon in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon pieces to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Sauté Mushrooms and Garlic: Add the butter to the pan with bacon fat. Once melted, add the sliced mushrooms and minced garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are browned and tender, releasing their moisture and developing a rich flavor.
Cook Onions, Celery, and Sage: Remove the mushrooms and garlic to a bowl. In the same pan, add the diced onion, celery, and fresh sage. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
Combine Ingredients: Remove the pan from heat and add the cooked mushrooms, garlic, and wild rice to the sautéed celery and onions. Stir well to evenly combine all the elements.
Add Nuts and Cranberries: Toss in the toasted pecans and dried cranberries. Mix thoroughly to distribute the nuts and fruit throughout the stuffing mixture.
Prepare to Serve: Transfer the stuffing to a serving dish or a baking dish if warming later. Garnish with the crispy bacon pieces on top for an added savory crunch.
Enjoy: Serve your delicious wild rice stuffing alongside your favorite main dishes and enjoy this balanced, savory, and lightly sweet homemade side.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
You can toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant to enhance their flavor.
Fresh sage is preferred for the best flavor; if unavailable, 1 tablespoon of dried sage can be used instead.
This stuffing can be prepared a day ahead and reheated in the oven at 350°F (175°C) covered with foil.
Adjust the amount of dried cranberries to your desired sweetness level.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: wild rice stuffing, holiday side dish, savory stuffing recipe, wild rice recipe, mushroom stuffing, bacon stuffing, pecan and cranberry stuffing