Bacon, Leek, Sage and Thyme Stuffing Muffins

After posting the above photo on Instagram on Sunday, many of you asked me for the recipe. It's a modification of this recipe a friend shared with me. I made some adjustments- replaced the panchetta with bacon and the onions with shallots- and gave it a whirl. HOLY CANNOLI THEY WERE AMAZING!! You all are going to looooove it! Here is the recipe for my version:


Bacon, Leek, Sage and Thyme Stuffing Muffins

About 1 massive loaf of fresh French bread, cut up into small pieces
1 pound bacon
1 large shallot, chopped 
6 celery stalks, thinly sliced
2 leaks, cleaned and thinly sliced
10 large fresh sage leaves, chopped
6 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 tablespoon salt* (See note below about salt)
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
2 eggs, 2 egg whites lightly beaten

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

1. Thoroughly spray the muffin tin with Pam and set aside.

2. In a single layer, place the bread cubes on two sheet pans and bake for 10 minutes, or until barely toasted. Remove and set aside.

3. In a large saute pan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat, until slightly browned and crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain and cool. After cooled, chop the bacon. 

4. The bacon will release a a lot of grease. Drain all but about a half cup. We’ll use this to cook the vegetables. 

5. Bring heat down to medium, and add the diced shallot, sliced celery, sliced leek, salt and pepper, and cook until all is softened and translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the sage and thyme and cook just until fragrant. 

6. Turn off the heat and add bacon, toasted bread and vegetable broth to the vegetable mixture and toss. Do a taste test. Does it need a bit more salt? If you’re all good then add the slightly beaten eggs and mix once more.

7. Using a tablespoon, transfer mounds of the stuffing mixture to each muffin tin. Be sure to tightly pack the stuffing in each of the muffin cups. This will make sure the mixture adheres to itself and the muffins don’t fall apart.

8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until top is browned. To remove, take a butter knife and go around each of the stuffing muffins’ outer edge. Using your knife, gently lift it up out of the muffin tins. Serve warm.

Yields 22 Stuffing “Muffins”

ENJOY!!

XO J