Because it’s made on the stove, you don’t have to worry about it taking up space in the oven. This is the best stuffing recipe for the holidays. You won’t believe that this easy stovetop sausage stuffing recipe only needs FIVE things! The browned sausage gives it so much flavor.
Thanksgiving 2021 Update: This is one of my most-loved holiday recipes, and I’m so glad you found it! I just added new tips and step-by-step photos to this post. I hope it will become a part of your Thanksgiving traditions, just as it is one of mine!.
As of late, my family has been having a Mexican Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. But on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, it’s all about roasted turkey and all the great Thanksgiving side dishes.
When I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time, my father-in-law offered to make the stovetop sausage stuffing recipe that his family always uses.
Id never been much of a fan of stuffing or dressing before. I always thought it was a little bland, or maybe it was too dry from being cooked in the turkey.
His familys version was neither bland nor dry, and I havent made a different Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe since.
Stove top stuffing is a classic side dish for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. The convenience of being able to make stuffing on the stovetop without having to bake it in the oven makes it an easy addition to your holiday meal. But you may be wondering – can you add sausage to stove top stuffing to make it even more flavorful? The answer is yes, absolutely!
Adding browned sausage to stove top stuffing takes it to the next level in terms of taste. The savory, meaty flavor of sausage perfectly complements the mixture of bread, vegetables, and seasonings that make up traditional stuffing. I love being able to customize my stuffing recipe, and sausage is one of my favorite additions.
In this article we’ll go over everything you need to know to make delicious sausage stove top stuffing. including
- Benefits of Adding Sausage
- How to Cook the Sausage
- Ingredients to Use
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Serving Suggestions
- FAQs
Let’s get started!
Benefits of Adding Sausage
There are a few key benefits to adding sausage to your stove top stuffing recipe
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More flavor – Sausage adds a savory rich meatiness that takes your stuffing to the next level. The mix of seasonings like sage, thyme fennel, and black pepper give so much flavor.
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Heartiness – The texture and heartiness that browned sausage provides makes the stuffing more satisfying.
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Customization – Being able to personalize classic stuffing with your own choice of sausage is fun. From spicy Italian to maple breakfast sausage, the options are endless.
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Easy protein – Sausage mixes nicely into stuffing and provides extra protein, which is great for a hearty holiday meal.
Overall, adding sausage to stove top stuffing gives it an incredible flavor boost. The savory meatiness perfectly complements the classic stuffing ingredients.
How to Cook the Sausage
The key to getting maximum flavor from the sausage is to cook it properly before adding it to the stuffing. Here are some tips:
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Brown the sausage – Cook raw sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until nicely browned. This adds tons of delicious flavor.
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Break it up – As the sausage cooks, break it up into smaller crumbles using a wooden spoon. This makes it easier to incorporate into the stuffing.
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Don’t drain – After browning the sausage, don’t drain off the fat. Keeping the fat adds moisture and flavor to the stuffing as it cooks.
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Let it cool – Once browned, transfer the sausage to a bowl and let it cool slightly before adding it to the stuffing mixture.
Taking the time to properly brown and cook the sausage means you’ll get amazing flavor in every bite of your stuffing.
Ingredients to Use
The basic ingredients for sausage stove top stuffing include:
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Sausage – Use 1 lb of raw sausage, removed from casing. Bulk or links work. Choose your favorite kind – pork, turkey, chicken, spicy Italian, maple, etc.
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Onion – Dice 1 cup of onion. Yellow or white onion both work well.
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Celery – Chop 1 cup of celery. This adds crunch and flavor.
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Chicken broth – Use about 3 cups of low-sodium chicken broth. The broth moistens the stuffing as it cooks.
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Stuffing mix – Use one 12-14 oz bag of plain bread stuffing mix. Look for seasoning that complements your sausage choice.
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Butter – A couple tablespoons of butter adds richness and moisture.
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Herbs – Dried sage, thyme, rosemary add nice seasoning. Use about 1 tsp total.
