Roasted Stuffed Chicken with Maltese Sausage Stuffing

Roasted Stuffed Chicken with Maltese Sausage Stuffing

Roasted Stuffed Chicken with Maltese Sausage Stuffing

Prep Time : 20 Minutes
Cook Time : 2 Hours 30 Minutes

Ingredients :

• 1 large roasting chicken (or capon)
• 2 Fresh Maltese pork sausage
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup diced sweet red pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 5 cups unseasoned stuffing croutons
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
•  1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1-1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth, divided

Directions : 

• Remove sausage skin and cut into small pieces.
• In a large skillet, cook the sausage, onion, celery and red pepper in butter until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are crisp-tender;  do not drain.
• Place croutons in a large bowl; add sausage mixture.
• Stir in the parsley, tarragon, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Stir in enough broth until stuffing is moistened and holds together.
• Just before baking, loosely stuff chicken.
• Place stuffed chicken with breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
• Pour 1/2 cup broth around stuffed chicken.
• Bake stuffed chicken, uncovered, at 325° for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until a thermometer reads 180° for chicken and 165° for stuffing, basting occasionally with pan juices.