Sausage Stuffing

5 from 23 votes
60 Comments

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Sausage Stuffing has every festive flavor of Thanksgiving baked into one savory, sweet, and very satisfying dish. You’ll love the cranberries, apples, sausage, and fresh herbs in each bite.

Cranberry sausage stuffing in a white bowl.
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients for Sausage Stuffing
  2. Substitutions and Additions to Sausage Stuffing
  3. How to Toast the Bread for Sausage Stuffing
  4. Make Sausage Stuffing Ahead of Time
  5. More Delicious Stuffing Recipes
  6. Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  7. Frequently Asked Questions
  8. How to Make Sausage Stuffing
  9. Sausage Stuffing Recipe

This is the best sausage stuffing recipe for a Thanksgiving turkey. In fact, I would say it is the best stuffing recipe of all stuffing recipes. The recipe is a basic herb stuffing enhanced by the flavor of sausage. It’s loaded with all the textures and flavors that make Thanksgiving a favorite fall meal.

My very favorite thing about this stuffing is the little sweet surprises baked within. Dried cranberries and crisp, Golden Delicious apple chunks lighten the savory sausage and herbs flavors beautifully. It’s really a meal all on its own.

Ingredients for Sausage Stuffing

Thanksgiving without stuffing is like Christmas without cocoa! This Cranberry Sausage Stuffing is the perfect dish to serve alongside a plump, juicy bird and all the fixings. Oven-baked bread cubes, succulent sausage, and a hint of sweet cranberries and apples make this a treat your guests will ask for again and again.

  • Bread loaf – Day-old bread is the best! It has a crunchy outer layer and soft inside. We used both whole wheat and white bread cubed.
  • Sage pork sausage – We love Bob Evans brand. It already has the flavor in the premium pork and has the best protein percentage. Jimmy Dean also a sage sausage as well. Italian sausage can be used, but we love the extra sage flavoring in sage sausage.
  • Vegetables – Chop your onion and celery stalks the same size to help cook it evenly.
  • Seasonings – Combine together fresh sage leaves, fresh chopped rosemary, flat-leaf parsley, and fresh thyme – dried or freshly chopped seasonings work well.
  • Golden Delicious apple – Core and chop an apple to add to the pan.
  • Cranberries – Dried cranberries or craisins add in a sweet and soft texture to the stuffing.
  • Unsalted butter – Melt in the microwave for the stuffing mixture.
  • Turkey stock – Adds in moisture and helps bring flavor when stirred together.
  • Nuts – Almonds or walnuts or any kind of nut, need to be chopped in a food processor.
  • Salt and black pepper – Add to taste!
Sausage, cranberries, parsley, apples, bread cubes, and spices in a bowl.


Substitutions and Additions to Sausage Stuffing

  • Bread Varieties – Pick your favorite bread that is in your home. French bread, Italian bread, sourdough bread, brioche, or challah bread. These are all high-quality breads that are crunchy and add flavor to the stuffing.
  • Apple varieties – We like using golden delicious apples but you can also use Fuji, pink lady, Jonagold, or even Granny Smith apples.
  • Egg – Try adding and egg to the mix, eggs are binding and can hold the stuffing together nicely.
  • Chicken broth – Chicken broth is a great liquid to substitute for turkey stock.
  • Mushrooms – Add some sautéed mushrooms to the stuffing for another flavor profile
  • Garlic – Roast up some garlic cloves, mash them, and add it to the stuffing for a brighter, more garlic-y flavor.

How to Toast the Bread for Sausage Stuffing

In my mind, there’s nothing worse than soggy, flavorless bread stuffing. This sausage stuffing is gloriously golden brown with just the right amount of flavor and texture. The secret? Toast the bread cubes in the oven for a little bit!

This will give your bread a crispy outer crust with a tender inside and allows the herbs and flavors to adhere to the bread pieces. It is so delicious and never soggy!

The method is so easy, and it is cheaper than buying bread cubes that have already been dried. All you have to do is cut bread into cubes. I like to use a combination of white and wheat bread. Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake 5-7 minutes at 350-degrees or until evenly toasted. That’s it!

“Absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to make this again this year!?”

-Gina

Make Sausage Stuffing Ahead of Time

This stuffing is one of a kind and the best holiday side dish! It is perfect to make ahead and you can prepare the stuffing in a baking dish. Place all the ingredients into a casserole or baking dish. Wrap with plastic wrap or cover with foil and store in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Once you are ready to bake, let thaw to room temperature, then bake. 

