This Thanksgiving Stuffing with Bacon is the perfect side dish and will quickly become a Thanksgiving tradition! The secret is frying the bacon first so you can cook the veggies in the bacon grease.
Is Bacon Good in Stuffing?
Yes! It gives the stuffing so much flavor! You have to put this Bacon Stuffing on your Thanksgiving menu this year. It is unbelievably good! Forget about the stuff you buy in the box – this should be a new holiday tradition. I have used sausage in dressings and stuffings before but this is the first time I’ve tried bacon. It took me about 30 minutes to prep and then it went right in the oven. It made the whole house smell incredible. If you like to stuff your Thanksgiving turkey with stuffing, this is the perfect stuffing to use! The bacon will add so much flavor to your turkey!
What kind of bread is best for stuffing?
You can use pre-made bread cubes, but fresh french bread just tastes so good — and you can get it really cheap at the grocery store. It only took me a few minutes to cube it myself. What makes this recipe so flavorful is sautéing the celery and onions in the leftover bacon grease, so make sure you don’t throw it away. If you are crunched for time on Thanksgiving Day, you can make this the night before. Cover the cooled dressing with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. You can also store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Recipe Tip – Make the Bacon Ahead
A tip from their family is to prepare the bacon ahead of time and freeze it until ready to add to the stuffing, but make sure to save some bacon grease for sautéing the vegetables. You can fry the bacon or bake it in the oven. Spread a sheet of tin foil over a cookie sheet and add the slices of bacon. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Let the bacon cool, and place it in a resealable freezer bag.
A big thanks to Katelyn Walker, Emily’s sister-in-law, for this recipe. It is a family recipe handed down to her from her Grandma Jolly.
If you are serving anyone with a gluten allergy for Thanksgiving dinner, we also have a Gluten-Free Stuffing recipe that is delicious. Be sure to see more of our favorite Thanksgiving Recipes including appetizers, salads, more side dishes, and, of course, turkey and gravy.
How to Make Thanksgiving Stuffing with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread
- 1 lb bacon
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tsp sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Cut the french bread into 1-inch cubes and put in a large bowl.
- Cut the bacon into small pieces and cook in a skillet.
- Drain the bacon, but DO NOT throw away the grease. Add the bacon to the bread pieces.
- Saute the celery and onions in the leftover bacon grease. Drain excess grease. Mix into the bacon and bread.
- In the large bowl, add sage, salt and pepper.
- Add 1-2 cups of chicken broth, depending on how moist you like the stuffing.
- Stir until well combined.
- Pour into a greased 9x13 dish and bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 20 minutes.
Equipment
- Skillet
- Casserole dish
Patricia says
Our family has done our Thanksgiving stuffing for 4 generations with bacon. We also add black olives to it. I have used toasted white and wheat bread as well as seasoned bread crumbs. Cornbread is another option, but I prefer the bread. It is always a hit.
Kate says
Always on the lookout for new stuffing recipes and this one is superb! Thanks so much.
Dannii says
Everything is better with bacon. I never thought to add it to stuffing, what what a great idea.
Michelle says
Why have I never thought of this before?! Bacon in stuffing is brilliant
Adrianne says
Bacon is seriously the best thing ever and I love the sound of this bacon stuffing with a little sage! The ingredients all seem really simple which is great!! I can’t wait to try your recipe! Thanks
Krissy Allori says
This was so good and so easy to make. I’ll be making it again for Thanksgiving this year.
Kim says
Ladies, you have outdone yourselves! This looks delicious!
Julie Blanner says
Bacon in stuffing? Yes please! This looks so delicious and flavorful. Can’t wait for Thanksgiving now.
Trang says
Whoa. I have never thought of a bacon stuffing until this recipe. This is gonna be a Thanksgiving hit!
Melissa says
You had me at bacon! So many great flavors – can’t wait to make it again!
Rebecca Firth says
I need to make this the night before. Do I complete the full cooking before cooling and refrigerating or do I complete prep up to #8 (blend ingredients), refrigerate and cook the next day? Thank you for your time.
Favorite Family Recipes says
I would combine everything except the chicken broth and refrigerate it overnight. Add the chicken broth right before you put it in the oven the next day. Hope this helps!
Rebecca Firth says
Thank you!
Claudia says
This is my first time hosting Thanksgiving and I’m excited to try this recipe! I have one question that may be a little silly: do you put the stuffing already made inside the turkey when cooking the turkey? If so, do you cook the bacon completely or do you cook it half way and let it cook completely on e inside the turkey?
Favorite Family Recipes says
In my experience you want to prepare the stuffing completely before putting it inside the turkey. Since it will be covered by the turkey the bacon shouldn’t burn or anything, so cook it all the way before.
Amber B says
Can you use seasoned dried bread cubes? Would I add more broth?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I haven’t used dried bread cubes with this recipe before, so I am not sure. Sorry!
Noemmi says
How many does this serve?
Favorite Family Recipes says
It serves about 6-8 as a side dish.
Andrea Metlika says
We could eat this year round. It goes perfect with any meat.
Karen Howard says
Bacon Stuffing? And Maple Bacon Monkey Bread? I’m In!
Liz says
Yum – thank you.