Easy Sausage Stuffing is a classic holiday side dish made with Italian sausage, bread cubes, and tons of fresh herbs. Each spoonful is flavorful, moist, and comforting — perfect for sharing with family and friends on Thanksgiving dinner or any other special occasion.
Sausage stuffing is a timeless recipe that’s been passed down through generations. It's an all-time favorite for holiday meals as the perfect accompaniment to your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham, but it's also a quick and delicious side dish for any time of year. It only takes 20 minutes to prepare, and the rest of the cooking time is done in the oven, completely hands-off. You can even prep it a day or two before for stress-free holiday entertaining.
Why You'll Love this Sausage Stuffing Recipe
- Classic flavor. Out of all the stuffing recipes out there, this sausage stuffing is one of the most beloved with its classic flavor profile. The ingredients work so well together to create a familiar and nostalgic taste that everyone loves. You can never go wrong with this recipe!
- Filling and comforting. There's something about the combination of Italian sausage, bread cubes, sautéed vegetables, and aromatic herbs that just screams comfort food. The bread cubes soak up the delicious flavor of the sausage, while the veggies and herbs add a touch of freshness that brings the whole dish together.
- Meal-prep ready. This sausage stuffing is one of the easiest recipes you can whip up for any gathering, and it only takes 20 minutes to prepare and an hour to bake. It can be prepped in advance for your big dinner or when you want to have leftovers for the week — just double or triple the recipe, store in smaller portions, and pop in the oven for a quick, comforting meal.
- Great for any occasion. Whether you're serving it as a side dish during Thanksgiving or as a main course on a cozy family dinner, this sausage stuffing is nothing short of delicious. It goes well with all kinds of entrées, from Roasted Turkey Breast and Roast Beef to Holiday Glazed Baked Ham and Chicken Milanese.
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Sausage Stuffing, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- dried bread cubes - you can use store-bought to lessen prep time, but if you’re making your own, you can use Italian bread, French bread, or sourdough. Make sure to bake them in the oven until they’re completely dry and crispy.
- butter - use unsalted for better flavor control.
- yellow onion - I usually use yellow onion, but you can opt for white.
- garlic - fresh is always better. You can also use ¾ teaspoon garlic powder if you don't have any fresh garlic on hand.
- celery - adds a slightly sweet herbal flavor and a nice color and texture.
- Italian sausage - use sweet or spicy, with casings removed. Feel free to use chicken sausage or pork.
- fresh herbs - use finely chopped herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage for a fresh, complex flavor.
- chicken broth - you can also use vegetable stock.
- egg - holds up the stuffing and keeps it moist.
- salt and pepper
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, large skillet, large mixing bowl, and a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
How to Make the Best Sausage Stuffing
- Sauté aromatics. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add onion, garlic, and celery and sauté until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
- Cook sausage. In the same skillet, add sausages and cook for 8-10 minutes until browned on all sides and cooked through. Break the sausages into small pieces using a spatula.
- Combine. In a large mixing bowl, add stuffing cubes, veggie mixture, and cooked sausage. Add thyme, rosemary, sage, chicken broth, egg, salt, and pepper to the bowl and toss well until evenly combined.
- Bake. Transfer the stuffing mixture into a 9x13-inch casserole dish and bake in a 350F preheated oven for 40-50 minutes until the top turns golden brown and crisp. Serve warm.
Recipe Variations
- Use plain sausage. While I prefer Italian sausage, you can also use plain chicken, pork, beef, or even turkey sausages. Just make sure to add some extra herbs and spices for more flavor.
- Add nuts or dried fruits. Try adding walnuts, pecans, cranberries, raisins, or even apricots for extra texture and flavor.
- Go vegetarian. Make a delicious stuffing even without the meat. Just use vegetarian sausage, mushrooms, nuts, dried fruits, and vegetable broth.
- Make it cheesy. Sprinkle some shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese on top before baking. Make sure to cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious Sausage Stuffing on its own for a quick, hearty meal or with classic Thanksgiving dishes like:
- Easy Juicy Roasted Turkey Breast
- Easy 2-Ingredient Turkey Gravy
- The Best and Creamiest Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce
- Green Bean Casserole
- Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms
Check out our Easy Thanksgiving Menu for more holiday recipes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Choose the right sausage. Opt for a mild or sweet Italian sausage to keep the flavors balanced and subtle. You can also use a hot variety for an extra kick of flavor.
- Use store-bought cubes. If you don’t have time to dry out your bread, look for unseasoned stuffing cubes in the grocery store.
- Use different types of bread. If you’re making stuffing cubes from scratch, mix and match different types of bread for tons of wonderful textures in your stuffing. Try cubing baguette, sourdough, French bread, or even plain white bread.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Store the sausage stuffing in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
How to Reheat
Reheat in an oven or air fryer at 350°F for 4-5 minutes, or until warm. You can also pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
How to Freeze
You can store leftover stuffing in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
More Stuffing Recipes
- 50 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Homemade Stuffing
- Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing
- Cranberry Walnut Apple Stuffing
- Roast Stuffed Chicken
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Recipe
Sausage Stuffing
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
Description
Easy Sausage Stuffing is a classic holiday side dish made with Italian sausage, bread cubes, and tons of fresh herbs. Each spoonful is flavorful, moist, and comforting — perfect for sharing with family and friends on Thanksgiving dinner or any other special occasion.
Ingredients
- 8 cups dried bread cubes (about 350 grams), homemade or store-bought
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 4 stalks celery, diced
- 1 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh sage
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 large egg, beaten
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add onion, garlic, and celery and sauté until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add stuffing cubes to a large mixing bowl. Add the veggie mixture and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add sausages and cook for 8-10 minutes until browned on all sides and cooked through. Break the sausages into small pieces using a spatula.
- Add the cooked sausage to the mixing bowl with bread cubes and vegetables.
- Add thyme, rosemary, sage, chicken broth, egg, salt, and pepper to the bowl and toss well until evenly combined.
- Transfer the stuffing mixture into a 9x13-inch casserole dish and bake for 40-50 minutes until the top turns golden brown and crisp.
- Serve warm with turkey if desired. You can store the stuffing in a large ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost and bake in the oven again until heated through.
Notes
How to store: Store the sausage stuffing in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
How to reheat: Reheat in an oven or air fryer at 350°F for 4-5 minutes, or until warm. You can also pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
How to freeze: You can store leftover stuffing in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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