More Delicious Stuffing Recipes

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

We have loads of Thanksgiving side dishes like this cranberry sausage stuffing. Here are some of out favorites:

Read Next: 25+ Thanksgiving Appetizers

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does sausage stuffing stay good in the refrigerator?

This Sausage Stuffing recipe serves a huge crowd! So you could either cut the recipe in half if you’re hosting a smaller gathering, or keep those delicious leftovers in the fridge. Use it the next day to make Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole or Pilgrim Sandwiches. So yummy!

What kind of sausage is best for sausage stuffing?

It all boils down to personal preference, but we love using a sage sausage (Bob Evans brand is delicious). But you could use regular breakfast sausage, Italian sweet sausage, or a spicy sausage. Beef, pork, turkey, or chicken sausages are all delicious options.

Is cranberry sausage stuffing gluten free?

This recipe uses regular white and wheat bread, so therefore, not gluten-free. However, we have an absolutely delicious Gluten Free Stuffing that your whole family will love! Low calorie, but so high in festive flavors. Try this Bacon Stuffing too!

What makes stuffing taste better?

Seasoning always helps add flavor as well as more flavors in the sausage and other ingredients. When using fresh or dried herbs make sure to add more to the fresh ingredients. Dried herbs have a 1 to 3 ratio to fresh herbs.

How to Make Sausage Stuffing

Cranberry sausage stuffing in a white bowl

Sausage Stuffing

5 from 23 votes
This Sausage Stuffing has every festive flavor of Thanksgiving baked into one savory, sweet, and very satisfying dish. Loaded with cranberries, apples, sausage, and herbs, this stuffing is a perfect complement to turkey!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 16

Video

Ingredients

  • 3 cups whole wheat bread (cubed)
  • 8 cups white bread (cubed)
  • 2 pounds sage sausage (Bob Evans brand works great)
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 2 cups chopped celery
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon dried sage
  • 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 golden delicious apple (cored and chopped)
  • 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries (Craisins work great!)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 2/3 cups turkey stock (chicken stock works great too!)
  • 1/2 cup butter (melted)
  • 1 cup slivered almonds or walnuts or any kind of nuts, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  • Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake 5-7 minutes at 350-degrees or until evenly toasted. Transfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl.
    Bread cubes on a sheet pan
  • In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onion over medium heat, stirring until evenly browned. Stir in the celery, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes.
    Sausage, onion, celery, and spices in a skillet
  • Pour sausage mixture over bread in bowl. Mix in apples, cranberries, parsley and almonds (optional). Drizzle with turkey stock and melted butter and toss until evenly coated.
    Sausage, cranberries, parsley, apples, bread cubes, and spices in a bowl
  • Spoon into two 9×13 baking dishes and cook, covered for 40 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15 minutes.
    Cranberry Sausage Stuffing in a baking dish before going into the oven

Notes

Make Ahead Sausage Stuffing 

It is perfect to make ahead and you can prepare the stuffing in a baking dish. Place all the ingredients into a casserole or baking dish. Wrap with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Once you are ready to bake, let thaw to room temperature, then bake. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 397kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 14gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 591mgPotassium: 341mgFiber: 3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 455IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 2mg

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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Comments

  1. This sounds delicious and I’m going to give it a go for Thanksgiving! I noticed you mentioned adding an egg, do you do that or has anyone else tried it that way and could give me their opinion ?

  2. Hi, I’m trying to make a one pot stuffing and turkey in the crockpot. Do you think I can cook this alongside the turkey breast in a crockpot.

    1. My first concern with this is the stuffing next to a raw turkey for a long period of time. My second concern is the consistency of the stuffing, it will be very moist and/or the bread will turn to mush. How long do you plan to cook the turkey and at what temperature? I would definitely add the stuffing after the turkey has been cooking in the crockpot for several hours on low. The stuffing will only need to be in the crockpot for 3-4 hours on low, and probably only 1-2 hours on high.

    1. We haven’t tried this recipe with chorizo sausage, so I can’t speak to how it would affect the taste or texture.

    1. I haven’t tried that way, so I can’t speak for how it would affect the taste or texture. Let us know how it works if you do try it!

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