Sweet Italian would be a good choice.
Even just a fresh sage country breakfast sausage would be good.
You have to cook it first and drain it.
Nobody but your Pop wants all that grease LoL
But onion,celery and carrot are the classic french mire poix.
I use the same seasonings as you with salt and black pepper of course.
I have been making it like this since i was about 5 years old.
Do you chop the carrots before putting in the stuffing?