This sausage stuffing is a savory blend of Italian sausage, bread, vegetables and herbs, all baked to golden brown perfection. The perfect hearty side dish for your holiday meal.
Stuffing is a must have on my holiday table, I typically make either a cornbread version or this sausage stuffing which always gets rave reviews. You can even make this stuffing in advance and then bake it when you’re ready to eat!
Turkey is great and all, but I really come to Thanksgiving for all of the fabulous side dishes. This sausage stuffing is one of my favorites – I have to admit, I always go back for seconds!
How do you make sausage stuffing?
The first step is to cook up your sausage until it’s browned. The celery and onions go into the pan along with some butter, and everything is cooked until tender. The sausage and veggies get tossed with bread cubes, chicken broth, eggs and herbs, then the stuffing goes into the oven to bake.
What is the best sausage to use for stuffing?
I like to use mild Italian sausage for this stuffing. You can use turkey or pork based sausage, I typically use turkey because it cooks up with less grease. If you like a little heat, feel free to use a spicy sausage. You can also use breakfast sausage if you prefer. Regardless of the type of sausage you use, you’ll want to remove it from the casings or buy bulk sausage.
Tips for Sausage Stuffing
- You can use pre-prepared unseasoned stuffing cubes, or make your own stuffing cubes by cutting your favorite variety of bread into pieces and leaving it out overnight to get stale.
- Sausage stuffing can be assembled up to 8 hours in advance, then covered and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it.
- If the top of the stuffing starts to brown too quickly in the oven, you can cover the dish with foil until the stuffing is completely cooked through.
Sausage Stuffing Variations
- Sausage Apple Stuffing: Add 2 diced apples when you cook the celery and onions.
- Sausage and Cranberry Stuffing: Add 1/2 cup dried cranberries to the recipe.
- Sausage and Mushroom Stuffing: Add 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms when you cook the celery and onions.
- Sourdough Sausage Stuffing: Use cubed sourdough bread.
Everyone always goes crazy for sausage stuffing, it’s one of the first dishes to disappear at Thanksgiving! That combination of crispy buttery bread, savory sausage and tender veggies just can’t be beat.
More amazing holiday recipes
Sausage Stuffing
Ingredients
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage casings removed
- 1/2 cup butter divided use
- 1 cup onion finely diced
- 1 cup celery sliced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 8 cups stale bread cubes can use store bought unseasoned stuffing cubes, or bread you cut yourself
- 2 3/4 cups chicken broth
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves minced
- 1/4 cup parsley leaves minced, plus more for garnish
- salt and pepper to taste
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9" x 13" pan with cooking spray.
- Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for 5-6 minutes or until done, breaking up the meat with a spatula.
- Add the remaining 7 tablespoons of butter, onion and celery to the pan. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl. Add the sausage mixture, chicken broth, eggs, sage, parsley and salt and pepper to the bowl.
- Gently stir until everything is well combined. Pour the stuffing into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 60 minutes. If the top starts to get overly browned before the cooking time is over, then cover the pan with foil.
- Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with additional parsley, then serve.
Princess Consuella says
This is my new favourite stuffing! Even people that don’t usually like stuffing had seconds! I used store bought croutons instead of stale bread and it worked great.
Judie says
Can you make the stuffing without eggs ?
Sara says
I haven’t tried it this way, I think the flavor would still be good but the texture will be more crumbly without eggs as a binder.
Tabatha Adkins says
does making it ahead of time before cooking it make it soggy?
Sara says
It will have a softer texture but the outside will still get crispy in the oven!
Deb says
It’s so good I make it as a main course and serve it with a Caesar salad!
Lisa says
We don’t eat stuffing in Italy, but I wish we did! I love the look of this recipe and it seems so easy to make too. Definitely drooling here!
NAti says
This recipe sounds like everything I love! I find it super original and I need to try it asap!
Francesca Jacklin says
I love stuffing and this one looks really good. We’re having a house party for friends in November and cooking an early Christmas dinner so I’ll give this recipe a try.
Surekha Busa says
This dish is absolutely delicious, I will try to make this at home and I am sure my husband will def like it.
Jasmine Hewitt says
i would love to try this at home! we eat sausage fairly often but never homemade, always stroe bought
Jess Scull says
Stuffing is my all time fave! I will definitely give your recipe a try!
eli says
Yum this looks really good. I never considered making stuffing with sausage but this recipe looks yummy!
Catherine Santiago Jose says
This sausage stuffing recipe looks really delicious and looks so easy to make. I will definitely make this for my family and I am sure they will like it.
Lyosha says
Looks delicious! I used to love sausages when I was little, haven’t eaten for ages. You just made want to plan them next week,
Monidipa Dutta says
So yummy! I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! I’ll have to try them!
Katie says
This looks so yummy! We love making a version of this for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s a family tradition!
Alexandra says
Sounds absolutely scrumptious! I love stuffing – and I like your ideas for this recipe.
Thank you for sharing – I will be making this for sure!
Alex xx || itsnotcomplicatedrecipes.com
Terri Steffes says
Going on my Thanksgiving list! I love sausage in the stuffing! Yummy!
Sydney | A World in Reach says
Stuffing is definitely my favorite holiday food. I usually make cornbread stuffing but this looks awesome! I might have to try it out for my upcoming Friendsgiving party!
Chad says
These stuffing ideas! ok i officially love you! Thank you so so much, these are great! Can’t wait to try them…
Stacie says
I’ll have to give this a try this Thanksgiving. I’m always up for a new recipe, especially stuffing. I LOVE stuffing.