This tasty rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is not your average dry, bread-heavy affair. It has a lovely mix of sweet and savory flavors, is juicy and rich, and the perfect accompaniment to a festive dinner.
![rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is a flavor-packed side for a festive meal rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing with roasted duck and cranberry sauce behind](jpg/rutabaga-date-and-bacon-stuffing-photo.jpg)
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I mentioned when I shared my pear, cranberry and sausage stuffing that we always had a number of stuffings to choose from at our Christmas dinner. They would change every year or so as my mum found a new recipe she liked the look of, but some stayed.
Stuffing doesn't appear to be quite such a consistent feature of the US Thanksgiving table as it is the UK Christmas one. I've yet to fully dig in to why, but it may be partly that casseroles and bread are often there instead.
![rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is a flavor-packed side for a festive meal spoonful of stuffing held above dish](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Rutabaga-bacon-and-date-stuffing-picture.jpg)
However personally, I think they are worth making the effort and finding space for. This delicious combination is definitely a case in point. It was an instant hit with my taste-testers and has been repeated in our house a few times since.
Key elements of stuffing
Stuffing is one of those things that has a few common basic ingredients with a broad range of variations, from the fairly dull bought versions to basically whatever your creative streak can come up with or you feel like trying.
Most stuffing recipes include onion, breadcrumbs, some form of fat and usually egg to help hold it all together. Then they can have any of a range of meat - often sausage or bacon - root vegetables, dried or sometimes fresh fruit, herbs and sometimes nuts to create a range of different flavors.
![rutabaga, bacon and date stuffing ingredients rutabaga, bacon and date stuffing ingredients](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PB191951-sml-crop.jpg)
This recipe brings together a mix of a lot of the best things in stuffing, in my view. It's both sweet and savory, a moist flavorful mixture with a slight crunch on the top. Plus, it brings in some of the tastes of the season. I would suggest trying to get a decent quality bacon as the taste will filter through.
Rutabaga, or swede as it is known in the UK (or turnip, slightly confusingly, in Scotland where I grew up) is a vegetable that I think is a little underused. That may be because it has a pretty mild, mellow flavor itself. However it partners really well with maple syrup and is great combined with savory flavors too, as here.
![making rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing stirring bacon rutabaga mix in skillet](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/rutabaga-stuffing-3.jpg)
How to make this rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing
This stuffing is really pretty easy to make. While it might seem like it takes a little time, most of that is cooking in the oven. All you do is:
- Start cooking the bacon so it renders some fat.
- Add the onion and garlic and soften.
- Add the rutabaga and soften that as well.
- Stir through the herbs, cook another few minutes then remove from heat.
- Add the egg, breadcrumbs, dates and maple syrup and mix all well.
- Press into a baking dish and bake until golden on top.
![rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing ready to bake rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing ready to bake](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/rutabaga-date-and-bacon-stuffing-ready-to-bake.jpg)
If you have any left over, it's delicious cold either as part of a leftovers plate or as a tasty addition to a sandwich. It makes a very child-friendly food as well. Who can resist it being both easy to eat and nicely sweet (but don't tell them in a fairly good way, if you forget about the bacon).
Stuffing in general, and certainly this rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing, is good enough to make more than once a year, it is strange we rarely do. But I know I will make this one again soon, it's that good. So why not join me and just find any old excuse to make it and enjoy.
![rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is a delicious side for a festive meal rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing with spoonful resting on top](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/rutabaga-date-and-bacon-stuffing-picture.jpg)
Try these other Holiday side dish ideas:
- Butternut squash wild rice salad with cranberries and fennel
- Vegan lentil salad with roasted Brussels sprouts, grapes and mushrooms
- Acorn squash and Brussels sprout side dish
- Jerusalem artichoke and persimmon stuffing
- Plus get more Holiday ideas in the archives.
Rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon oil approx
- 8 oz smoked bacon 225g, streaky
- 1 onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 10 oz rutabaga 300g swede, 3 cups grated
- 4 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage chopped
- Β½ tablespoon fresh thyme chopped, or 1tsp dried
- 1 cup breadcrumbs approx 60g/2oz
- 3 Β½ oz dates 100g pitted weight, roughly chopped (medjool best)
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F/190C.
