• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • ALL RECIPES
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Pumpkin Recipes
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Self Proclaimed Foodie
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT ME
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT ME
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Thanksgiving

    Sausage Stuffing

    Published: November 22, 2021 · Updated: November 22, 2021 · By: Krissy · 13 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Homemade Sausage Stuffing is the very best Thanksgiving sausage dressing recipe you can make! Made with fresh bread and tons of flavor, it won't disappoint. It even tastes better when made the day before Thanksgiving, so do the prep work ahead of time!

    Sausage Stuffing for Thanksgiving

    Why this recipe works:

    I really should have called this recipe Sausage Dressing because that's what it is: a dressing side dish. I do not stuff my turkey with anything other than aromatics. Ever.

    • Delicious flavor: If you've never made dressing from a real loaf of bread and have only used a stuffing mix (which are basically croutons), you're in for a real treat. Fresh bread soaks up all the flavor from the sausage, broth, vegetables, and butter. Plus, who can deny how delicious homemade sausage is?
    • Amazing texture: This sausage stuffing is crispy on the top and bottom and soft in the middle. A little bit of each. Plus, if you like one more than the other, simply change the size of your pan for desired crispiness.
    • Make it ahead of time: I've been making my dressing and most of my other Thanksgiving sides the day before. Not only does that leave you with a clean kitchen on Thanksgiving day, but it gives the food even more time to develop flavor!

    Ingredients needed:

    Exact quantities are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

    • Breakfast sausage: You can save some time and buy it from the meat counter at the grocery store, or you can follow my personal recipe and make it from scratch.
    • Bread: My preference is to use an Italian rosemary round loaf. Trader Joe's sells a great one. It's nice and chewy on the outside.
    • Onions, celery, fresh herbs like parsley rosemary, thyme, and sage
    • Chicken stock: Use store bought or homemade broth
    • Butter
    • Egg: Helps bind everything together
    serving of sausage dressing

    How to make sausage stuffing:

    Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below, but here is a summary.

    1. Cut bread: Slice bread and then cut into cubes.
    2. Cook sausage: Mix sausage ingredients and cook until brown and crumbly.
    3. Sauté vegetables: Cook the onion and celery in the butter with the herbs on the stove. Add the chicken stock.
    4. Combine: Mix the egg with the parsley. Combine that with the cubed bread, cooked sausage, and the broth mixture.
    5. Bake: Spread the mixture into a greased baking dish and top with more butter. Bake with a cover and then remove the cover to allow it to crisp up.
    • sliced and cubed bread
      slice and cube bread
    • cooked breakfast sausage
      brown sausage with vegetables
    • egg and parsley
      mix egg and parsley
    • ingredients for homemade Sausage Stuffing
      toss all ingredients
    • sausage dressing before oven
      add to baking dish and dot with butter
    • thanksgiving Sausage Stuffing
      bake about an hour

    Make ahead directions:

    I always prepare this recipe the day before. Stuffing, or dressing rather, always tastes best when it has a day to sit and really absorb all the flavors before it gets cooked.

    To prepare ahead of time, follow directions up to the point where the stuffing goes into the oven. Instead, cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, simply extend covered cooking time by about 15 minutes to account for it being cold from the refrigerator. That's it!

    Crispy or mushy stuffing?

    That is the true question.

    If you're feeding a split crowd, the crispy fans can eat the top and the mushy fans can eat the center.

    But, if your entire crew likes stuffing one way or another, you can simply control the mushiness or crispness simply by the size and type of pan.

    If you like it crispy, use a large pan, use extra butter when greasing the sides, and cast iron will give a better outer crunch than glass or ceramic. Likewise, use a smaller deeper dish if you like it mushy.

    You know this Sausage Dressing will go great with Oven Roasted Turkey, Savory Herb Turkey Gravy, and Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes!

    homemade Sausage Stuffing

    If you’ve made this or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. I love hearing from my readers!

    You can also follow along on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes to satisfy any foodie craving!

    Sausage Stuffing

    Homemade Sausage Stuffing is the very best Thanksgiving sausage dressing recipe you can make! Made with fresh bread and tons of flavor, it won't disappoint.
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
    Scale: 12 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    Sausage:

    • 1 pound ground pork
    • 1 tablespoon sage (dried or minced fresh)
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground )
    • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes ( or more if you like heat)
    • ¼ teaspoon marjoram ( fresh if you have it)
    • 1 pinch ground cloves

    Stuffing:

    • ½ cup unsalted butter ( plus 2 tablespoons, divided)
    • 2 cups yellow onion (diced (1 large onion))
    • 2 cups celery (diced (about 8 small stalks))
    • 4 tablespoons fresh minced herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme)
    • 3 cups chicken stock (or turkey if you have it)
    • 1 large egg (beaten)
    • ¼ cup parsley (minced)
    • 16 ounces bread (1 loaf, look for a rosemary round, cut into 1-inch cubes)

    Instructions

    To Make the Sausage:

    • In medium sized bowl, thoroughly combine all sausage ingredients. Its easiest if you use your hands to mix.
    • Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook until brown and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool.
      cooked breakfast sausage

    To Make the Stuffing:

    • Melt ½ cup (1 stick) butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, and minced herbs (not the parsley). Stir to coat in the melted butter and then saute until they start to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes.
    • Add broth to skillet and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and set aside. Allow to cool enough that mixture is cool to the touch.
    • Meanwhile, beat egg with ¼ cup chopped parsley in a large bowl; add cubed bread and toss to coat. Pour the cooked sausage and cooled broth mixture over the bread and toss.
      ingredients for homemade Sausage Stuffing
    • Transfer to a buttered baking dish and dot with remaining two tablespoons of butter.
      sausage dressing before oven
    • Cover and bake 30 minutes at 375°F. Uncover and bake until golden; about 30 more minutes.
      thanksgiving Sausage Stuffing

    Notes

    • If you like crispy sausage stuffing, cook in a larger baking dish. If you like it mushy, you can use a smaller deep baking dish.
    • Although I call this stuffing, it is baked and served as a dressing. I don't actually stuff my turkey.

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 520mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 459IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg
    SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTERSign up to have my recipes emailed to you. Free!

    This recipe was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated with helpful information as well as recipe tips. Don't worry - the recipe hasn't changed!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni

      November 22, 2022 at 6:09 pm

      How do you make ahead for thanksgiving? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 27, 2022 at 8:08 am

        Sorry for the late reply! I know it's too late now, but hopefully this will help someone else. You can prepare the stuffing all the way up to the point where you put it in the oven and refrigerate until you're ready to bake.

        Reply
    2. Krista

      November 21, 2022 at 1:47 pm

      Can this be made ahead of time?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 27, 2022 at 8:09 am

        Yes! Just prepare and refrigerate until you're ready to bake. Apologies for the delay in response!

        Reply
    3. Robin Cecil

      November 18, 2022 at 1:43 pm

      Can also add a few slashes of bacon. Cut up and fry with the sausage and celery and onion. My grandma did that!!

      Reply
    4. Nicolette

      November 13, 2022 at 7:02 am

      I want to make this ahead of time for Thanksgiving. Do you think it will taste fine if I freeze it for 1 week? Would I bake it before freezing?

      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 27, 2022 at 8:13 am

        I'm way behind on my comments - I'm so sorry for the delay! Did you try this? I think it would work.

        Reply
    5. Sara Welch

      November 06, 2019 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      Such a robust stuffing! This will be PERFECT on Thanksgiving this year; looking forward to gibing this a try!

      Reply
    6. Elaine Nessman

      November 06, 2019 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      I'm with you on not stuffing the turkey with bread stuffing! So much better cooked outside the bird. Love this recipe of yours! PS: I'm on Team Crispy!

      Reply
    7. Jamie

      November 06, 2019 at 5:03 pm

      5 stars
      We loved the addition of sage and red pepper flakes! Everyone loved this and had seconds!

      Reply
    8. Gavin

      November 06, 2019 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      Just in time for my Christmas menu planning!! Tried this with some chicken as a trial run - winner winner chicken dinner

      Reply
    9. Patty

      November 06, 2019 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe! Seriously good because of the flavor from the sausage, and I totally agree with you on not stuffing the turkey with it!!

      Reply
    10. Haley

      October 23, 2019 at 9:10 am

      5 stars
      It's amazing! Will try as soon as possible.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Krissy

    A close up of a woman

    I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make. more about me...

    SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter

    Valentine's Favorites

    • Absolutely Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    • Broiled Lobster Tail
    • Heart Beet Pancakes
    online publications that have featured self proclaimed foodie

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Salmon Patties (Salmon Cakes)
    • Granny's Monkey Bread Recipe
    • Perfect Prime Rib Roast
    • Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Country Sausage Gravy
    • Absolutely Perfect Filet Mignon
    • Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce {Easy 4 Ingredient Recipe + Video}
    • Granny's Classic Meatloaf Recipe

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Check Out Ten Acre Baker

    Meet Krissy

    Social

    Pinterest

    Facebook

    Instagram

    You Tube

    Sign Up for free emails

    Recipes

    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
    • Appetizers

    Self Proclaimed Foodie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 SELF PROCLAIMED FOODIE®