Cornbread and Chorizo Dressing

Makes 16 servings

Highly seasoned pork sausage and corn bread crumbs add a zesty bold twist to traditional stuffing, and the slow cooker makes it fuss-free!

ingredients

1 pound chorizo sausage, casing removed and crumbled or 1 pound bulk chorizo sausage
1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
3 medium celery stalks, sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1 package (16 ounces) seasoned cornbread stuffing crumbs (5 3/4 cups)
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups chicken stock (from 32-ounce carton)
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (6 ounces)
1 cup pecan halves, toasted

1
Cook sausage, onion and celery in 10-inch skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.
2
Place sausage mixture, stuffing crumbs, butter, sage and pepper in 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Pour broth over mixture; toss to combine. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes. Gently stir in cheese and pecans.
3
Serve stuffing, or keep warm in slow cooker up to 1 hour. Or use this recipe to stuff one 12- to 14-pound turkey.
4
Variations: Instead of cooking the stuffing in the slow cooker, use this recipe to stuff any 12- to 14-pound bird. After making the stuffing mixture, stuff and bake turkey as directed in the turkey recipe. The center of the stuffing must reach 165°F.