- Warm a little oil in a shallow pan over a medium heat and add the roughly chopped bacon. Cook for around 10min, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and it is just starting to brown.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook until starting to soften, around 5min, stirring occasionally.
- Add the rutabaga/swede and cook another 5min, stirring to allow all of the vegetables to soften and be coated in the bacon fat.
- Next add the chopped parsley, sage, thyme and a little salt and pepper, cook for another 5min and remove from the heat.
- Finally, add the breadcrumbs, dates, egg and maple syrup, stir well so everything is mixed through then transfer to a medium oven dish (approx 8x6in/20x15cm) and pack down gently.
- Roast in the oven around 40min until nicely browned on the top.
Video
Nutrition
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Remember to pin for later!
![This tasty rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is not your average dry, bread-heavy affair. It has a lovely mix of sweet and savory flavors, is juicy and rich, and the perfect accompaniment to a festive dinner. #stuffing #rutabaga #thanksgiving #christmas This tasty rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is not your average dry, bread-heavy affair. It has a lovely mix of sweet and savory flavors, is juicy and rich, and the perfect accompaniment to a festive dinner. #stuffing #rutabaga #thanksgiving #christmas](https://www.carolinescooking.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/rutabaga-date-and-bacon-stuffing-pin-2.jpg)
Melissa
I loved this recipe. Because I'm on the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), I left out the egg and used Pork Panko in place of breadcrumbs, and it was heavenly! Making it again later this week. This is my new favorite way to eat my rutabagas.
Caroline's Cooking
So glad to hear you enjoyed, this is one of our big favorites too!
Shelley
Hi
Can this be made in advance and frozen! If so, freeze baked or unbaked?
Thanks!
Caroline's Cooking
I often make it up the day before and place in the fridge overnight to bake the next day, which is another option. But if you prefer to make it further ahead, I think it should be fine to freeze at this point as well then defrost before baking. If frozen after baking, you would lose some of that crispness and it may dry a bit when re-heated.
Shelley
Question
Are fine dry bread crumbs used or fresh breadcrumbs? Canβt wait to try this!
Caroline's Cooking
So I generally use fresh breadcrumbs, but there's no reason this wouldn't work with dry as well. You may just need a bit less, since they typically pack together a bit closer. Hope you enjoy! It's one of our family favorites.
Shelley
I made this to test out before Thanksgiving. Over the top delicious! I donβt think Iβll be able to shareβ¦I want it ALL!
Caroline's Cooking
I'm so glad to hear! It's always one of our non-negotiable dishes each year, we all love it so much.
Jillian
This looks fabulous! A must try!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it's a firm favorite on our table!
Valentina
What a fabulous, unique stuffing. I think rutabaga is one of those vegetables that needs to be used more, and this is one delicious way! I'm trying this for sure.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, I agree it is a bit under-used and works so well here.
Shanika
Stuffing is one of the best dishes for the Holidays! This looks yummy!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, I agree - it's a must for us and we always have this one now!
Jere Cassidy
This sounds amazing for Thanksgiving. We hardly ever change the type of stuffing we make but I think this year we are going to make this one. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, I know what you mean, some things become fixed traditions but I do hope you give it a try - we love this one!
Annemarie
Such a great way to use rutabaga! This flavor combination sounds delicious.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it really is so tasty!
Chris Collins
I've seen so many different stuffing recipes in my time but this has to be one of the most delicious! Cannot wait to give this a go π
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it's a big favorite here - not as heavy on the bread but instead tons of delicious flavor.
Hilda
I make stuffing all year long, and will add this to my repertoire. I love the combination of ingredients you use - very different from any I have tried before. Thanks for posting.
Caroline's Cooking
I hope you enjoy it!
Tracy @ Scratch It
What a unique stuffing! I love it! I haven't had rutabega in forever and now I want some! Plus, bacon and dates? Yes, please! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday this week! π
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, Tracy, it is a tasty combination, definitely worth giving a try!