Best Homemade Sausage Stuffing Recipe

The Best Homemade Sausage Stuffing Recipe

This classic sausage stuffing is a comforting and flavorful side dish that’s perfect for any holiday gathering or cozy Sunday dinner. Packed with savory sausage, tender vegetables, and aromatic herbs, it boasts a delightful balance of soft and crispy textures. It’s the kind of dish that truly makes a meal feel special.

Imagine a golden-brown topping giving way to a moist, rich interior, each bite infused with the wonderful flavors of sage and thyme.

Recipe Details

• Flavor Profile: Savory, herbaceous, rich, aromatic
• Texture Profile: Tender bread cubes moistened with broth, tender vegetables, crispy golden-brown top layer
• Total Active Time: Approximately 30 minutes
• Baking Time: 45 to 50 minutes
• Difficulty Level: Easy, perfect for home cooks of all skill levels

What You’ll Need

This recipe centers around delicious crumbled sausage, a generous amount of dried bread cubes to soak up all the wonderful flavors, and a savory sautéed vegetable and herb base. The broth and eggs bring everything together into a cohesive and comforting dish.

Ingredient Notes

• Sausage: Using mild or sage turkey Italian sausage provides a fantastic savory foundation. You can also opt for beef sausage if preferred. Ensure the casings are removed before cooking.
• Bread Cubes: Day-old white or sourdough bread cubes are ideal, as they have a slight dryness that allows them to absorb the liquid beautifully without becoming mushy.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is key for sautéing the vegetables and adds richness to the stuffing.
• Broth: Low-sodium chicken broth allows you to control the saltiness of the finished dish.
• Fresh Herbs: Fresh sage and thyme offer a vibrant, aromatic depth that dried herbs just can’t replicate.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Vegetables: Feel free to add other finely diced vegetables like carrots or parsnips along with the onions and celery for extra flavor and color.
• Nuts: For a delightful crunch, consider adding toasted chopped pecans or walnuts during the mixing stage.
• Fruit: Dried cranberries or chopped apples can add a touch of sweetness and tartness that beautifully complements the savory sausage.

How to Make Best Homemade Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Gather your ingredients and get ready to create a truly unforgettable stuffing!

1. Prep Your Baking Dish and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet, brown the sausage, breaking it up into small crumbles as it cooks. Once browned, transfer the cooked sausage to a large mixing bowl.
3. Add Bread Cubes: Add the 10 cups of dried bread cubes to the bowl with the browned sausage.
4. Sauté Vegetables and Herbs: Melt the butter in the same skillet you used for the sausage. Add the finely diced yellow onions and celery, and cook until they are tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, chopped fresh sage, and chopped fresh thyme, and cook for one additional minute until fragrant.
   • Pro Tip: Cooking the garlic and herbs for just a minute at the end prevents them from burning and ensures their lovely aroma is preserved.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour the cooked vegetable and herb mixture over the bread cubes and sausage in the large bowl.
6. Create the Custard Mixture: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the low-sodium chicken broth, beaten eggs, salt, and black pepper.
7. Moisten the Stuffing: Pour the broth and egg mixture over the ingredients in the large bowl. Gently mix everything together until the bread cubes are just moistened. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the stuffing dense.
8. Bake the Stuffing: Transfer the moistened stuffing mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
9. Initial Bake: Place the covered dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
10. Crisp the Top: Carefully remove the aluminum foil. Continue baking for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the top of the stuffing is beautifully golden brown and delightfully crisp.

Recipe Tips

• Bread Choice Matters: Using slightly stale bread ensures your stuffing has the perfect texture, not too soggy and not too dry. If your bread is fresh, you can toast it lightly in the oven before cubing.
• Don’t Overmix: Gently combine the ingredients to avoid compacting the bread cubes, which can lead to a dense rather than fluffy stuffing.
• Achieve the Golden Crisp: The final uncovered baking stage is crucial for developing that irresistible golden-brown, crispy top layer. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
• Even Cooking: Ensure your vegetables are diced uniformly for even cooking and a better distribution of flavor throughout the stuffing.

FAQs

• Can I use fresh bread instead of dried? While dried bread is ideal, if you only have fresh bread, you can cut it into cubes and spread them on a baking sheet to air dry for a few hours, or toast them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for about 10-15 minutes until lightly crisp.
• How do I prevent my stuffing from being dry? Make sure to distribute the broth mixture evenly and don’t overbake. The initial covered baking period helps steam and moisten the stuffing, while the final uncovered period adds crispness.
• Can I make this recipe ahead of time? Yes, you can assemble the stuffing (up to the point of baking) a day in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator and add a little extra broth before baking if it seems dry.

Serving Suggestions

This homemade sausage stuffing is a truly versatile side dish. It’s wonderful served alongside roasted turkey, chicken, or a hearty beef roast. It also pairs beautifully with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole for a complete holiday feast.

Make This Recipe in Advance

You can prepare the stuffing mixture up to 24 hours in advance. Combine all the ingredients (except for the final baking step) in your baking dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, allow it to sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before following the baking instructions. If the mixture seems a little dry after refrigeration, you can add a splash more chicken broth before baking.

Best Homemade Sausage Stuffing Recipe

---

• Total Time: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8-10 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

This homemade sausage stuffing recipe is pure comfort in a dish, bursting with savory sausage, tender vegetables, and aromatic herbs all baked into a wonderfully textured casserole. It’s the perfect side dish to elevate any meal, bringing warmth and deliciousness to your table.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

1 lb mild or sage turkey Italian sausage (or beef sausage), casings removed
10 cups dried bread cubes (white or sourdough)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, finely diced
4 stalks celery, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste

---

Instructions

First, preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Brown the sausage in a skillet, crumbling it as it cooks, then add it to a big bowl with the dried bread cubes. Melt the butter in the same skillet, then cook the onions and celery until tender, adding the garlic, sage, and thyme for the last minute. Pour this lovely vegetable and herb mixture over the bread and sausage. Whisk together the chicken broth, eggs, salt, and pepper, then pour it over the stuffing ingredients and gently mix until the bread is moistened. Finally, transfer the stuffing to your prepared baking dish, cover it with foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15 to 20 minutes, or until the top is beautifully golden and delightfully crisp.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
• Category: Side Dish
• Cuisine: American