Sausage Herb Stuffing

Sausage Herb Stuffing will show up the traditional dish at your holiday table, with loads of ground sausage, fresh herbs like sage and rosemary, and the perfect balance of soft bread cubes and a crispy top! Learn how easy it is to make the best and most classic Thanksgiving and Christmas side dish, completely from scratch.

Traditional Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, this broth-soaked bread cube casserole is one of the BEST and most iconic Thanksgiving side dishes!

It’s full of fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme, baked in the oven until still moist but crisp, and tastes phenomenal alongside that juicy turkey and creamy gravy.

While some prefer it sans meat, the addition of crumbled sausage makes it even more hearty and delicious.

(And if you prefer your stuffing made from cornbread, check out this Southern Cornbread Sausage Dressing!)

We’ll be going over all of the nitty-gritty details of how to make this dish completely from scratch, but you’ll also learn a few shortcuts if you’d prefer to save a little time making the best Thanksgiving stuffing.

Also, this stuffing recipe can easily be made gluten-free, so make sure you don’t miss that tip!

Ingredients

The simple ingredients to make this easy sausage stuffing recipe.

•  Bread. There are a few options you can choose from. Baguette is what was used when testing this recipe.  It has a nice crust and soft middle giving the finished stuffing a delightful crisp. White bread is easy to find. It will come out a little bit mushier, but it does come together into a cohesive dish easily. Challah bread is a little on the sweet side but forms a great bread pudding-like texture. “French” bread can be used, but it has a tendency to turn into mush after baking. Grab a bag of bread cubes from the grocery store, they are the easiest to use since they are already dried out and prepared.
• Ground sausage. There are a ton of different types of sausage you can use when making stuffing. The type you use depends on whether you want the dish to have a bit of a spicy kick or be more on the mild side. You can choose ground Italian-style spicy sausage, ground Italian-style mild sausage, ground breakfast sausage, or Andouille sausage links (more of a Cajun flair!)
• Broth. Chicken or vegetable broth can be used. If using a low-sodium broth, make sure to adjust the amount of salt you use. For a richer taste, you can go with chicken stock if you prefer.
• Fresh Herbs. Sage, rosemary, and thyme are all used to give this dish tons of herbal flavor.  If using dried herbs, use 1 teaspoon of dried for every 1 tablespoon of fresh called for in the recipe.
• Veggies. Both onion and celery add so much flavor to this sausage stuffing dish. Be sure to dice the onion and celery into small pieces.
• Garlic. Don’t skip the fresh minced garlic if you’re looking for maximum flavor.
• Eggs. A couple of eggs are used to bind the bread cubes together.

How to Make Sausage Stuffing

Below are the steps to make the best sausage stuffing at home:

Cut the Bread Cubes

It’s best if you can cut your bread into similarly sized ½-inch cubes.  Too much larger and they won’t stick together and form a casserole, too much smaller and they’ll become smooshy instead of pudding-like.

Cut your loaf of bread into slices using a serrated bread knife.  (If it’s not already.) Then, cut each slice of bread into ½-inch cubes.

Dry Out the Bread 

Whether you’re in a time-crunch or you’re planning ahead, there are two different ways you can dry out bread for stuffing.

• On Counter:  Place bread cubes on a large baking sheet and let sit at room temperature for 24-48 hours. This is the most traditional way to dry out bread but does take a bit of foresight.
• Bake in Oven:  Place bread cubes on one or two large baking sheets and spread out until they’re almost in a single layer. Bake in a preheated 275°F oven for 40 minutes, tossing halfway through. The cubes should be dried out but not as hard as a crouton. Let cool completely before using in the stuffing recipe.

Cook the Veggies and Meat

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Once your bread cubes are dried out, it’s time to get to stuffing making! The process is relatively simple and consists of the following steps.

Add the butter or oil along with the onion, celery, minced garlic, and ½-teaspoon salt to a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat.

Sauté for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the veggies are tender. 

Push the sautéed onions and celery to the side of the skillet. Drop in the ground sausage and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Be sure to crumble sausage into small pieces with a potato masher. Stir the veggies into the sausage mixture.

Whisk the Eggs and Broth

Add the eggs, herbs, paprika, 1 cup of the chicken broth, and the remaining salt and black pepper to a medium-sized bowl. Use a whisk to thoroughly mix everything together. 

Pour the dry bread cubes into an extra-large mixing bowl. Trust me, you want some space to stir everything together. Carefully drizzle the egg mixture over the bread. Use a large wooden spoon to stir the eggs into the bread.

Add the Sausage and Veggies

Stir the sautéed veggies and cooked sausage into the bread and egg mixture. Thoroughly toss to ensure everything is mixed well.

Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish a with non-stick cooking spray, then add the stuffing mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Then, pour 2 more cups of broth over the entire dish.

Bake in the Oven

Cover the stuffing mix with a sheet of aluminum foil. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Then, remove the foil. Check to see if the stuffing needs any more broth. If it’s looking dried out, pour another ½- to 1-cup of broth over the bread.

Bake for another 20 to 30 minutes uncovered. It will be golden brown on top.

Cook’s Tip: To get the top extra crispy, brush with 2 tablespoons of butter and broil for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Meal Prep and Storage

• How to prep ahead. You can make this sausage stuffing up to 2 days in advance. To do this, simply follow all of the directions until you would pour the 2 cups of broth over the bread cubes. Stop at this point and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
• How to store: Keep leftover stuffing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3- 4 days.
• How to freeze: You can easily freeze this stuffing for up to 3 to 4 months. Just be sure it’s tightly covered in a freezer-safe container.
• How to reheat: Pull the stuffing out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour in advance so it can come to room temperature before baking. Then, reheat in a 250°F degree oven to avoid drying out.

What is sausage stuffing made of?

Traditionally, sausage stuffing is made with ground sausage, dried bread cubes, veggies, and herbs held together with an egg-broth base. This dish is perfect for Thanksgiving Day or Christmas dinner.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs?

Stuffing is much better WITH eggs. Eggs are used to bind the bread cubes together with the meat, veggies, and herbs.

Can you freeze sausage stuffing?

You can definitely freeze sausage stuffing! In fact, it freezes exceptionally well, so feel free to make it ahead of time.

Can you make sausage stuffing ahead of time?

This sausage herb stuffing recipe is perfect to make ahead of time. ​Follow the instructions, then cover and place in the fridge just before baking for the best results.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• You choose. Just about any kind of sausage will work for this dish—pick your favorite type.
• Go fresh. If possible, avoid dry herbs and stick with fresh options for the best flavor.
• Cover it up. Be sure to completely top the stuffing with foil before baking.
• Add some more. Check the stuffing after removing the foil to see if it’s dry and needs additional broth.
• Make it early. Save time on a stressful cooking day by making this two days in advance.

More Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Turkey Day wouldn’t be complete without these other side dish recipes! Sides might be the best part of Thanksgiving Dinner, and the holiday season in general.

You’ve got to have a classic side dish like Green Bean Casserole from Scratch and Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans.

You can also whip up a family favorite like Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, and Orange Cranberry Sauce to round out the meal. And don’t miss out on Mashed Butternut Squash.