That’s all you need for flavorful sausage stove top stuffing! Now let’s go over how to put it all together.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for easy sausage stuffing:
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Brown the sausage – Cook sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat until nicely browned, about 5-7 minutes. Break up sausage as it cooks.
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Sauté veggies – Add diced onion and celery to skillet. Sauté 3-5 minutes until starting to soften.
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Add stuffing & broth – Transfer sausage and veggies to a large pot. Add stuffing mix and chicken broth. Mix well.
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Cook – Heat stuffing mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add more broth as needed if dry. Cook 15-20 minutes.
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Season – Add butter, herbs, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
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Serve – Transfer stuffing to a serving bowl. Garnish with parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Be sure to add the chicken broth slowly and stir minimally to keep the stuffing light and fluffy. And that’s it – easy sausage stuffed stuffing ready for your holiday meal!
Here are a few extra tips for stellar sausage stuffing:
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For even more flavor, sauté some chopped apples or cranberries along with the veggies.
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Add grated cheese like cheddar, parmesan, or gruyere for gooey richness.
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For spicy stuffing, use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
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For a breakfast twist, use maple sausage and add sage, thyme, parsley.
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To make it a full meal, add cooked turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat.
The possibilities are endless when you start with flavorful sausage as the base!
Serving Suggestions
Sausage stuffing is a versatile side that pairs well with many dishes:
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Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner – It’s perfect alongside turkey, ham, or prime rib.
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Weeknight meals – Serves as a hearty side for pork chops, meatloaf, chicken, etc.
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Brunch or breakfast – An easy upgrade to eggs, pancakes, breakfast meats.
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As a meal – On its own, stuffing can be a satisfying meatless main dish.
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Potlucks or parties – Always a crowd-pleasing dish to pass for a holiday gathering.
Some other tasty items to serve alongside sausage stuffing include:
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Cranberry sauce – The tartness balances the richness of the stuffing.
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Roasted veggies – Like brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips.
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Dinner rolls – Great for mopping up any extra stuffing.
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Salad – A crisp green salad balances the heavy stuffing.
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Gravy – Turkey gravy, beef gravy, mushroom gravy all pair nicely.
With so many options, you could build an entire meal around sausage stuffed stuffing!
FAQs
Got sausage stuffing questions? Here are some common queries:
Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes! Prepare the stuffing 1-2 days in advance. Store covered in the fridge then reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
Can I use boxed stove top stuffing?
Absolutely. Just prepare the stuffing mix according to package directions, then add your cooked sausage and seasonings.
What if it’s too dry?
Add a bit more chicken broth until the stuffing reaches the desired moistness.
What if it’s too wet?
You can continue cooking over low heat, stirring occasionally, to allow excess moisture to evaporate.
Can I use plant-based sausage?
Sure! Soy-based veggie sausage works great for a meatless stuffing. Just follow same cooking method.
How long does it last?
Properly stored stuffing lasts 3-4 days in the fridge. It can also be frozen for 2-3 months.
Can I cook it in the oven?
You can bake it, but stove top allows you to better control moisture levels for optimally fluffy results.
Should I make cornbread stuffing instead?
Cornbread stuffing is delicious too! Just substitute cornbread mix for the plain bread stuffing mix.
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Tips for the best stovetop sausage stuffing
Adding the broth slowly is important for this stuffing, even if you think there isn’t enough liquid in the pot.
There’s no harm in adding too much at once; it will just make the dish less airy and fluffy.
It’s possible to add the broth slowly if you have the time, but I like to do it ½ cup at a time.
Stovetop Sausage Stuffing Recipe
This Thanksgiving stuffing recipe is a twist on the classic.
My stovetop sausage stuffing is made with just five ingredients:
- browned pork sausage
- chopped celery
- diced onions
- herb-seasoned stuffing mix
- chicken broth
Its fluffy, moist and absolutely packed with flavor.
Honestly, its hard to believe how easy it is and that it only has just five ingredients!
This recipe will soon become one of your favorites too, I just know it!
